Vulpes vulpes

Red Fox
A Species Literature Review by:
John Watts, 11/24/2023

Taxonomy
The Red Fox is a canine species belonging to the Order Carnivora and Family Canidae (Dogs).
The Red Fox was first described by Carl von Linne (1758) and was given the scientific name Canis
vulpes. The genus name Canis means “dog” and the specific epithet vulpes means “fox” (Henry 1986).
The scientific name was then changed in the late 1900s to Vulpes vulpes, meaning “fox’s fox” (Henry
1986). It is occasionally referred to as the colored fox because of its colored variations (Churcher 1959).

Description
Red foxes are distinguished from other canids via their long tail and coat pattern coloration
(Lariviere and Pasitschniak-Arts 1996). The species typically sports an iconic reddish-brown to white coat
coloration, a long bushy tail, black-tipped ears, black legs and feet, and relatively small, slender body
(Figure 1). Red Fox guard hairs have unique properties that distinguishes them from other canids such as
the coyote (Canis latrans) and domestic dogs (Canis familiaris). The guard hair is softer and finer, with
unique coloration and texture (Hilton and Kutscha 1932).

Figure 1. Red Fox from Ontario, Canada. Photograph by MLorenzPhotograph.

Distribution and Habitat

The Red Fox has the most extensive global distribution among carnivores, both native and non-
native to North America, Australia, Europe, Asia, and Africa. (Figure 2; Voigt 1987). The origin of
Vulpes vulpes is disputed, but in North America there are native and nonnative populations (Kamler and
Ballard 2002). The native population originates from the boreal forests of Canada and the United States,
while the non-native population were introduced by European settlers in the mid-1700s for sport hunting
(Kamler and Ballard 2002).Throughout the native and non-native population, prey availability is the most
important factor when determining habitat use (Lariviere and Pasitschniak-Arts 1996). The Red Fox can
live in a broad range of habitats consisting of deserts, tundra, forests, and urban areas. Their habitat usage
depends on the environment they are present in, varying from using open areas to avoiding open areas
(Lariviere and Pasitschniak-Arts 1996).
Vulpes vulpes
Red Fox

Figure 2. Distribution and of Vulpes vulpes as reported in Voigt (1987).

Life History
There was a Red Fox reported to have lived until 8.6 years of age (Tullar 1983), however the
average individual lives to be 1-2 years of age (Allen and Sargeant 1993). Red Foxes sexually mature 9-
12 months after birth, and their breeding season varies depending on the climate of their region, however,
it typically begins in early February or March so they can give birth in the spring when it is warmer, and
food is more abundant (Song et al. 2018). Red Foxes will on average travel 20-40 miles in their first year
of life in the search for prey (Phillips et al. 1972). Red foxes are omnivores and will consume a wide
variety of food items such as small mammals, small reptiles, livestock, birds, plant matter, and human
garbage throughout all seasons (Lariviere and Pasitschniak-Arts 1996).

Conservation Status
The greatest threats to the Red Fox are overhunting, internal parasites, diseases, and viruses
(Lariviere and Pasitschniak-Arts 1996). The most common virus that Red Fox acquire is rabies, which can
kill 50 to 60% of a fox population (Bogel 1974). The urbanization of Red Fox habitats has been
researched and found to aid Red Foxes in locating higher-quality habitats (Handler et al. 2019). Although
humans and rabies are the primary drivers of Red Fox mortality, the Red Fox continues to have a stable
population. The IUCN Red List lists the Red Fox globally at least concern.

References
Vulpes vulpes
Red Fox
Allen, S. H., and A. B. Sargeant. 1993. Dispersal patterns of red foxes relative to population density.
The Journal of Wildlife Management, 57:526-533.

Bogel., K., A.A. Arata, H. Moegle and F. Knorpp. 1974. Recovery of reduced fox populations in
rabies control. Zbl. Vet. Med. B., 21:401-412

Churcher, C. S. 1959. The specific status of the New World red fox. Journal of Mammalogy.
40:513-520.

Handler, A. M., E. V. Lonsdorf, and D. R. Ardia. 2019. Evidence for red fox (Vulpes vulpes)
exploitation of anthropogenic food sources along an urbanization gradient using stable
isotope analysis. Canadian Journal of Zoology. 98:79-156.

Henry, D. J. 1986. Page 174. Red fox, the catlike canid. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington
D.C.

Hilton, H., and N. P. Kutscha. 1932. Pages 223-227. Distinguishing Characteristics of the Hairs of
Eastern Coyote, Domestic Dog, Red Fox and Bobcat in Maine. The American Midland
naturalist, University of Notre Dame.

Kamler, J.F., and W. B. Ballard. 2002. Pages 370-379. A review of native and nonnative red foxes
in North America. Wildlife Society Bulletin.

Lariviere, S., and M. Pasitschniak-Arts. 1996. Vulpes vulpes. American Society of Mammalogists.
537:1-11.

Phillips, R. L., R. D. Andrews, G. L. Storm, and R. A. Bishop. 1972. Dispersal and Mortality of Red
Foxes. The Journal of Wildlife Management. 2:237-248.

Song, D. J., B.C. Song, J. H. Kwon, and P. K. Shin. 2018. Breeding Behavior of Red Fox (Vulpes
vulpes) in an Outdoor Breeding Facility. Korean J. Environ. Ecol. 32(1):47-54.

Tullar, B. F., JR. 1983. An unusually long-lived red fox. New York Fish and Game Journal,
30:227.

Voigt, D. R. 1987. Red fox. Pages 379-392. Wild furbearer management and conservation in North
America (M. Nowak, 1. A. Baker, M. E. Obbard, and B. Malloch, eds.). Ontario Ministry of
Natural Resources, Ontario.
Vulpes vulpes
Red Fox