We have all heard the expression “sly as a fox,” “fox in the hen house” and “crazy like a fox.” These phrases apply to a handsome member of the dog family that is found throughout Virginia. In fact there are two members of this canine family that are indigenous, the Red and Gray fox. Red foxes are found in most of North America, Great Britain, Australia and parts of North Africa. Grays range from southern Canada to northern Columbia.
Red foxes are usually rusty red with a white underbelly, black ear tips and legs, and a bushy tail with a white tip. The red tone can vary from dark chestnut to golden.
Red foxes prefer open habitats and sparsely settled hill areas. They often frequent edges between different types of cover. These canines have adapted well to suburban environments and have been known to compete with raccoons for pet leftovers. They can be found in almost any developed area that provides some form of vegetative cover.
Foxes are omnivorous, eating both animals and plants. They will prey on rabbits, mice, moles, birds, amphibians and small reptiles. Plant material includes a variety of fruits, vegetables and acorns.
Foxes have had a love/hate relation with humans for hundreds of years. They are featured in a variety of folklore ranging from the wily villain to the underdog that outfoxes humans. They are excellent mousers and help control rodent and rabbit populations. However they are always a serious threat to poultry farmers. They have been hunted for sport, trapped and poisoned; yet have survived the onslaught of civilization. A new threat to foxes has been the expansion of the coyote population into Virginia. Coyotes compete successfully with foxes for food and have been known to attack their young.
The Virginia Living Museum has two female red foxes along the Outdoor Trail.
Help pay for the food and care of the red or the gray fox at the Virginia Living Museum by adopting one of them today.
