Red fox

© Yossi Eshbol/Minden Picture

Red fox

Other than maybe our pet dogs, no other canine species has succeeded more at living among humans than the fox. This is despite the fact that people have hunted them for sport and for their highly coveted fur, and generally regarded them as pests and nemeses. Red foxes have adapted to a diversity of habitats around the world, including forests, grasslands, mountains, deserts – even the Arctic. They’ve also adapted well to human environments such as farms and suburban areas. You may even spot one taking a midnight stroll through a city.

While they primarily eat small rodents, foxes are opportunistic omnivores known to feed on reptiles, birds, insects, fruit and roots. If living among humans, they will opportunistically dine on pet food. They are expert scavengers and thieves when it comes to food. Perhaps the reason they’re adept at living among people is because they’re a lot like us. No matter how we feel about them, foxes seem to have earned our respect.