Red Fox
By Chris Allen

 

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Photo credit: Cathy and Gordon ILLG

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 A quick flash of red through the trees, a fast double take, was that a red fox you just saw? For most of us that’s all we usually see of the elusive red fox (Vulpes vulpes), maybe while walking to a deer stand in late fall or near an abandoned barn on the outskirts of town. Both of these habitats are the stomping grounds of one of Oklahoma’s most cunning predators.

            A member of the canine family, the red fox’s luxurious coat can range from a deep orange-red to a light golden color. A white patch runs from the lower half of the muzzle to between the front legs. The large, jet-black ears match the underside of the bushy tail and all four legs. The tip of the tail is usually lighter than the rest of the body and can range from reddish-silver to pure white. The slender fox usually weighs less than 15 pounds and can grow to 43 inches in length.

                       As an omnivore, a red fox will eat everything from persim­mons to squirrels. Invertebrates such as grasshoppers and caterpillars also make up a large part of its diet. The red fox has all the makings of a true predator. Its eyesight, nose and hear­ing are highly tuned to pick up the slightest traces of nearby prey. Unlike other members of the canine family, the red fox’s hearing is attuned to low frequency sounds, enabling it pick up the quiet, digging sounds of a mouse or rabbit.

            The greatest number of red foxes can be found in the eastern half of Oklahoma.

            They are commonly located in farming sections that contain pockets of dense woods. The red fox will often seek cover in the thick trees during the day and come out on the farmland to hunt during the evening. Though their range is somewhat limited in Oklahoma, the red fox has actually increased its range and population since the continent was settled. This is due mainly to clean farming practices, in which the farmland extends all the way to the tree line. This makes for ideal hunting ground for the crafty fox, which will often stalk his prey from the camouflage of the thick woods, before leaping onto the open ground to make the kill.

        During the day, the red fox spends most of his time resting. In the early evening, the fox becomes much more active. Even so, they will rarely travel far from their dens. The home range of a fox is usually about a mile, however, if conditions are favorable and resources plentiful, two

or sometimes three foxes may share the same area.

            The red fox mates in late winter through early spring. After a 52-day gestation peri­od, the female fox, or vixen, will give birth to one to 10 kits, the average litter being five. Prior to weaning, the male fox provides a steady supply of food for the vixen while she is nursing the pups. The kits open their eyes at 14 days and are fully weaned by 10 weeks. During this time the female fox will often bring live rodents to the developing kits. The young pups “play” and learn to hunt from these experi­ences with live animals. By the fall of the following year the young foxes will have separated from the vixen and begin fending for themselves.

            Because of its exquisite coat, the red fox is perhaps one of the most sought after furbearers on this continent, and while their numbers are increasing, their range is limited in North America. Oklahoma is home to a healthy, growing red fox population, and Wildlife Department biologists believe their numbers could support a limited harvest season. A proposal will be presented to sports­men and interested wildlife enthusiasts in January, and a season could be in place next fall.

* Beginning in 2007 sportsman can pursue these unique animals through hunting and trapping.