RED FOX
			Phylum: Class: Order: Family: Species: Chordata Mammalia Carnivora Canidae Vulpes vulpes

A member of the dog family, the red fox is beautiful but often times a vicious creature. The red fox can be found all over Europe, Asia and North America. Like the raccoon, they prefer woody country, but have also become urban dwellers and will scavenge scraps out of garbage cans. They will also live off of rats and mice. In the wild, they will feed on rodents, although birds, frogs and some plant materials are also eaten. Sometimes they will take poultry and small lambs, but few fox become regular poultry killers.

An adult dog fox (male) stands about 14 inches (36 cm) at the shoulder. The head and body measure just over 24 inches (60 cm) and the tail, or brush, can be 16 inches (40 cm) long. A vixen (female) is slightly smaller, and the fur is sandy or red-brown on top and white underneath. Coloring varies however, according to locality and there are several mutant strains such as the silver fox and the cross fox, which has a black band across the shoulders.

Red fox live on the ground although they are known to climb trees on occasion. They are predominantly nocturnal, but do venture out into the daytime.

Mating occurs between December and February. Around April, the 3 to 8 cubs are born and remain in the nest, or earth, until nearly a month old. The dog fox supplies his family with food. Later, the cubs are taught to hunt for themselves and they leave their parents after they are about three months old.