![]() They alter their habits and their food to fit the situation. Red foxes adapt supremely well to human-made habitats. This may be why in many parts of the Rockies you see red foxes with silver and black coats. In the western United States, red foxes similarly expanded their range, but genetics indicate that there are also eastern red fox genetics present – likely due to escapees from fur farms. This was no doubt abetted by fewer competing predators like wolves and new habitats like agricultural areas and suburbs. Rather, the genetics indicate that native red foxes naturally expanded their range into the southeastern United States. Genetic studies published in the Journal of Mammalogy found no evidence of European fox genetics in North American foxes. ![]() Red Fox in Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario. Recent research presents a different picture. Many other sources claim that North American foxes are hybrids of European and native foxes. As such, some conclude red foxes are non-native. The conventional wisdom goes like this: Red foxes were brought to the southeastern United States by the British for fox hunting. There’s a bit of a related myth about red foxes in North America. It has also been introduced to Australia, with disastrous results for native fauna. The red fox is one of the most widely distributed carnivores on earth it’s found across North America, Europe, and Asia, and in parts of North Africa. I hope this blog inspires you to get out and look, and also that you learn a bit about fox behavior and biology in the process. Sure, you might have seen a fox, but have you ever heard or smelled one?įox finding is a perfect activity for a gray February day there’s nothing like a solo or family critter quest to help forget the pandemic blues. Even better, finding a fox can be a sensory experience. Often, successful fox spotting requires you to read subtle clues in the woods and fields. ![]() It’s a deserved reputation seeing a fox is a test of your natural history and field skills. The red fox’s craftiness is celebrated in ancient fables, outdoor adventure stories and contemporary cartoons. A red fox on the hunt for voles in fresh snow is a spectacular winter sight – and one you can experience in many urban, suburban and rural areas of North America and Europe.
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