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By Sydney Weisinger

Teacher/Naturalist

Walking the Nature Center trails with the winter snow covering everything is a magical experience. Trekking through the red trail prairies and forest, I see a bright speck of red run across the path in front of me. It’s a red fox. It’s possible I woke it from a nap or caught it in the middle of a hunt.

Red foxes are common in Minnesota, but you may have never seen one since they typically hunt at night. Winter is an exception however, as they can be seen hunting during the daytime more often. So where is the best place to catch a glimpse of a fox this winter and what other behaviors can we expect from them?

Did you know that there are actually two different types of foxes in Minnesota? The common red fox and the less common gray fox. The gray fox is most commonly found in the southeastern counties of Minnesota. Even though gray foxes can be found in this part of the state, doesn’t mean you are likely to see one. They prefer areas that are more secluded and away from human activity. The Nature Center has great habitat for foxes with plenty of open prairies for red foxes and forested areas for both red and gray foxes. Red foxes love to lay out in the open prairie on sunny days during the winter to catch some rays and warm-up. Gray foxes, however, can even be seen climbing trees, not only to seek refuge but also to obtain food.

Both species are carnivores, being one of the greatest destroyers of mice, but they will also eat a variety of insects and fruits. Red foxes are known to catch their larger kills, while gray foxes do not.

This may be in part to gray foxes being considered less intelligent. Have you ever seen pictures of a red fox jumping in the air, looking down, looking to plunge through the snow to their prey? That is actually how they hunt for mice and voles in the winter. They can hear the mice and voles moving around under the snow. Once they pinpoint where the noise is coming from, they pounce!  While on your walk if you notice any large indents in the snow, a fox may have just caught its lunch there.

When you are out walking the trails, if you see tracks that look like dog tracks, you may have found a fox. How can you tell between a dog and a fox footprint in the snow?

When dogs are out on a walk, they tend to meander around from place to place, sniffing a log here and chasing a squirrel over there. While foxes need to conserve their energy while hunting and especially during the winter, therefore; they walk in a straight line. Fox tracks are also the smallest of the wild canines, measuring 2-3 inches. The tracks may also appear fuzzy around the outside due to extra fur growth in the winter.

Usually, you will only see one set of fox tracks on the trail, but late January is the perfect time to start looking for two sets of tracks walking close to each other.

This is the beginning of mating season. Fox pups will be born late April to early May. Most pairs will only stay together until their pups are independent, with the majority of foxes becoming solitary by fall.

January at

the Nature Center

Jan. 1: Interpretive Center Closed

Jan. 6: Ski Club registration opens online, 9 a.m.

Jan. 10: Cedar River Astronomy Club. Free to join, 7 p.m.

Jan. 11: Planetarium Open House. Free with limited space, 1-3:40 p.m.

Jan. 15: Homeschool cross-country ski lessons registration opens online, 9 a.m.

Jan. 20: Interpretive Center Closed

Jan. 21: Ski Club begins

Jan. 25: Friends Annual Meeting, 1:30-3:30 p.m.