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(Vulpes vulpes).
Date of admission: May, 2025.
Reason for admission: Orphaned.
Patient History:
The red fox has a large geographic range. They can be found across the Northern Hemisphere from the Arctic Circle to North Africa, Central America, and Asia. Red foxes are the largest of the four species of fox that inhabit Canada; the others are the Swift fox (Vulpes velox), Grey fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), and Arctic fox (Alopex lagopus). Adult red foxes weigh three to five kilograms (7 to 11 pounds). Contrary to their name, not all red foxes are red - adult red foxes can also have brown, black, and even silver fur.
Red foxes can be found in all of Canada’s provinces and territories. Foxes prefer living near the edges of wooded habitats that border open prairie grasslands, but their highly adaptive nature has allowed them to thrive in urban environments as well. Red foxes are nocturnal, which means that they are most active at night. Foxes hunt almost exclusively in the early morning hours before the sun rises and late in the evening after the sun has set. Although rodents are their primary prey, their diet may also include small birds, eggs, insects, hares, and frogs. Foxes have been known to prey on domestic chickens and, as a result, have been labeled as a nuisance animal.
From late spring through early summer, AIWC receives a high number of orphaned, injured, or displaced fox kits. Many cannot remain in their original location due to injury or the absence of a parent, and are brought to us for care. Upon arrival, each kit is quarantined and observed to ensure they are healthy before being introduced to others of the same age.
Whenever possible, we aim to raise them together. For many species, socialization with others of their kind is crucial—it helps them learn how to interact, play, and develop the survival skills they’ll need once released.
Since May 1st, we’ve admitted six fox kits, including a silver morph red fox—our first ever at AIWC! Her dark coat is the result of a genetic mutation, and as she grows, she’ll develop the striking silvery guard hairs that give this morph its name. We’re excited to care for each of these kits and support them on their journey back to the wild.