Windwolf
Crex Meadows ... Wildlife on the Meadows ... Red Fox
Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes
Red fox are found in Crex Meadows. This fox was trotting down the road ahead of me. It rounded a curve and I hurried to catch up. This is what I saw as I rounded the curve.
This fox was intent on its prey and seemed not to notice as I pulled up and shut off the vehicle. I was sure I would only have one chance to get a picture. I was mistaken.
Red Foxes are largely carnivorous. The majority of their diet consists of invertebrates, such as insects, mollusks, earthworms and crayfish. They do also eat some plant material, especially blackberries, apples, plums and other fruit. Common vertebrate prey includes rodents (such as mice and voles), rabbits, birds, eggs, amphibians, small reptiles and fish.
I quietly opened the door and got out. The fox did not even flinch its ear, so intent on getting something to eat.
It slowly moved its foot into a more comfortable position.
The fox is a member of the Canidae family. Their genetic group was formed 11-12 million years ago. Foxes cannot cross-breed with dogs, coyotes, or wolves, due to having a different number of chromosomes.
Then it happened. The fox pounced! Notice the underbelly. Shes nursing kits!
Fox hunting habits often involve jumping straight up in the air and comming down front feet first. During the winter, they will plunge their face into the snow to capture mice and voles moving below the snow
Now another car approached. I was blocking the road with my vehicle (door wide open) and with myself taking pictures. Again I thought, this is it, shes gonna take off.
The person in the car stopped and waited patiently. Thank you, whoever you were.
Fox young are called kits. An average litter size is five kits, but may be larger. Kits are born blind and may weigh as much as 150 grams (0.33 lb). Their eyes open at around two weeks and the kits will start exploring outside of the den by five weeks. By ten weeks they are fully weaned.
She circled the spot, hoping to flush the small creature she had been hunting.
This is when she acknowledged my presence and looked directly at me. I froze like a deer in the headlights and hoped she would not flee. She went back to circling the spot where her potential meal was last seen.
The Red Fox primarily forms monogamous pairs each winter, which cooperate to raise their litter each year. It has been documented in some locales, Red Fox may also practice polygamy (multiple males sharing a single female and/or vice versa).
Young foxes leave the care of the mother at maturity (8–10 months).
The fox returns to exploring the area of attack (picture below) and seems to decide I am not a threat. The person waiting in the car does not seem impatient yet.
She took another peek at me to reassure herself that I wasnt going anywhere.
Red Fox communicate with body language, scent markings, and a variety of vocalizations. Its has a large vocal range including a distinctive three-yip "lost call" to a shriek similar to a human scream.
Red Fox Taxonomy
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Canidae |
| Genus: | Vulpes |
| Species: | Vulpes vulpes |
And then she gave up on this particular prey and moved away into the refuge, unalarmed by my inclusion into her day.
All pictures were taken April 17, 2008