In Arizona, the red fox population is relatively stable and commonly found in more remote areas of the state, including high desert and mountain regions. What is even more extraordinary is that they are able to survive in temperatures as low as -50☏. Over the last two decades, Alaska’s red fox population has been impressively resilient to human disturbance, reportedly ranging from 20,000-40,000 individuals. In Alaska, they are found in tundra, boreal forests, and even urban areas. The red fox is a generalist, meaning it can survive in many different habitats. Red foxes are the most abundant of Alaska’s fox species. While its exact size is not known, the red fox population appears to be thriving in Alabama, although it is not as sizeable as the red fox populations in some other parts of the country. Red foxes can also be found in Alabama’s national parks, such as the Russell Cave National Monument and the Auburn University Arboretum. According to research conducted by Auburn University, red foxes can be found in nearly all counties across the state. In the state of Alabama, red fox populations have been steadily increasing in recent years. We will discuss each state in more depth below. state not included in the table above, however we were not able to find numerical estimates. Not including Hawaii, red foxes are found in every other U.S. The American red fox, a subspecies of the red fox, is native to the Western part of the United States as well as Alaska. They were not seen in the eastern United States until the 1800s when the European red fox was brought here and quickly adapted to the habitat. However, red foxes seem to have grown their habitat range rather than having it reduced by humans. When discussing the population of a species, we often find that a species has been completely eradicated from certain states. As an isolated ecosystem, it is rare to find a species native to the contiguous United States living in Hawaii, much less native to Hawaii. The Hawaiian ecosystem is especially vulnerable to invasive species, and introducing non-native predators like red foxes could disrupt it significantly. While foxes may have been occasionally brought to the islands as pets, they were never released into the wild or established as native species. Red foxes are not native to Hawaii and are thus not found there. We’ll talk about the estimated red fox population by state, as well as how that population has evolved over time and the history of red foxes in each state.įirst, let’s talk about the state we don’t find red foxes in: Hawaii. Let’s learn about what influences the presence of red foxes throughout the United States.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the red fox population by state and explore why some regions have more of these clever animals than others. There are roughly 10 million red foxes living in North America, with certain states having larger populations than others. For centuries, red foxes have been a fixture in North America, living in diverse ecosystems all over the continent. Learn more about the red fox with MDC’s Field Guide.The red fox is one of nature’s most resilient and adaptable survivors. The claws leave marks, with the middle two claws most likely to show.Foot hair may show in pad marks, making the track not appear sharp.Hind tracks are 2 inches long 4 toes feet are diamond-shaped.Front tracks are 2-2 1/4 inches long 4 toes feet are oval or square in overall shape.They can occasionally be a nuisance to farmers, but they are also a great benefit in reducing the rodent population. They may also have a spare burrow to use in an emergency.

These often have a second entrance/exit so they are not trapped. They use abandoned burrows of other animals to raise their kits each spring. Red foxes only use dens when raising kits. They use the earth's magnetic field to help zero on their prey before pouncing. Red foxes can hear the low frequency sounds of small animals digging under the ground, leaves, or snow. Their hunting skills are aided by stealthy senses of smell, hearing and night vision. They’ll also communicate with facial expressions and strong scent markings. Adults have a dozen calls and their young about eight. Red foxes make sounds that span five octaves. Their bushy tail is used for balance, warmth, and signaling others. Red foxes can also run nearly 30 miles per hour and leap fences.Īlthough they come in many shades, their telltale sign is their white-tipped tail. They also share some behaviors with cats like stalking and pouncing on prey, running sideways, and walking on toes. Red foxes are in the canid, or dog, family. They prefer the edges of forests and fields and can be seen on golf courses and city parks. Red foxes are highly adaptable mammals, at home from the country to the city.