The adorable Red Fox may not actually be red; they come in black and brown colorings as well! These intelligent little animals have long been noted in tales and stories for their cunning and resourcefulness!

Most Red Foxes mate for life. They make attentive, solicitous parents and it may be amusing to watch them playing with their pups! Generally, Red Foxes eat whatever they can find, including small mammals and reptiles, berries, insects, birds, fish, and eggs. They hunt with their senses of sight, scent, and sound. Red Foxes can even dig for food! Highly vocal animals, Red Foxes can howl, whine, and bark! They use short, piercing barks to warn each other of danger. Red Foxes are thought to be quite intelligent and seem to have curious dispositions, investigating anything that seems unfamiliar to them with caution and persistence. Generally, Red Foxes use the same den each year in which to bear their young. They will line it with fur or grass. Red Foxes are subject to outbreaks of rabies, and are also preyed upon by eagles when they are young. Adult Red Foxes may be preyed upon by wolverines and bears!

Red Foxes are usually red, as the name suggests, although darker colors are in evidence. The most common red color is a rusty red, though this may vary in shade. Usually, there is a darker red coloring running over the back and down the shoulders of the fox. Because the darker brown or black Red Foxes have a more well defined dark dorsal marking, they may be referred to as "cross foxes" because the shading forms a cross pattern. Most Red Foxes have black or white stockings, white tail tips, white throats and undersides, black muzzles, or black behind their ears. The tails are long and bushy. Darker or black Red foxes that have white tipped hairs may be referred to as "silver foxes". Red Foxes have long, narrow muzzles and bright eyes. Usually, they measure between 22 and 32 inches long and have 15-inch tails! Most Red Foxes weigh between six and 15 pounds, although their thick bushy fur may make them look larger. Generally, males are larger than females.

Red Foxes occur throughout much of North America, where they inhabit open forests or brushlands. They are preyed upon by larger mammals like Gray Wolves. Because man has cleared out many forests and killed off the majority of Gray Wolves that were evident in North America before the Europeans settled it, Red Foxes have probably increased in number since the 1600's. Man has also been detrimental to Red Foxes, which are hunted for their fur. Silver Foxes have been especially valued. Red Foxes have also been persecuted as chicken thieves, although now they are less hated by farmers who realize that they keep down the populations of crop threatening birds and insects and thus may be more beneficial than harmful. Red Foxes are frequently features in tales and proverbs, and are generally described as intelligent, sneaky, or resourceful.

Red Foxes are quite susceptible to rabies outbreaks, and if a fox seems friendly or without caution, it should probably be avoided. In some areas, vaccines will be placed in bait near fox dens to protect the animals from rabies.

Generally, Red Foxes mate from December through March. Pairs will find one or more dens, generally in the ground, in which to raise their pups. These may be hollow logs, caves, animal dens, or hollows dug under barns. Usually five to ten pups will be born some time between March and May. They will be blind until they are about two weeks old. By four weeks, the young Red Foxes are weaned and the parents teach them to hunt. By the time they are about three months old, the little Red Foxes are usually independent and will leave their parents.