Ranger (Red Fox)
Vulpes vulpes
The Eastern Red Fox is not
native to the western United States. It is often mistaken for a gray fox which
has reddish brown trim on their sides. A true red fox is easy to identify since
it is 14-16 inches tall, is a tawny reddish brown color with a lighter
underside, has long legs with black stockings, and sports a vivid white-tipped
tail. The red fox is from the East Coast brought in for fur and sport hunting
many years ago. Some escaped and have
bred all over the Central Valley. The
Department of Fish and Game prefers the red fox not exist in the Central Valley
because of the danger it poses to the native California fox such as the
endangered kit fox.
Ranger was found as a young
fox in Fresno. Since we are not allowed to release red fox, we made him a
companion to Amber, our other permanent red fox in Fox Haven.