Red Fox

The red fox is a slender canid with a pointed muzzle, erect triangular ears and a long bushy tail. Japan's northern form, the Ezo red fox, has reddish-brown upperparts, white from the chin onto the belly, dark fronts to the feet and usually a white tail tip. Its body measures 60–80cm, the tail 37–44cm, and recorded weight spans 2.5–10kg (National Institute for Environmental Studies, Ezo red fox account).

Red foxes are adaptable omnivores that use environments from coasts and mountains to forest, grassland, farmland and urban areas. In Japan, the Ezo form occurs on Hokkaido, Kunashiri and Etorofu, while the Hondo form occupies Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu. Breeding occurs from December to February, births follow from late March into April, and litters contain three to six cubs (National Institute for Environmental Studies, Ezo red fox account).