122: Foxes
We've got four of them, in descending order of size
Hey I’m back! Let’s talk about the four fox species that live in Colorado: Red Foxes, Grey Foxes, Swift Foxes, and Kit Foxes.
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Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are the largest fox, ranging across the entire northern hemisphere, including north Africa. They evolved during the late Pliocene/early Pleistocene era, ca. 3.5-1 million years ago, when so many of our familiar mammals appeared on the scene. After the Wisconsin glaciation (ca. 11,000 years ago), they moved into North America. Today, Red foxes are one of the animals who have really benefited from being around humans – they occupy our urban and suburban areas seamlessly, going about their business under our noses. Individuals tend to live in mated pairs, and range 5-10 miles, aside from when they have their young (kits) in dens, when they tend to stay within a mile of the den. They are omnivorous, so keep your trash secure!
Grey foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) are also found in the Denver area, but they are much more shy than the red fox. I’ve never seen one though I see red foxes every month or so. Grey foxes can climb trees and build their nests in them! They have hooked, very strong claws that they use for climbing. The genus Urocyon is the most basal of all living canids and Grey foxes are one of only two species still with us in that genus.
Swift foxes (Vulpes velox) are native to the Great Plains and live primarily in southeastern Colorado today. They are nocturnal predators who hunt in prairie dog colonies. Swift foxes have lost around 60% of their original territory to agriculture since Euro-American colonization. Colorado is lucky to have a healthy population of swift foxes, and sent several of their pups to Montana to restore them to the Fort Belknap reservation.
Kit foxes (Vulpes macrotis) are just extremely cute little guys with really big ears. They live in the desert parts of the US southwest and northern Mexico, including in Colorado in the drainages of the Colorado and Gunnison rivers.
Here’s a Red fox I drew:

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