Red fox

A versatile small predator of fields, woodland edges and towns.

Field guide

A versatile small predator of fields, woodland edges and towns.

Identification

Shared features

Pointed face, black legs and a bushy tail usually tipped in white; coat color varies.

Male

The male shares the pointed muzzle, black legs and often white-tipped bushy tail; he averages slightly larger. Red, cross and silver coat morphs occur in either sex.

Female

The female has the same shape and any of the same color morphs. A vixen with cubs may be identifiable by context; coat color and size alone are unreliable.

Habitat

Open woods, brushy fields, farms and prey-rich edges.

Where to look during the day

Morning

At dawn, scan grassy edges and tracks left after overnight hunting.

Afternoon

In the afternoon, foxes often rest in cover or near a den but can remain active.

Evening

At dusk, watch open field edges as hunting activity increases.

Sounds

Barks, yelps and sharp screams, particularly during social or breeding encounters.

Recorded calls

Red fox

Field recording of a red fox. A narrower call type or the caller's sex is not assigned to this clip.

NPS / Shan Burson · Recording source

Natural history source: Read the source

Bag limits

Bag and possession summaries.

-No bag limit or possession limit.

Official bag-limit source