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This months featured critter is the FOX Physical Characteristics When most people think of a fox they attribute the color of red to it's coat, or fur, and typically that is followed by the long bushy tail and pointed snout. For a majority of the foxes this is true but their traits differ from one region to the next. In places such that are more arid in climate we can find the Desert Fox. It's fur is shorter than that of it's northern relative which is in direct correlation to the temperature ranges which are primarily warm throughout the year. They also sport larger ears that are substantial than that of, let's say, the Artic Fox. This fox is more or less quite the opposite with thick insulating fur and much shorter ears. The most recognized fox is the Red Fox. This animal is depicted as cunning and sly with it's luxurious orangish-red coat which in adept at survival in varying climates. A close second is the Grey Fox which can have a varying coat of fur between red and grey. This wily little critter has also been called the Tree Fox due to it's ability to climb trees. Family Life Foxes are considered to be solitary animals to the effect that they are not pack animals like many of their close neighbors such as the coyote. Foxes can become lifetime aqquaintances that often join together only to mate and care for their young. At a very young age the mother, or vixen, will feed the babies, also known as kits, by returning to the den with small prey. This will allow the kits to develop skills they will need when the time comes to fend for themselves or their own family. Once the kits have shown that they can effectively hunt on their own, the mother will chase them from her territory to begin their own lives. When most people see a group of foxes they refer to them as a family. The correct terminology would be a skulk. Food and Hunting The fox is an opportunistic eater that would be considered an omnivore. Their main diet usually derives from rodents which is why a rodent call works well for foxes when hunting, but by no means are they limited to rodents when it comes to meal time. A fox will at times catch rabbits or take advantage of scraps left behind such as a deer that was hit by a vehicle. They use a pouncing technique that looks somewhat like a dive into water to catch and immobilize live prey. Fox are also known to eat items such as grasshoppers, fruits, and berries. The fox has grown accustomed to many urban areas and can modify it's diet to include pet food or even become relatively tolerant of certain pets such as domestic cats. Vocalization The vast majority of people would consider the fox to be a silent, but stealthy, critter when in fact the fox can produce a decent amount of audible vocalization. Speaking in terms of experience, I have had a pair of foxes visiting here for the past 2 years. Their vocals range from a shrill bark-like screech that somewhat resembles a young crow in the distance. These short blasts usually consist of 3 to 5 bursts as the foxes communicate with one another. Typically you will hear the response from both foxes once they have located each other. A sample of this sound would be the Fox Yell which can be found in our download area. There is also an Alarm Bark which is used to signal to the kits that danger is near. Another vocal is called Gekkering which I was able to experience when a grey fox and a raccoon decided to brawl in the front yard. The fox was very audible before the fight but in the end the raccoon was victorious. Finally, of the more noted vocals comes the Vixens Wail. It is said that this long drawn-out call is made by the female to announce she is in heat. I've never heard this one but it is said to be quite eery. Consequently the true purpose of this vocalization is somewhat unclear as it is also made by the male fox. Join us next time for a new featured critter!