Living with Foxes in DuPage County

Scientific Name:

Natural History

They're cunning, they're cute and their homes are nearby. The Red Fox is seen fairly frequently in DuPage, while the Gray Fox is rarer.

Foxes, in fact, have been sighted in 28 DuPage County forest preserves and other open areas such as the Morton Arboretum, and the acreage surrounding Fermi Laboratory. Their presence is often detected by tracks and droppings.

Normally the Red Fox is reddish-brown with a white belly, throat and cheeks. Their feet are black, and their bushy tails are tipped in white.

Gray FoxThe Gray Fox is primarily gray, with a bushy black-tipped tail. Both species weigh between 10 and 15 pounds.

In DuPage County, it is believed that the fox population continues to drop and fragment as land is developed. The amount of suitable habitat and the food supply the remaining undeveloped land provides help set the upper limit on the fox population.

Habitat

Red Foxes primarily inhabit open areas, but have been spotted in the wooded areas as well. The elusive Gray Fox lives most of its life in the forest. Foxes are known to climb trees, often in search of fruits of the season. They have even been spotted climbing telephone poles.

Small mammals, chiefly mice and rabbits, as well as eggs, fruit, insects and birds, make up the fox diet. Keen eyesight and hearing, along with an excellent sense of smell, makes this animal a successful hunter even though it is color blind. Most active at night, early morning and late evening, foxes also roam during the day.

The Red Fox often lives in an abandoned woodchuck burrow. Brush piles, burrows or a tree hollow is the favored home base for the Gray Fox.

Forest preserve rangers have reported that in some areas, such as north Blackwell Forest Preserve, coyotes are more commonly seen than Red Foxes, and may be displacing them. In other preserves located to the south, however, both species appear to coexist.

Offspring

Foxes lead a somewhat solitary existence, except during the breeding season and the early months of the newborn pups' life. Both the male (known as a dog) and the female (vixen) actively care for the litter, which averages five pups for the Red Fox and four pups for the Gray Fox. One parent remains in the den while the other brings in food.

Red Fox pups leave their parents after about three months. The offspring of the Gray Fox usually strike out on their own at about five months old. The fox has a life span similar to that of a dog. Normal longevity in the wild is about five years. In captivity they can live up to 15 years.

Red Foxes sometimes emit a sound much like a scream. Both species of fox also bark, yip and growl like dogs.

Interactions with Man

Foxes have been known to raid chicken coops, but their reputation as a nuisance animal is not always well deserved. Studies of the fox's eating habits have shown that its eclectic diet of small mammals, birds, fruits and insects does not often include domestic animals.

Because of the value of their fur, many sportsmen pursue the Red Fox when the season is open. Hunting and trapping are prohibited in the forest preserves. Though not as highly prized for its pelt, the Gray Fox is sometimes killed as well. Both foxes use a variety of habitats though, and have managed to survive. The Red Fox has even been found living in or near towns, adapting to the human environment.

Like many wild animals, foxes avoid humans and only pose a realistic threat if cornered or hurt.

Injured Or Orphaned Animals

Injured or orphaned coyotes should only be approached by qualified personnel such as an animal control agent. Anyone who sees an injured or orphaned coyote in a DuPage forest preserve should contact the District's Willowbrook Wildlife Center at (630) 942-6200 and ask to speak to the Wildlife Specialist.