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Vulpes vulpes

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Red Fox

G5Secure Found in 194 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →

G5SecureGlobal Rank

Least concernIUCN

PSESA Status

Identity

Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.105935

Element CodeAMAJA03010

Record TypeSPECIES

ClassificationSpecies

Classification StatusStandard

Name CategoryVertebrate Animal

IUCNLeast concern

CITESAppendix III

Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations

KingdomAnimalia

PhylumCraniata

ClassMammalia

OrderCarnivora

FamilyCanidae

GenusVulpes

USESAPS

Other Common Names

red fox (EN) Renard roux (FR)

Concept Reference

Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder (editors). 1993. Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. Second edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC. xviii + 1206 pp. Available online at: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/msw/.

Taxonomic Comments

American populations formerly known as V. fulva or V. fulvus, are regarded as conspecific with Old World red fox (V. vulpes). Although some publications have recognized V. vulpes and V. fulva as distinct, the American Society of Mammalogists states that this arrangement leaves Palearctic V. vulpes paraphyletic, since some archaic clades of Palearctic red fox (from West Asia and North Africa primarily) are sister to the Eurasian + North American clades. The second North American species (fulva) is tentatively retained under V. vulpes pending further studies investigating the position of the archaic Eurasian clades (ASM 2025).

Conservation Status

Rank MethodExpertise without calculation

Review Date2016-04-05

Change Date1996-11-15

Range Extent Comments

Holarctic. Throughout North America north of Mexico except for parts of the Southwest (but see Mikesic and Larue 2003) and Rocky Mountains. Though the species is native to North America, introductions were made in eastern North America during colonial times, resulting in increased numbers and/or range expansion in some areas. Range expanded in North America in the 1900s (Nowak 1991).

Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Various open and semi-open habitats. Usually avoids dense forest, although open woodlands frequently are used. Sometimes occurs in suburban areas or even cities (e.g., in England). May range onto sea ice (Labrador). Maternity dens are in burrows dug by fox or abandoned by other mammals, often in open fields or wooded areas, sometimes under rural buildings, in hollow logs, under stumps, etc.

Ecology

Summer home range varies greatly, 142-1280 acres (Ables 1969); winter ranges more extensive; home range diameter usually 2-4 km, up to 8 km or more if food scarce (see Caire et al. 1989). Social groups in a city in England exhibited drifting territoriality; ranges averaged about 40 ha (Doncaster and MacDonald 1991). In Japan, spring-summer home range was 357-631 ha; foxes moved about 6 km each night in going from village to village (Cavallini, 1992, J. Mamm. 73:321-325). Averages one family (about 7 foxes) per 4 sq miles (Baker 1983). May be excluded by coyote from some areas of otherwise suitable habitat.

Reproduction

Breeds in winter. Gestation lasts 51-56 (average 53) days. Litter of 1-10 (average 4-5) young is born in March-April. Young are weaned in 8-10 weeks, when young leave den and learn to hunt with parents. Male and female may divide young between two dens. Young become independent in fall. Sexually mature the winter after their birth.

Terrestrial Habitats

Forest - HardwoodForest - ConiferForest - MixedWoodland - HardwoodWoodland - ConiferWoodland - MixedShrubland/chaparralSavannaGrassland/herbaceousOld fieldCropland/hedgerowSuburban/orchard

Palustrine Habitats

Riparian

Other Nations (2)

United StatesN5

Province	Rank	Native
Montana	S5	Yes
Minnesota	SNR	Yes
Missouri	S4	Yes
Louisiana	S4	Yes
Alaska	S5	Yes
Texas	S4	Yes
Kentucky	S5	Yes
Pennsylvania	SNA	No
North Dakota	S5	Yes
Washington	S1	Yes
Mississippi	S4	Yes
Idaho	S4	Yes
Iowa	S4	Yes
Kansas	S4	Yes
Tennessee	SNA	No
Connecticut	S5	Yes
Oklahoma	SNA	Yes
Virginia	S5	Yes
District of Columbia	S4	Yes
Wyoming	S5	Yes
North Carolina	S4	Yes
Nebraska	S5	Yes
South Carolina	S5	Yes
Nevada	S3	Yes
Vermont	S5	Yes
Michigan	S5	Yes
Illinois	S5	Yes
Alabama	S4	Yes
South Dakota	S5	Yes
Delaware	S5	Yes
New York	S5	Yes
Utah	S5	Yes
California	SNR	Yes
New Jersey	S5	Yes
Oregon	S4	Yes
Maryland	S5	Yes
Arkansas	S4	Yes
Georgia	S5	Yes
Rhode Island	S5	Yes
Colorado	S5	Yes
West Virginia	S5	Yes
Maine	S5	Yes
New Hampshire	S5	Yes
Ohio	SNR	Yes
Florida	SNR	Yes
New Mexico	S3	Yes
Massachusetts	S5	Yes
Wisconsin	S4	Yes
Indiana	S5	Yes
Arizona	S3	Yes
Navajo Nation	S5	Yes

CanadaN5

Province	Rank	Native
New Brunswick	S5	Yes
Island of Newfoundland	S5	Yes
Labrador	S5	Yes
Prince Edward Island	S5	Yes
Quebec	S5	Yes
Northwest Territories	S5	Yes
Nunavut	S5	Yes
Yukon Territory	S5	Yes
Alberta	S5	Yes
Nova Scotia	S5	Yes
Ontario	S5	Yes
British Columbia	S5	Yes
Manitoba	S5	Yes
Saskatchewan	S5	Yes

Roadless Areas (194)

California (8)

Area	Forest	Acres
Garcia Mountain	Los Padres National Forest	7,850
La Panza	Los Padres National Forest	4,954
Machesna Mountain	Los Padres National Forest	12,271
Matilija	Los Padres National Forest	5,218
Mono	Los Padres National Forest	28,141
Raymond Peak	Eldorado National Forest	2,518
Sawmill - Badlands	Los Padres National Forest	51,362
Trail Lake	Lassen National Forest	1,124

Colorado (9)

Area	Forest	Acres
Bristol Head	Rio Grande NF	46,087
Comanche Peak Adjacent Area	Arapaho & Roosevelt NFs	44,158
Dome Peak	Routt NF	35,716
Hermosa	San Juan NF	148,103
Long Park	Routt NF	42,100
Pole Mountain / Finger Mesa	Rio Grande NF	43,863
Red Table	White River NF	39,122
Storm Peak	San Juan NF	57,617
Troublesome South	Routt NF	47,359

Idaho (9)

Area	Forest	Acres
Bear Creek	Caribou-Targhee National Forest	118,582
Borah Peak	Salmon-Challis National Forest	130,463
Hoodoo	Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest	153,868
Needles	Payette National Forest	131,279
Palisades	Caribou-Targhee National Forest	122,002
Peace Rock	Boise National Forest	191,734
Pioneer Mountains	Sawtooth National Forest	119,563
Pioneer Mountains	Salmon-Challis National Forest	172,460
Secesh	Payette National Forest	248,088

Michigan (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Fibre	Hiawatha National Forest	7,432

Minnesota (5)

Area	Forest	Acres
Baker - Homer - Brule Lakes	Superior National Forest	6,712
Brule Lake - Eagle Mountain	Superior National Forest	12,380
Cabin Creek	Superior National Forest	6,071
Phantom Lake	Superior National Forest	6,521
Tait Lake	Superior National Forest	6,327

Montana (33)

Area	Forest	Acres
Bear - Marshall - Scapegoat - Swan	Lolo National Forest	118,485
Bear - Marshall - Scapegoat - Swan	Lewis and Clark National Forest	344,022
Beartooth	Gallatin National Forest	5,285
Big Log	Helena National Forest	8,954
Black Butte	Custer National Forest	871
Bmss Ra 1485	Flathead National Forest	334,275
Bridger	Gallatin National Forest	45,059
Cabin Creek Wildlife Management Area Ocd	Gallatin National Forest	35,048
East Pioneer	Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest	145,082
Fishtail Saddleback	Custer National Forest	16,359
Freezeout Mountain	Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest	97,305
Gallatin Fringe	Gallatin National Forest	51,571
Hyalite - Porcupine - Buffalo Horn Wilderness Study Area	Gallatin National Forest	143,991
Jerico Mountain	Helena National Forest	8,445
Lazyman Gulch	Helena National Forest	11,614
Line Creek Plateau	Custer National Forest	24,825
Lionhead	Gallatin National Forest	33,549
Madison	Gallatin National Forest	127,859
Mt. Gmt Area H	Custer National Forest	1,335
North Absaroka	Custer National Forest	21,063
North Absaroka	Gallatin National Forest	159,075
Proposed Line Creek Prna	Custer National Forest	389
Quigg	Lolo National Forest	67,267
Red Lodge Creek Hellroaring	Custer National Forest	17,210
Reef	Gallatin National Forest	2,500
Republic Mountain	Gallatin National Forest	836
Reservation Divide	Lolo National Forest	16,908
Selway - Bitterroot (01067)	Bitterroot National Forest	114,953
Silver King	Lolo National Forest	12,816
Silver King	Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest	64,289
Stony Mountain	Lolo National Forest	32,796
West Big Hole	Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest	133,563
West Pioneer	Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest	248,631

Nevada (7)

Area	Forest	Acres
Moriah - Silver Creek	Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest	1,582
Ruby - Lamoille Cyn	Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest	32,771
Snake - Murphy	Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest	27,064
Snake - Peacock Cyn	Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest	1,069
South Schell	Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest	125,614
West Silver Creek	Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest	5,028
Wildhorse	Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest	11,204

New Hampshire (7)

Area	Forest	Acres
Carr Mountain	White Mountain National Forest	17,110
Dartmouth Range	White Mountain National Forest	9,233
Great Gulf Ext.	White Mountain National Forest	15,110
Pemigewasset	White Mountain National Forest	32,255
Pemigewasset Ext	White Mountain National Forest	15,840
Presidential - Dry River Ext	White Mountain National Forest	10,555
Sandwich Range	White Mountain National Forest	16,797

New Mexico (7)

Area	Forest	Acres
Black Canyon	Santa Fe National Forest	1,922
Bull - Of - The - Woods	Carson National Forest	488
Candian River	Cibola National Forest	7,149
Columbine - Hondo Wilderness Study Area	Carson National Forest	43,739
Latir Peak	Carson National Forest	3,573
Pacheco Canyon	Santa Fe National Forest	1,012
Wheeler Peak Wilderness	Carson National Forest	2,677

North Carolina (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Bald Mountain	Pisgah National Forest	11,085

North Dakota (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Wannagan	Dakota Prairie Grasslands	6,026

Oregon (16)

Area	Forest	Acres
Bearwallows	Deschutes National Forest	7,317
Bend Watershed	Deschutes National Forest	14,829
Charlton	Deschutes National Forest	7,047
Hellhole	Umatilla National Forest	65,679
Huckleberry	Willamette National Forest	793
Hurricane Creek	Wallowa-Whitman National Forest	1,606
Imnaha Face	Wallowa-Whitman National Forest	29,575
Little Sheep	Wallowa-Whitman National Forest	5,238
Maiden Peak	Deschutes National Forest	26,432
Maiden Peak	Willamette National Forest	9,627
Mt. Bailey	Umpqua National Forest	18,401
Snake River	Wallowa-Whitman National Forest	31,229
Tenmile	Siuslaw National Forest	10,818
Twin Mountain	Wallowa-Whitman National Forest	58,533
Waldo	Deschutes National Forest	4,973
West - South Bachelor	Deschutes National Forest	25,994

Pennsylvania (3)

Area	Forest	Acres
Allegheny Front	Allegheny National Forest	7,430
Cornplanter	Allegheny National Forest	2,929
Tracy Ridge	Allegheny National Forest	9,034

South Dakota (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Indian Creek	Buffalo Gap National Grassland	24,666

Tennessee (2)

Area	Forest	Acres
Sampson Mountain Addition	Cherokee National Forest	3,064
Stone Mountain	Cherokee National Forest	5,367

Texas (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Big Creek	National Forests in Texas	1,447

Utah (29)

Area	Forest	Acres
0401001	Ashley National Forest	11,705
0401002	Ashley National Forest	36,113
0401016	Ashley National Forest	5,695
0419020	Ashley National Forest	355,684
418012	Uinta National Forest	25,758
418016	Uinta National Forest	35,240
418024	Uinta National Forest	51,699
418025	Uinta National Forest	32,698
418026	Uinta National Forest	14,038
418027	Uinta National Forest	13,884
418029	Uinta National Forest	15,673
418044	Uinta National Forest	5,495
Burch Creek	Wasatch-Cache National Forest	6,938
Circleville Mountain	Fishlake National Forest	24,142
City Creek	Fishlake National Forest	13,939
Fishhook	Dixie National Forest	12,959
High Uintas (UT)	Wasatch-Cache National Forest	102,398
Hogsback	Wasatch-Cache National Forest	7,936
Lakes	Wasatch-Cache National Forest	121,967
Lava Beds	Dixie National Forest	14,944
Lewis Peak	Wasatch-Cache National Forest	11,616
Lone Peak Contiguous	Wasatch-Cache National Forest	874
Mollens Hollow	Wasatch-Cache National Forest	17,690
North Francis	Wasatch-Cache National Forest	8,148
Raft River	Sawtooth National Forest	23,969
South Francis	Wasatch-Cache National Forest	3,374
Twin Peaks	Wasatch-Cache National Forest	6,157
Upper South Fork	Wasatch-Cache National Forest	16,811
Wellsville	Wasatch-Cache National Forest	1,717

Vermont (2)

Area	Forest	Acres
Bread Loaf	Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests	1,768
Griffith Lake 09084	Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests	1,833

Virginia (6)

Area	Forest	Acres
Brush Mountain	Jefferson National Forest	6,002
Brush Mountain East	Jefferson National Forest	4,916
Garden Mountain	Jefferson National Forest	3,960
North Mountain	Jefferson National Forest	8,377
Southern Massanutten	George Washington National Forest	11,985
Three Ridges	George Washington National Forest	4,745

Washington (8)

Area	Forest	Acres
Backbone	Gifford Pinchot National Forest	1,201
Coal Creek Bluff	Gifford Pinchot National Forest	1,164
Deer Creek	Gifford Pinchot National Forest	882
Dixon Mountain	Gifford Pinchot National Forest	6,339
Glacier Peak L	Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest	14,084
Goat Rocks Adj	Wenatchee National Forest	6,108
Gotchen Creek	Gifford Pinchot National Forest	7,518
Norse Peak	Wenatchee National Forest	10,169

West Virginia (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Mcgowan Mountain	Monongahela National Forest	10,504

Wyoming (37)

Area	Forest	Acres
Bear Rocks	Bighorn National Forest	25,023
Beartooth Proposed Wilderness	Shoshone National Forest	16,837
Devils Canyon	Bighorn National Forest	37,416
French Creek	Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest	5,928
Grayback Ridge	Bridger-Teton National Forest	295,113
Grommund Creek	Bighorn National Forest	12,089
Gros Ventre Mountains	Bridger-Teton National Forest	106,418
Horse Creek Mesa	Bighorn National Forest	77,808
Libby Flats	Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest	11,107
Little Bighorn	Bighorn National Forest	133,949
Little Sheep Mountain	Bridger-Teton National Forest	14,192
Middle Fork	Shoshone National Forest	51,772
Middle Fork	Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest	13,238
Monument Ridge	Bridger-Teton National Forest	17,720
Mosquito Lake - Seven Lakes	Bridger-Teton National Forest	51,950
Munger Mountain	Bridger-Teton National Forest	12,827
Pacific Creek - Blackrock Creek	Bridger-Teton National Forest	24,658
Palisades	Targhee National Forest	1,121
Phillips Ridge	Bridger-Teton National Forest	10,108
Reef	Shoshone National Forest	16,817
Rock Creek	Bighorn National Forest	48,657
Salt River Range	Bridger-Teton National Forest	235,661
Sibley Lake	Bighorn National Forest	10,367
Sleeping Giant	Shoshone National Forest	5,176
Snowy Range	Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest	29,660
South Beartooth Highway	Shoshone National Forest	105,570
South Wyoming Range	Bridger-Teton National Forest	85,776
Spread Creek - Gros Ventre River	Bridger-Teton National Forest	166,097
Sulphur Creek	Shoshone National Forest	30,221
Teton Corridor Trailheads	Bridger-Teton National Forest	286
Togwotee Pass	Shoshone National Forest	7,344
Trout Creek	Shoshone National Forest	44,034
Wapiti Valley East	Shoshone National Forest	449
Wapiti Valley North	Shoshone National Forest	18,345
West Slope Tetons	Targhee National Forest	47,448
West Slope Winds	Bridger-Teton National Forest	143,252
Wilderness Study Area	Targhee National Forest	51,961

References (34)

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