Foxy Redhead

Meet Vulpes vulpes – the Red Fox.  It is distinguished from the Gray Fox by a white-tipped tail visible in the photos.  After taking a few years off the last handful of years they've been appearing more frequently on the trail cameras.  I suppose the competing coyotes haven't succeeded in cleaning them out.  

It is terrific to see them around here; such a beautiful canid the fox is. 

They’re omnivores that dine-upon everything from rabbits, small rodents, roadkill, fruits and nuts and insects.   

They sometimes make their home in an enlarged woodchuck den, or hollow log, or underneath a log or rock in a stream bank or side of a hill.  A mated pair will defend their turf from other foxes but this canine frequently is prey to the resident coyotes and wolves.  

 

A female is called a vixen, a male is called a dog fox, newborns are called pups, kits or cubs.  And a group of foxes is called a skulk.   

 

 

They're breeding this time of year. 

 

Maybe I can expect to see more of them in the months and years ahead?