A pair of fox pups sit and curiously watch the road as they enjoy an evening outside the den last week along County Highway 56 northeast of New York Mills. Red fox mate about mid-winter and the female bears from four to ten pups in early spring. They often den up in woodchuck or badger holes. Dens are usually found in dense woods. Most dens are quite deep - up to 40 feet. The red fox is the most common predator in the state. Hunters and trappers harvest up to 100,000 each year, but the fox population remains strong. The average size of an adult fox is 15 to 16 inches tall at the shoulder and a weight of 10 to 12 pounds. Foxes have an average home range varying from one to four miles. Red fox are extremely adaptable and thrive under a variety of conditions. Common throughout Minnesota, red fox are seen most often resting or trotting in open fields of farm country. The red fox runs 30 mph, and can leap 15 feet in a single bound - farther than a kangaroo. It is one of the few predators that store food items for future use.
(Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources)
