Desert Foxes

*

**

The fennec, Fennecus zerda, is the smallest fox in the world, 3 pounds, 1.5 kg, yet has the largest ears at 6 inches. The fennec breeds from January through March. Fifty-one days later, 2-5 kits are born. They only mate once a year. Their food consists of insects, small animals, and fruit. They range from North Africa to the Arabian Peninsula. Due to the extreme daytime heat of the desert, they, along with the kit fox, are primarily nocturnal.

The kit fox (aka the swift fox), Vulpes macrotis and the subspecies, the San Joaquin kit fox, Vulpes macrotis mutica, also known as the sand fox, are endangered species. They are endangered by man, of course. The most common way they are killed is by automobile accidents. They are also killed by hunters. The hunters set livetraps for furbearing animals and end up catching the kit foxes instead. Instead of letting the foxes go, they shoot them. The foxes are also suffocated by logging and land clearing,eating poisoned rodents, and being poisoned directly. Just another example of humans destroying innocent creatures.

Kit foxes mate during the months of September through November. Their gestation period is 49-55 days, but the average number of days is 51-53 days. They give birth to 1-7 kits once a year. They grow to be 30-40 cm long plus a 30 cm tail! They feed on small mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, and vegetables.

The San Joaquin Kit Fox

The San Joaquin kit fox, Vulpes macrotis mutica, is sometimes considered an altogether different species from the regular kit fox. The only noteable difference is their lighter-colored appearance affected by where they live.

*First fennec picture by Rebecca L. Grambo and used with permission.

**Second fennec picture by Lioncrusher and used with permission.