Hobbies And Interests
Identification
Kit foxes have small, slender bodies with relatively long legs. Females are smaller than males, with an average total length of 30.3 inches. The average length of a male kit fox is 31.7 inches. The weight of a kit fox ranges from 3 to 6 lb. but the average weight is 5 lb. for a male and 4.6 lb. for a female. Kit fox fur varies in color from tan to gray, depending on the season and location. The kit fox has a long, furry tail with a black tip. Kit foxes have long, pointed muzzles and large ears pointing upward from the tops of their heads. A layer of fur on the underside of its feet helps the kit fox to walk on sand effectively in the desert habitat and prevents the hot sand from burning its feet.
Natural Habitat
The preferred habitats of kit foxes include open desert areas and semidesert regions. These animals live in arid locations with little vegetation. Kit foxes either dig dens from scratch or extend burrows that other animals have made. Dens keep kit foxes cool during the day, protect them from predators and provide a safe place to raise their young.
Feeding Habits
The kit fox usually hunts for food at night, using its acute sense of smell to find its way around and to locate prey. A large portion of the kit fox's diet is made up of small mammals such as mice and rabbits but it may also eat smaller amounts of insects, birds and vegetation. Young kit foxes accompany their parents in the hunt for food from the age of around three months. The kit fox rarely drinks as it has a highly absorbent digestive system that allows it to obtain most of its water from food.
Life Cycle
Kit foxes are mature enough to reproduce after around one year. The female selects a suitable den for raising her young before the mating season begins. Male and female kit foxes form monogamous breeding pairs for the year. Kit foxes mate between December and February and, after a pregnancy lasting around six or seven weeks, give birth between February and March. Litters contain between two and six pups, although the average litter consists of four or five young kit foxes. Young remain with their mother for four or five months. During this time, the male brings food to his mate and pups.