The Fantastic Mr. Fox … Michigan Red Fox that is

The Sly look, photo by taterfalls.

A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.
~Roald Dahl

Wes Anderson’s film Fantastic Mr. Fox (based on the book by Roald Dahl / view trailer) opens tomorrow, so I thought it a good time to take a look at the red fox. The Michigan DNR’s Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes fulva) page says:

Red foxes can be found in every county in Michigan but are especially common in areas with fallow and cultivated fields, meadows, bushy fence lines, woody stream borders, and low shrub cover along woods and beaches. They can also be found in suburban and, less commonly, urban areas where food is readily available. Foxes are highly mobile, which means they can use a large area to find food and shelter.

Red foxes resemble slender, small dogs, with the head and body typically around two feet long. Red fox tail is long and bushy, usually around 15 inches. The size and weight of foxes are commonly overestimated, because their long fur masks a bone structure that is slighter than that of most domestic dogs. Red foxes have a characteristic red coloration (hence their name), with the face, top of head, and neck having yellow or orange coloration. The tail is reddish mixed with black, and always has a white tip. The outer sides of the ears, lower parts of the legs, and feet are dark or black, while the insides of the ears, and the lips, chest, and belly are creamy white.

Much more about red foxes at Wikipedia and at Vulpes vulpes (red fox) on the UM Animal Diversity Web.

Be sure and check this out bigger also have a look at Tate’s slideshow of this brave fox in action.