MEET OUR RED FOXES
TODD AND TRIXIE
Todd and Trixie are siblings. Part of our smaller canine family they continue to educate us about the dynamics of male and female foxes. They live together (Todd is neutered) and spend most of their time digging holes, climbing on their furniture to watch everyone and everything, or having tiny play fights against one another. Squabbling can get noisy at feeding time, but it is just Trixie reminding Todd that it is Ladies First. You can tell them apart by their markings — Trixie has a very dark face, tail, and legs while almost all of Todd’s body is the classic fox color of reddish orange. Born on April 6, 2019.
KALI
Kali, short for Kalispell, came to Cat Tales as a young kit in the spring of 2018. She arrived with several other animals, two of which were coyote pups around the same age. But despite her seemingly compatible pup friends, after a brief introduction, it was clear that Kali would like to live alone, as is typical of a red fox. Kali grew very quickly and though you would never know it, she is missing a toe on her right front foot. Kali is extremely energetic and loves to have space to climb and throw her toys around. Foxes are known to constantly dig holes and hide food and other treasures. When the time is right, they will dig it up or scent mark it for later discovery. Just one of the ever-fascinating fox behaviors to see! Born March 30, 2018.
JASPER AND JINX
Jasper and Jinx are our two young silver foxes, a melanistic variation of the red fox that displays wild pelt variations from pure black to blue-grey, or silver spotted. These two came to Cat Tales in early June 2019. Beyond learning to be good brothers to one another, they have also become fond of their neighboring fox kits Trixie and Todd. But most of all they enjoy being together no matter the weather, time, or event. Jinx is almost purely silver, a shining fox who spends most of his day curled up napping or ‘gekkering’ (a sharp, barking sound) at nothing in particular. (Jinx also has a genetic deformity in his front legs, though it does not affect his behavior.) His brother, Jasper, is more curious about the world and will watch staff and guests alike. He is also not as silver as his brother, with quite a few patches of black across his fur. Born April 15, 2019.
Habitat: North America, all regions;
Lifespan: In the Wild, 2 – 4 years; In Captivity, 8 – 10 years;
Diet: Omnivore;
Status: Least concern;
Interesting and little-known facts about red foxes:
Red foxes have a unique adaptation that helps them hunt in the snow. They have fur on their paws that acts like snowshoes, spreading their weight over a larger surface area so they can walk on top of the snow without sinking.
Red foxes have excellent senses, including a keen sense of hearing and smell. They can hear small rodents moving underground and can detect the scent of prey up to 100 feet away.
Red foxes are not just red. They can come in a range of colors, including silver, black, and even white. These variations in fur color are known as color morphs.
Red foxes are incredibly adaptable and can be found in a variety of habitats, from forests to deserts to urban areas.
Red foxes are not solitary animals. While they do tend to hunt and live alone during the summer months, they will form family groups during the breeding season and raise their young together.
Debunking common myths and misconceptions about red foxes:
Myth: Red foxes are dangerous to humans.
Fact: Red foxes are not dangerous to humans. They are generally shy and will avoid contact with people whenever possible. In the rare case that a fox does approach a human, it is usually because the fox is sick or injured.
Myth: Red foxes kill for fun.
Fact: Red foxes do not kill for fun. They hunt to survive and will only kill what they need to eat.
Myth: Red foxes are a threat to livestock.
Fact: While red foxes will occasionally prey on livestock, they are not a significant threat to farmers. In fact, they often provide a service by controlling populations of rodents and other small pests.
Myth: Red foxes are only active at night.
Fact: While red foxes are most active at dawn and dusk, they can be active during the day as well. They are opportunistic hunters and will hunt whenever the opportunity arises.
Myth: Red foxes are not native to North America.
Fact: Red foxes are native to North America and have been present on the continent for thousands of years. However, there is a separate subspecies of red fox that was introduced from Europe in the 1700s and has since become established in North America.
