Red fox in the Netherlands

© Wim Weenink/Minden Picture

Fox in the marsh

The biggest of all fox species, the red fox lives in many different habitats around the world, including forests, grasslands, deserts, and mountains. This fox is in the Netherlands, but red foxes can be found throughout most of Europe, as well as in temperate Asia, northern Africa, and North America. A male fox is called a dog, and the female a vixen. A young fox is a kit, cub, or pup, and they live in groups called a skulks. The red fox's tail accounts for about a third of its length, and it can serve as a blanket, as well as a flag that can be raised to communicate with other foxes.