Red Fox
History
Red foxes probably were not found in the southern Appalachian Mountains before colonial times. European settlers released red foxes brought from Europe and other parts of northern North America into the eastern United States. Red foxes were imported primarily for the sport of hunting, an activity that had long been a popular pastime in Europe. Since then, the red fox has been gradually expanding its range. Fox hunting is still a popular sport today. Hounds are used to chase the fox while the hunters follow, usually on horseback or sometimes on foot. The object of the hunt is often just to chase the fox; many times the fox is not actually taken. Besides being a game animal, red foxes are also considered furbearers and are taken during regulated trapping seasons. They are also raised on game farms for their pelts. In years past, foxes, like many other predators, were viewed as undesirable animals and bounties were often paid to eliminate them. We now understand better the role that foxes and other predators play in the ecology of our forests.
Description
The red fox resembles a bushy-tailed, medium sized dog. The usual coloration is a bright rusty-red with black feet and legs and a whitish belly. A good identifying feature is the long tail which is tipped with white. Other color varieties of the red fox also occur including a black, a silver, and a cross phase in which a dark area crosses over the shoulders and down the middle of the back. Red foxes measure in total length from about 39 to 41 inches and weigh between 10 and 15 pounds.