Red Fox – 6/25/20

Observer: Paul Lauenstein

Observation Date: 6/25/20

Observation time: 8:45 a.m.

Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Rd.

Common Name: Red fox

Scientific Name: Vulpes vulpes

Comments: It was a thrill to see these three playful red foxes in our back yard. One of them seemed quite interested in the neighbor’s fluffy cat, which stood its ground.

Despite its name, individual red foxes have variable coloration. The red fox’s bushy tail has a white tip. The gray fox(Urocyon cinereoargenteus) is a different species. Its tail does not have a white tip. Gray foxes can climb trees. Red foxes cannot.

The red fox originated from smaller ancestors in Eurasia and colonised North America shortly after the Wisconsin glaciation, which ended about 11,000 years ago. Apart from its relatively large size, the red fox is distinguished from other fox species by its ability to adapt quickly to new environments.

More Information: Wikipedia