South Vermont News

You might think the red fox doesn’t need a #CreatureFeature. It’s one of our most recognizable species, right? Well, think again. There’s more to this dapper mesopredator than meets the eye!

Red foxes are abundant in our state today, and they’re native to locations across North America. But, they may have been very rare or completely absent in much or all of Vermont before European settlement. There are a few schools of thought about how the red fox became common in this neck of the woods and south along the Atlantic coast. Some genetic evidence points to the natural range expansion of northern New England and Canadian red fox populations at the same time that European settlers’ agricultural practices were changing the landscape. Historical records also show intentional introduction of European red foxes by settlers along the eastern seaboard.

European red foxes?! That’s right. This species—charmingly referred to as “Vulpes vulpes” in biological parlance—has the largest natural global distribution of any land mammal except for us (humans, that is). You’ll find them in the Arctic, England, Japan, North Africa, India, and in many parts of North America. 

Today, our healthy red fox population fills a key niche in Vermont ecosystems. Red foxes are an important mid-sized predator of small mammals and birds. But it’s not just meat that piques a red fox’s palate! They’re also omnivores who will take fruit, berries, and carrion in a heartbeat. 

For a such a snappy looking character, the red fox can be hard to spot. Although they are common anywhere in Vermont that has a nice mix of forest and field habitat (emphasis on the brushy edges!), red foxes are elusive. The species is “crepuscular”, being most active at dawn and dusk. And red foxes are behaviorally cautious, going out of their way to avoid people. 

Elusiveness aside, those who do spot a red fox are often in for a treat. Foraging along field edges, the red fox has a particularly showy style as a hunter. Standing still and using their sharp ears to detect the movement of prey under the grass or snow, foxes will leap high into the air and pounce down to pin small mammals. Truly a sight to behold! In addition, red foxes use their excellent memory to make the most of their prey. They will cache surplus food after a successful hunt or scavenging expedition to return to later.

Original source can be found here.