Red Fox is often seen at Assateague Island National Seashore near
the beach. The Red Fox searches for shorebirds, eggs or fish in this
plentiful ecosystem. Red Foxes can be found throughout Assateague
and are usually most active at night. Males are typically heavier
than females. They bring food to the female when she is caring for
Foxes are found in many parts of the world and they have the reputation
for being clever scavengers. Some subspecies exhibit a silver fur
color. The fox's large ears help when detecting mice that hide under
the snow during Assateague's winter months. The red fox is a member
of the dog family.
Fox populations are healthy despite pressure from humans and predators.
Humans have long hunted them for their beautiful red fur and bushy
tails. Foxes play a major role in controlling rodent populations on
agricultural land. Although foxes have short life spans, some have
been known to live up to 14 years of age.