Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)
Place observed
Former golf course area and Miller Marsh
Description
It is medium in size and the basic color of its coat is red, but has multiple variations. It is sometimes black or brown. Its belly and throat are often white, its legs black and the tip of its long bushy tail white. His bone structure is delicate and light, which allows him to run faster than a dog of the same size. Its ears and muzzle are pointed and the female is slightly smaller than the male.
The red fox is said to be very intelligent and of a rather discreet, nervous and shy temperament. They have excellent vision, as well as a keen sense of hearing and smell which they use to hunt.
Habitat
Related to the wolf, coyote and domestic dog, the Red Fox is the most common fox species in North America. It is also found in Europe, Asia and even in North Africa and Australia, where the species was introduced over a century ago. In Canada, it is present throughout the country and in Rosemère, data indicates that it has been observed near the site of the former golf course and at the Miller Marsh.
Diet
Its food sources are diversified and vary according to the season. It is omnivorous, predominantly carnivorous, hunting small mammals such as voles, squirrels, mice and rabbits, but also eats insects, berries, seeds, mushrooms, other plants and even dead animal carcasses.
Breeding
The Red Fox can start breeding from the age of 10 months and is usually monogamous. The breeding season is from the end of January to the beginning of March, and the female gives birth to an average of 5 cubs about 50 days later in the spring. The cubs are born blind and deaf. The mother takes care of them during the first two weeks until they open their eyes, while the male is exclusively in charge of providing food to the female while she nurses them. They are weaned after one month and raised by both parents. The following fall, they leave the den to find a territory where they can start a family. They choose a site that will cover up to ten hectares in urban areas and a hundred hectares in rural areas.
It seems that about 80% of the fox cubs die before they reach the age of one year. In addition to humans, their predators are wolves, coyotes, dogs, golden eagles and eagle owls, which prey almost exclusively on fox cubs.
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