There are 5 different species of fox that can be found in North America. These fox species vary in size, coloration, behavior, diet, and habitat preferences. The 5 fox species native to North America are the red fox, gray fox, kit fox, Arctic fox, and the swift fox. Each species is uniquely adapted to thrive in certain environments across the diverse North American landscape.
Foxes are small-to-medium-sized canids, with most species weighing between 3 to 15 pounds as adults. They have bushy tails, pointed ears, elongated snouts, and a lightweight frame that allows them to be agile hunters. Foxes are omnivorous, feeding on small mammals like rodents, birds, eggs, insects, and also fruits and plants. They play an important role as predators in many ecosystems.
Some fox species, like the red fox, have adapted well to living near human settlements and can even be found in urban areas. Other species, like the Arctic fox, are extremely rare outside their harsh northern habitat. Understanding the differences between the 5 fox species can provide insight into their behavioral patterns, conservation needs, and how they’ve adapted to thrive across North America.
Red Fox
The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is the most widespread and well-known fox species in North America. They are found across almost the entire continent, absent only in parts of the High Arctic and some remote islands. The red fox has the largest range of any terrestrial mammal that occurs naturally in North America.
Red foxes have long bushy tails with white tips. Their coat is various shades of red, from a light orange to a dark auburn. They have black legs, ears, and throat. Red foxes exhibit a fair amount of variation in coat color, which can also include some black or silver morphs. On average, the red fox measures 32 to 56 inches from head to tail and weighs between 7 to 15 pounds.
These foxes are highly adaptable habitat generalists. Red foxes occupy a diverse array of biomes, including forests, grasslands, mountains, and deserts. They can even thrive in urban and suburban areas. Red foxes dig dens in the ground or will occupy abandoned burrows made by other animals.
The red fox is an omnivore and has an extremely diverse diet. They prey on rodents like mice, voles, and squirrels. Birds, rabbits, insects, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates also make up their diet. Red foxes forage for fruits and berries and will eat carrion.
Red foxes breed once a year. After a 52 day gestation period, the female (vixen) gives birth to a litter of 4 to 6 kits. Kits are cared for by both parents until they reach adulthood at around 9 months old.
The red fox is not considered threatened or endangered. Their adaptability has allowed them to thrive, despite habitat loss and hunting pressure from humans. The red fox is the single most widespread terrestrial mammal in North America.
Gray Fox
The gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) is the only American fox adapted to living in trees. They are found through most of the southern half of North America, ranging from southern Canada down to northern Venezuela.
Gray foxes have gray, black, and white speckled fur and reddish legs, feet, and ears. They have a black stripe along the top side of their tail, which ends in a black tip. Gray foxes are smaller than red foxes, averaging 32 to 45 inches in length and weighing 7 to 15 pounds.
These foxes make their dens in hollow trees, stumps, or abandoned burrows. They are also known to rest in the low branches of trees. Gray foxes have strong, hooked claws that allow them to scramble up trees with ease. This adaptation allows them to escape predators and reach food sources like birds eggs and fruit.
The gray fox diet consists mainly of mice, voles, shrews, squirrels, and rabbits. They also eat birds, insects, reptiles, amphibians, fish, invertebrates, nuts, fruit, and carrion. Compared to the red fox, the more carnivorous gray fox rarely eats plant material.
Breeding season for the gray fox occurs between December and April. Females give birth to 1 to 7 kits after a 53 day gestation. Kits begin accompanying parents on hunting trips after about 3 months.
Gray fox populations are stable overall, though they have declined in certain areas due to extensive habitat loss. The gray fox is still relatively abundant because of its ability to adapt to fragmented woodlands near human development.
Kit Fox
The kit fox (Vulpes macrotis) is a small desert fox found in the arid regions of southwestern North America. Their range stretches from southern Oregon and Idaho down into central Mexico.
Kit foxes have large ears, slim bodies, and long bushy tails. Their fur is pale tan to yellowish gray, with lighter fur on their belly and inner ears. They measure 30 to 32 inches in length and weigh between 5 to 7 pounds, making them the smallest fox species in North America.
These small foxes are well adapted to live in desert climates. They do not require drinking water, getting all the moisture they need from their food. Kit foxes have large kidneys and liver that allow them to efficiently concentrate urine and retain water. Their large ears provide enhanced heat dissipation.
Kit foxes shelter in underground dens during the day to escape extreme desert heat. At night they emerge to hunt for food like kangaroo rats, pocket mice, prairie dogs, black-tailed jackrabbits, desert cottontails, and insects. When available, they will also eat birds, reptiles, fruits, seeds, and grass.
Breeding occurs between December and March. Females give birth to 2 to 6 kits after a 48 day gestation period. Kit fox families share large dens and all members cooperatively care for the pups.
Habitat loss is the biggest threat facing kit fox populations. They are also sometimes hunted for their fur. Conservation efforts focus on preserving interconnected stretches of native desert scrub habitat.
Arctic Fox
The Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) lives in the frozen tundra and coastal regions of the Arctic. In North America, they range throughout Alaska, Canada, and Greenland.
Arctic foxes have thick, multi-layered fur to survive frigid Arctic temperatures reaching -50°F in winter. Their fur is brown or gray during the summer, and turns completely white in the winter. These foxes measure 18 to 27 inches in length and weigh between 6 to 17 pounds.
The Arctic fox is specially adapted to living on the frozen tundra. They have small rounded ears, short muzzles, and short legs to minimize heat loss. The bottom of their paws are covered in dense fur to allow them to walk on snow and ice. Arctic foxes change their diet and hunting strategy depending on the season.
In the winter, they prey on ringed seal pups, fish, and waterfowl. During the summer, Arctic foxes hunt small mammals like lemmings, voles, Arctic hares, birds, and eggs. They have also been known to eat carrion and forage on berries, seaweed, and fungi.
Breeding occurs between April and May. Females give birth after 52 days gestation to litters of up to 25 pups. Arctic foxes often create interconnected tunnel systems in the permafrost to share dens during breeding and pup rearing.
Climate change threatens Arctic fox populations as their tundra habitat warms. However, their high reproduction rates allow them to quickly recover from population declines. They are not currently considered threatened overall.
Swift Fox
The swift fox (Vulpes velox) is a small prairie fox endemic to the Great Plains region of North America. They historically occupied grasslands from Canada to Texas, but have experienced significant population declines. Remaining swift fox populations are found in the prairies of Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, and Texas.
Swift foxes have yellow-tan fur peppered with black and white accents. They have black patches on their nose and across their eyes. Their tail has a distinctive black tip. Swift foxes are around 12 pounds in weight and measure 30 inches long.
These small foxes live in underground dens on open grassland prairies and semi-arid plains. Unlike most fox species, swift foxes are not very adaptable and rely on healthy native short- and mixed-grass prairie ecosystems. Swift foxes eat mostly small mammals like ground squirrels, cottontail rabbits, black-tailed jackrabbits, prairie dogs, and insects.
Breeding season is December through March, with 2 to 6 pups born after a 52 day gestation. Pups begin foraging with parents at a young age.
Habitat loss due to agriculture, urban sprawl, and livestock grazing has severely decreased swift fox populations. They now only inhabit about 40% of their historic range. Conservation efforts focus on restoring native prairie habitat and reintroducing populations to protected areas. Due to ongoing declines, the swift fox is being considered for federal endangered species protection.
Fox Table
| Species | Range | Size | Weight | Habitat | Diet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Fox | Most of North America | 32-56 in. long | 7-15 lbs | Forests, grasslands, mountains, deserts, urban areas | Small mammals, birds, insects, fruits, carrion |
| Gray Fox | Southern Canada to Venezuela | 32-45 in. long | 7-15 lbs | Forests, woodlands | Small mammals, birds, insects, fruit, carrion |
| Kit Fox | Southwestern North America | 30-32 in. long | 5-7 lbs | Deserts | Kangaroo rats, mice, rabbits, birds, insects, reptiles, fruits |
| Arctic Fox | Alaska, Canada, Greenland | 18-27 in. long | 6-17 lbs | Tundra, coastal Arctic regions | Ringed seals, fish, birds, eggs, rodents, carrion |
| Swift Fox | Central prairies of North America | 30 in. long | 12 lbs | Grassland prairies, plains | Ground squirrels, rabbits, prairie dogs, insects |
Conclusion
North America is home to 5 diverse fox species, each uniquely adapted to thrive in certain habitats. From the tundra of the Arctic fox to the deserts of the kit fox, these canids fill an important ecological role as predators. Foxes help control rodent and rabbit populations and provide food for larger carnivores.
The widespread red fox demonstrates the adaptability of the fox family, as they inhabit ranges from downtown cities to remote mountains. Yet foxes like the swift fox show their vulnerability to habitat loss. Protecting interconnected stretches of native habitat can help support stable fox populations into the future.
Foxes fascinate people with their cunning intelligence and elusive nature. Learning more about where different fox species live, what they eat, and how they behave provides a window into appreciating North America’s wild canid diversity. Whether seen scurrying across a road at night or padding through snowy forests, foxes are iconic wildlife to be celebrated.
