Here is one of our red fox kits. He has white at the tip of his tail which is how we identified him as a red fox despite them being born grey! This little guy also has some cute white rear paws which is much less common. In the entire season only two baby fox kits (out of around 60) had any white coloring on their paws, and yes those areas stayed that color as they grew up. They shed the initially grey baby fur around 5 weeks old and begin growing the coppery orange color we associate with red foxes in North America.

Did you know that if a fox mother is killed the father, aunts and uncles will still try to keep the kits alive by bringing them food and raising them? Foxes typically mate for life and birth 1-6 kits in early spring, each year. They are born with eyes and ears both sealed shut and only open their eyes around the 2 week mark. In wildlife rehabilitation we use this to help us assess how old a kit is when brought to us. 

When kits are older they can be seen playing alone without the supervision of their parents. Please don't kidnap a healthy baby from his or her parents! If you hear crying for more than a day and see a baby alone with insects on it or an injury that is a sign the baby needs help and you can call a wildlife rehabilitator and report the status of the baby. Please don't touch them with bare skin and don't feed them. Heating up a water bottle or putting dry, uncooked rice into a sock and tying it closed then microwaving can help to warm the baby.