The Red fox resides all over Europe with the exception of Iceland, Asia, parts of North America, and was introduced to Australia. It has also been found in Northern parts of Africa (Malkemper & Peichl, 2018). The Red Fox has 45 different subspecies with the European Red Fox been the most common found. It mainly feeds on small rodents, birds and carrion, but will also eat plant materials (Soe et al, 2017).
Picture of
European Red Fox by Airwolfhound from Hertfordshire, UK
Red foxes are characterized by their red-orange fur,
elongated body, short limbs, a tail with a white tip that is longer than the
body, front forepaws have five digits and hind feet only have four digits. Both
front legs, back legs and ears are black. Female foxes are called vixens while
young cubs are called kits. Red Foxes can have a variety of different colour
fur due to genetic mutations and also depending on the area they live in (Red
Fox, 2017).
Red fox kits by
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters and fox colours by unknown.
Red Foxes marks their territory with urine to keep other
foxes out and also to mark where food is being stored for winter. Scent marking
is important for foxes besides territorial demarcation, it is also used for
social interactions (Soulsbury & Fawcett, 2015). Red Foxes can live in
small family groups with a dominant mated pair and their kits with the previous
generation helping with looking after the current kits. Non-breeding vixens
will protect, groom, play and retrieve kits (kin selection) of the dominant
breeding pair. This only happen if there is a surplus of food available or else
most of the previous generation foxes will try to survive on their own
(Soulsbury & Fawcett, 2015).
Picture at bottom by Keven Law and picture of Red Fox with Coypu by unknown.
In the 1870s, the Red Fox was introduced to Australia by
hunters to help control the rabbit population and for sport hunting (Saunders
et al, 2010). Habitat loss and alteration of natural landscapes in Europe has
led to a decrease in the Red Foxes diet as their natural prey begin to
disappear or become harder to find. Also changes to the landscape have affected
the burrows which Red Foxes need to have their young in (Cancio et al, 2017).
Diseases are a major factor affecting Red Foxes with rabies and mange being
some of the most dangerous. If a fox becomes affected by rabies, it will become
unable to drink, have a fear of water (hydrophobia), paranoia, inflammation of
the brain, agitation, abnormal behaviour leading it to progress to coma, then
death (Sterner & Smith,2006).
Hopefully this information may help show that the Red Fox
not just a pest, it is an animal that needs help. Next time, we will be
covering a colourful spider that loves to dance.
References
Cancio, I., González-Robles, A., Bastida, J.M., Isla, J.,
Manzaneda, A.J., Salido, T. & Rey, P.J. 2017, "Landscape degradation
affects red fox (Vulpes vulpes) diet and its ecosystem services in the
threatened Ziziphus lotus scrubland habitats of semiarid Spain", Journal
of Arid Environments, vol. 145, pp. 24-34.
Malkemper, E.P. & Peichl, L. 2018, "Retinal
photoreceptor and ganglion cell types and topographies in the red fox (Vulpes
vulpes) and Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus)", Journal of Comparative
Neurology, vol. 526, no. 13, pp. 2078-2098.
Red Fox. (2017). In Encyclopaedia Britannica, Britannica
concise encyclopedia. Chicago, IL: Britannica Digital Learning. Retrieved from
https://elibrary.jcu.edu.au/login?url=https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/ebconcise/red_fox/0?institutionId=429
Saunders, G.R., Gentle, M.N. & Dickman, C.R. 2010,
"The impacts and management of foxes Vulpes vulpes in Australia",
Mammal Review, vol. 40, no. 3, pp. 181.
Soe, E., Davison, J., Süld, K., Valdmann, H., Laurimaa,
L. & Saarma, U. 2017, "Europe‐wide biogeographical patterns in the
diet of an ecologically and epidemiologically important mesopredator, the red
fox Vulpes vulpes: a quantitative review", Mammal Review, vol. 47, no. 3,
pp. 198-211.
Soulsbury, C.D. & Fawcett, J.K. 2015, "Ontogenic
patterns of scent marking in red foxes, Vulpes vulpes (Carnivora:
Canidae)", Folia Zoologica, vol. 64, no. 1, pp. 40-44.
Sterner, R.T. & Smith, G.C. 2006, "Modelling
wildlife rabies: Transmission, economics, and conservation", Biological
Conservation, vol. 131, no. 2, pp. 163-179
Picture references
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