The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) belongs to order Carnivora and
the family Canidae. There are 12 actual species of fox although a variety of
over 30 species are referred to as foxes. The size of a large cat or small dog,
foxes are found all over the world in the industrialized town and the quiet
countryside. Red foxes are found across the Northern Hemisphere.
Interesting features of the red fox include a pointed snout
and bushy tail. The higher the latitude in the habitat, the larger the fox is
with an average weight somewhere between eight and 16 pounds. With eyes that
are similar in look to a feline, the fox is in fact quite near sighted and use
their strong muscles and powerful noses to detect their prey.
Foxes are omnivores and enjoy a varied diet. They prefer to
dine on small birds, amphibians and mammals but are not against digging through
garbage or raiding a chicken coop. Foxes that live in the country may eat
fruits and berries as well as insects and eggs. Foxes store extra food supplies
in caches that consist of food piles covered with leaves or dirt.
The practice of fox hunting, once common in the UK
was banned throughout the kingdom in 2005.