Fun Kit Fox Facts For Kids

The kit fox (Vulpes Macrotis) is a species of fox found in the United States of America. Its range is spread across Southwestern and Northern America as well as Central and Northern Mexico. These foxes are nocturnal and usually active during the nighttime.Here, we have many amazing and interesting kit fox facts for everyone to enjoy.For more relatable content, check out these river otter facts and European otter facts for kids.

What do they prey on? Kangaroo rats, cottontail rabbits, prairie dogs, birds

What do they eat? Carnivores

Average litter size? 4

How much do they weigh? 3.52-5.95 lb (1.6-2.7 kg)

How long are they? 17.9-21.1 in (45.4-53 cm)

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Yellowish-gray colored body

Skin Type Fur

What were their main threats? Bobcats, Coyotes, Red Foxes

What is their conservation status? Least Concern

Where you’ll find them? Grasslands, Chaparrals, Desert Scrubs

Locations North America, Mexico

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Vulpes

Class Mammalia

Family Canidae

Kit fox Interesting FactsWhat type of animal is a kit fox?The kit fox (Vulpes macrotis) is a species of fox found in the United States of America, in states like California and Nevada, mainly toward the desert areas.What class of animal does a kit fox belong to?The kit fox belongs to the class Mammalia. It is a species of fox that lives in dens and burrows in the desert.How many kit foxes are there in the world?The total population of kit foxes has not been recorded, but they are a species of Least Concern according to the IUCN Red List. However, according to the US Federal List, they are an Endangered species.Where does a kit fox live?A kit fox habitat consists of arid regions like desert scrub, chaparral, and grasslands. Their range is spread across Southwestern and North America. Its range is also spread in Central and north Mexico. It can be found in the states of Nevada, Utah, California, Arizona, New Mexico, and western Texas.What is a kit fox’s habitat?A kit fox’s habitat includes arid regions like desert scrub, chaparral, and grasslands and builds their dens in deserts. They are often seen in urban and agricultural areas as well where they get plenty of food. They look for a habitat that has loose soil so that they can easily build their den.Who do kit foxes live with?Kit foxes are social animals. They live in pairs or groups. Their groups are called ’troop’ or ‘skulk’. It is often seen that different families can acquire the same hunting grounds, but they do not hunt at the same time.How long does a kit fox live?The kit fox has a life span of 5-12 years in the wild. There have been recent studies done on kit fox pups in which they showed a mortality rate of 74% during the first year.How do they reproduce?Kit foxes are monogamous animals that mate for life, although there have been few instances of polygynous behavior. Their mating season is during October and November and can go on till February if they live in large family dens. The female leaves in search of a den during September, followed by a male in October.Their gestation period lasts for 49-55 days, and they give birth to one to seven pups during mid-February and March. Young pups do not leave the den until they are four weeks old. Females are able to breed after ten months of birth, but it is highly unlikely for them to give birth during the first year as young females have a lower reproductive rate.What is their conservation status?According to the IUCN Red List, the kit foxes have the conservation status of Least Concern, and their numbers are stable. As per the reports of the US Federal List and the US national database, degradation of habitat has led them to fall under the category of Endangered Species. They are considered Endangered in California as well as Oregon.Kit Fox Fun FactsWhat do kit foxes look like?Kit foxes are the smallest species of foxes found in North America. They have really large ears, and their tail is about 40% in length of their body. They have a yellowish-gray-colored coat that has few rusty tones and a black tip to their tail. The underside of their body and the inner side of their large ears is light-colored, while their backs are usually darker, and they have dark patches on each side of the nose.How cute are they?The kit fox is a really cute animal mainly because of its appearance. Its short head and body, in comparison to its large ears, give it a cute and adorable look. These cute little animals have a habitat that ranges across the Northern and Southwestern United States and is found in states like California, Oregon, Utah.How do they communicate?Kit foxes have large ears that give them an acute sense of hearing. They are nocturnal and are active during nighttime. They use their ears to locate their prey’s movements or to learn the presence of a predator. They are known to bark at threats and use a ‘hacking growl’ during certain encounters.How big is a kit fox?Kit foxes are literally the smallest species of fox found in the United States. They are about 17.9 to 21.1 in (45.4-53 cm) in length, and their tail is long and is about 40% of their body length. It is about 10.2–12.7 in (26-32.3 cm).How fast can a kit fox run?Lit foxes are considered fast runners due to their small size and agile body. They can run as fast as 25 mph (40 kph) an hour, which helps them catch their food or prey and escape predators.How much does a kit fox weigh?The kit fox is a small species of fox that weighs only 3.52-5.95 lb (1.6-2.7 kg). Its small and lightweight body gives it the speed and agility needed to hunt prey and evade predators.What are the male and female names of the species?Male kit foxes are known as reynards or tods, while female kit foxes are called vixens. Females are smaller in size when compared to males and usually leave their den in search of a new den when they are mature enough to perform reproduction.What would you call a baby kit fox?Baby kit foxes are called pups, cubs, or kits. They are not allowed to leave the dens until they are four weeks old. The weaning period lasts for eight weeks, and the young ones become independent when they are about five to six months old.What do they eat?Kit foxes are carnivores. Their food mainly consists of rodents and rabbits, but they commonly feed on prairie dogs, kangaroo rats, and cottontail rabbits. Large insects, lizards, snakes, and ground-dwelling birds are also a part of their diet. When food is scarce, they are seen eating tomatoes, cactus fruits, or any other food available in the desert areas.Are they dangerous?Like other species of foxes, the kit fox is harmless to humans. It won’t attack a human unless it is teased or provoked to do so as, like any other animal living in the wildlife, it also has instincts that are used to protect it from any harm. Even though it may not attack, there are high chances of it carrying diseases that are harmful to humans, although rabies in this species is rare and doesn’t transmit to humans.Would they make a good pet?Even though kit foxes are harmless and cute, it is illegal to keep one as a pet in California and Oregon because of its Endangered status. Moreover, it will prefer to live in underground dens than living in a cage.Did you know…Kit fox facts for kids state that they are also known as desert kit foxes mainly because desert areas are part of their habitat range.There is a subspecies of kit fox known as San Joaquin kit foxes commonly found in the San Joaquin valley.Kit foxes search for loose soil to build their dens and usually spend most of their time in dens made by them or ones taken from prairie dogs.Different types of kit foxSan Joaquin kit foxes are an Endangered subspecies of kit fox commonly found in the San Joaquin valley. According to a survey done in 1990, there were about 7000 alive then, and their numbers have declined ever since. San Joaquin kit foxes are considered endangered because of the loss of habitat.Why is the kit fox endangered?The kit foxes are considered Endangered in the United States because they face habitat loss as their habitat is used for agriculture and fragmentation. They also suffer from degradation of habitat due to industrial and urban development.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals from our Indian elephant facts and African bush elephant facts pages.You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable fox coloring pages.

What type of animal is a kit fox?

The kit fox (Vulpes macrotis) is a species of fox found in the United States of America, in states like California and Nevada, mainly toward the desert areas.

Fun Kit Fox Facts For Kids

What do they prey on? Kangaroo rats, cottontail rabbits, prairie dogs, birds

What do they eat? Carnivores

Average litter size? 4

How much do they weigh? 3.52-5.95 lb (1.6-2.7 kg)

How long are they? 17.9-21.1 in (45.4-53 cm)

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Yellowish-gray colored body

Skin Type Fur

What were their main threats? Bobcats, Coyotes, Red Foxes

What is their conservation status? Least Concern

Where you’ll find them? Grasslands, Chaparrals, Desert Scrubs

Locations North America, Mexico

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Vulpes

Class Mammalia

Family Canidae

Fun Kit Fox Facts For Kids

What do they prey on? Kangaroo rats, cottontail rabbits, prairie dogs, birds

What do they eat? Carnivores

Average litter size? 4

How much do they weigh? 3.52-5.95 lb (1.6-2.7 kg)

How long are they? 17.9-21.1 in (45.4-53 cm)

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Yellowish-gray colored body

Skin Type Fur

What were their main threats? Bobcats, Coyotes, Red Foxes

What is their conservation status? Least Concern

Where you’ll find them? Grasslands, Chaparrals, Desert Scrubs

Locations North America, Mexico

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Vulpes

Class Mammalia

Family Canidae

Fun Kit Fox Facts For Kids

What do they prey on? Kangaroo rats, cottontail rabbits, prairie dogs, birds

What do they eat? Carnivores

Average litter size? 4

How much do they weigh? 3.52-5.95 lb (1.6-2.7 kg)

How long are they? 17.9-21.1 in (45.4-53 cm)

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Yellowish-gray colored body

Skin Type Fur

What were their main threats? Bobcats, Coyotes, Red Foxes

What is their conservation status? Least Concern

Where you’ll find them? Grasslands, Chaparrals, Desert Scrubs

Locations North America, Mexico

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Vulpes

Class Mammalia

Family Canidae