lat.: Vulpes vulpes crucigera

Coloration of red foxes ranges from pale yellowish red to deep reddish brown on the upper parts and white, ashy or slaty on the underside. The lower part of the legs is usually black and the tail usually has a white or black tip. Two color variants commonly occur. The cross fox has reddish brown fur and has a black stripe down its back and another across its shoulders. The silver fox ranges from strong silver to nearly black and is the most prized by furriers.

Subspecies
Vulpus vulpes vulpes, Vulpus vulpes crucigera, Vulpus vulpes silacea, Vulpus vulpes induta

Red foxes are solitary animals and do not form packs like wolves. Individual adults have home ranges that vary in size depending on the quality of the habitat. In good areas ranges may be between 5 and 12 square kilometers; in poorer habitats ranges are larger, between 20 and 50 square kilometers. During some parts of the year adjacent ranges may overlap somewhat, but parts may be regularly defended. In other words, Vulpes vulpes is at least partly territorial. Ranges are occupied by an adult male and one or two adult females with their associated young. Individuals and family groups have main earthen dens and often other emergency burrows in the home range. Dens of other animals, such as rabbits or marmots, are often taken over by foxes. Larger dens may be dug and used during the winter and during birth and rearing of the young. The same den is often used over a number of generations. Pathways throughout the home range connect the main den with other resting sites, favored hunting grounds and food storage areas. Red foxes are terrestrial and either nocturnal or crepuscular. Top speed is about 48 km/h and obstacles as high as 2 m can be lept. In the autumn following birth, the pups of the litter will disperse to their own territories. Dispersal can be to areas as nearby as 10 km and as far away as almost 400 km. Animals remain in the same home range for life.

Diet
The red fox is essentially an omnivore. It mostly eats rodents, lagomorphs, insects and fruit. They will also eat carrion. Red foxes have a characteristic manner of hunting mice. The fox stands motionless, listening and watching intently for a mouse it has detected. It then leaps high and brings the forelimbs straight down forcibly to pin the mouse to the ground. Daily food consumption is between 0.5 and 1 kg a day.

Habitat
Red foxes utilize a wide range of habitats including forest, tundra, prairie and farmland. Preferred habitats have a diversity of vegetation.

Area
The Red fox is spreded throughout North America, all of Europe and Britain and almost all of Asia including Japan. There are also several populations in North Africa. Red foxes were introduced into Australia in the nineteenth century.

Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland, Canada, Argentina, USA-Alaska, Hungary, Rumania, Lithunia, Turkey, Slowenia, Switzerland, Austria, Australia, Poland