Story and Photos by Joan Herrmann
Whereiwander – today is within our meadow, woods, and maybe just a short drive around our neighborhood. I love all canines, but I am particularly a fan of a small red bushy-tailed fox. Over the years, I have had the privilege of observing and photographing these delightful mammals. A few years ago, a female red fox chose to care for her kits by denning them up under an enclosure at Potato Hill Farms. I didn’t need to get too close and the kits were extremely energetic and such fun to photograph.
On other occasions, I have seen a red fox hunting in a field or lying in the snow under a large pine tree. Even though they are small mammals, their bushy tail, with their white tip, makes them appear a bit larger. Their throat is also white, and so is their belly. Their lower legs are black, and so are their feet, which resemble “black boots.” From the tip of their nose to the tip of their tail, they measure between twenty- two to twenty-five inches, and they weigh between ten to fifteen pounds. They are members of the Canidae Family, which also includes domestic dogs, foxes, coyotes, and wolves; however, both their appearance and skill more likely resemble the skills of the Felidae family, which includes domestic cats, bobcats, lynxes, and mountain lions.
Red Foxes stalk and pounce on their prey which is similar to the hunting practices of cats. Also, like cats, they have excellent balance and can remain motionless for long periods of time when stalking. Cats have retractable claws, and foxes have semi-retractable nails.
Red fox’s eyes have vertical oval pupils and a green reflective layer, which enhances night and day vision. Their whiskers are long and sensitive, which may assist them while hunting at night. Most interesting is their acute hearing of low-frequency sounds, such as gnawing, digging, and scurrying in leaves or under several feet of snow, which lets them capture small rodents. Their long, strongly muscled hind legs can exert maximum push-off force. This lets the red fox from a crouching position to catch a frog, mouse, or vole from a distance of fifteen feet. It is a rather remarkable feat compared to a bullfrog, which can only leap six feet, or a kangaroo, which leaps about three to four feet.
The stomach of a red fox is small and can only hold about one ounce of meat at a time; because of this, they must eat frequently. When the prey is too large to consume all at once, they will cache the food, which is also what cats do. They may return to the cache within hours or even a day or two later. Red foxes are omnivores, and the time of year determines what they eat. Fruits like grapes, apples, and berries are part of their diet. I had a nice opportunity to watch a red fox eating plums that had fallen to the ground.
A red fox can be very vocal, making numerous sounds, such as barks, yaps, howls, and even a screaming or screeching sound. They tend to be the most vocal during breeding season. When establishing dominance or territory the males will stand on their hind legs and place their forepaws on each other’s shoulders, and scream with open mouths, while pushing each other. The pushing and screaming may last as long as fifteen minutes or until one gives up. Except for breeding time, both male and female foxes are solitary animals; however, the breeding pair is essentially inseparable.
Fox dens may be found in fields, woods, elevated banks of streams, even culverts but, preferably away from human habitat. The dens are only used for rearing young or in extremely severe weather. The den is kept clean of fecal matter and free of food remains, however there may be food remains, bones or scat found at the den entrance. Gestation averages fifty two days and there will be only one litter a year.
Five kits is the average, but as many as ten kits are possible. The kits will arrive sometime between March and May. They are born with closed eyes and are covered with a fine layer of fur. Within eight to twelve days, their eyes will open. The kits can walk at three weeks and will leave the den between four to six weeks. The female will nurse the kits, groom and clean them, and eat their waste products. The male brings food to the den for the first two weeks, and then the female will leave the den and hunt for food too. At about twenty-five days, the kits begin fighting to establish dominance; the largest kit, either male or female, is the “top dog.” After the hierarchy is established, they begin to play, explore, and hunt. At about five weeks, their fur is a rusty brown, and at fourteen weeks, they resemble the adults, and they are fully grown by six months. Even an immature fox is able to breed at ten months.
A red fox may be found in many areas, from rural to suburban. The territory or home range is generally one to five miles depending on habitat, food, and whether it is a male or a female. Foxes sleep out in the open. In winter, they sleep in fields or south-facing slopes for warmth, under conifers, and within dense brush. They generally will not sleep in the same area more than one night.
How can you tell if a fox has been in your area? Evidence may be found in many ways, but discovering tracks and scat is a certainty. Red fox scat may be found on objects such as logs and rocks or in the middle of a trail. Their tracks are easily found in winter in new snowfall. The track pattern they create is a single dotted line of footprints. Hair on the bottom of their feet may make details within the footprint difficult to see but look for five toe prints. The straight line occurs because the hind foot goes into the opposite front footprint. They are also crepuscular (dawn and dusk) hunters, so looking for them at those times are the best if you are hoping to photograph one or just want the thrill of seeing a red fox.
Joan Herrmann has taught and done programs for Schools, Garden Clubs, Libraries, and Nature Centers for about 38 years as a Professional Nature Photographer, Naturalist, and Outdoor Educator. After moving from the Rochester area in 1995, she began her Photography business, Essence of Nature, and became a co-owner of The Artworks in Old Forge, New York. As a docent at Munson, Williams, Proctor Arts Institute in Utica, New York, she has been educating children and adults for nineteen years.
In 2007, she began working with the Black River Outdoor Educational Program (BROEP). In 2013 and 2014, she did a week-long summer program at BROEP with Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC).
Using her love of nature and photography, she created a Flora/Fauna outdoor educational program teaching students (ages 6 to 14) the joys of nature and creative photography skills.
Joan’s love of nature has been a lifelong study of Birds, Wildflowers, Mosses, Ferns, Trees, Amphibians, Reptiles, Grasses, Insects, Spiders, Tracks, Scat, and Galls. She has assisted in cataloging all trails used by the hiking Coaches and photographed and identified seasonal Flora.
Since October 2016, she has written a bi-monthly nature column with Adirondack Express Newspaper. In October 2019, she began a bi-monthly column with the My Little Falls newspaper. You may reach her at jmhphoto8442@gmail.com.