That sly old Red Fox

By Al Lowe
Contributor

Everyone knows him - Reynard that Fox. Sly, devilish, cunning - a lot of words are used to describe him - not all complimentary either. In scientific terms, he is Vulpes, vulpes.
The Red Fox is native to all parts of the northern world, Asia, Europe, North Africa, as well as our own area. In our case, the fox comes in three different color phases. The red phase is the common one, mostly red with trimmings of white and black. The cross phase is one where the basic color is brownish-red but with a very dark cross on the shoulders. The third one is the silver fox - almost totally black, except for a white tail tip. The silver fox used to have great value in the markets of the world, as much as $1500 a pelt at one time. But much fur has lost its appeal in the last few years. These phases occur only in the New World, and not in Europe or Asia at all.
How about foxes and agriculture? Are they beneficial or not? Well, if you are a chicken farmer, you may not be too happy at having foxes near your farm. After all, chickens are stupid and easy to catch, so foxes are going to be attracted to them. If your farm was a fruit operation, though, you would probably be very glad indeed to have a few foxes to keep down the rabbits and mice. Good or bad will depend on your point of view.
The fox has a very mixed diet. He will eat mice, rabbits, woodchucks, squirrels, grouse, ducks, frogs, snakes, crayfish, beetles, grubs, grasshoppers, berries, nuts, strawberries and apples. They are also partial to carrion, and take ‘leftovers’ from the kills of larger animals such as wolves.
Stories about foxes which have outwitted dogs and hunters are legion. They will run along fences, backtrack on their trails, run up or down streams, cross very thin ice. They will even hide in barns, cars, outhouses, and in one case, in a church full of people. They are speedy too, having been clocked at 45 miles per hour over fairly long distances.
The Red Fox seems to be prone to outbreaks of rabies. When this happens, foxes tend to lose all fear. They will attack and bite all sorts of people and animals. It seems that foxes and skunks are more likely to get rabies than are most other wild animals.
There are lots of stories, and many books written about the sly old fox, and even songs, too. An animal which although bred to the wilderness, can adapt to civilization even at the edge of our cities, is not likely to disappear from the scene. And that’s likely a good thing. His role as a controller of those fertile mice and rabbits is of immense value to us all.