Fabulous Fox Family

In winter, red fox parents get ready for a den full of kits in spring.

by Michael Furtman

Late one winter day, the male red fox made his appearance. Hungry, he had risen from where he slept on a steep, grassy knoll, yawned a broad yawn, and jogged off to begin his evening hunt.

Unless you are lucky enough to have seen one, you might not even know red foxes are around. They live in every part of our state in all kinds of habitats, from forests to fields. Even if you live in a big city, there's a good chance these shy animals are nearby.

The red fox is one of the more common predators in Minnesota. A predator is an animal, bird, fish, or insect that eats other animals to survive. A red fox is most active in early morning and late evening when it goes out to hunt.

If you do spot a fox, it will probably look like a red flash as it darts into hiding. But in winter, because its beautiful red fur makes it stand out against the snow, the fox is easier to see.

To read this entire Young Naturalists story, download the PDF below

			Read "The Parenting Game" March–April 2005 for more on how other mammals, as well as birds and fish, prepare for and raise their young.
Full-color PDF of Fabulous Fox Family	Teachers Guide for Fabulous Fox Family