How big are fox

[lilshadow]

I saw a medium sized animal out behind my barn today, near my chicken coop. At first glance I thought it was a fox, but now I am not sure. It was a dark auburn(sp) in color with black legs and tail. I have been looking at pics and have seen fox in my area and it looked nothing like the fox I have seen. Could it be a coyote?

 

[Katy]

Coloring sounds more like the fox we have around here.

 

[lleighmay]

I don't know where you are but around here auburn (in all shades light to dark) with black points is a fox. They look bigger than they actually are- more tail and lanky than solid. The other foxes you have seen may have been gray foxes- smaller, gray fur with tan/brownish points. Coyotes are grayish to brown/blackish and are generally larger than medium sized (especially around here). Basically they look like a small gray wolf (you probably wouldn't mistake them for a fox).

 

[TipsyDog]

Our fox here are red with a white underbelly and bushy tails that are are white underneath and red on top. Lighter than you are describing and they are about the size of a jack russell dog.

Our coyotes are darker brown with almost black under bellies and range in size from a medium dog to a large german shepard.

Either way - keep your girls safe!

 

[damohomesteaders]

That is definitely a red fox. We have both Red and Gray in our area.
About the size of a 'medium' dog I guess... kinda long and slender looking.

 

[lilshadow]

Quote:
That is what it looked like, long and slender.

 

[ErieSpurs]

Was the whole tail black? Or just the tip? Also have you seen footprints? And were the legs very thin and lanky, or thick and stout?

It's most likely a fox, but there are wolverine in your area - so just thought I would ask/mention/warn it.

If it was a wolverine be careful, bears and cougars avoid them - so should you.

 

[4 Love of Baby Chickens]

I'd think I much rather deal with Hawks and Snakes than Wolverines!!!! Those things are MEAN!!!!

 

[ErieSpurs]

Quote:
That is what it looked like, long and slender.

Ya long and slender is definitely not a wolverine. Which is good, not saying that fox are good, just the lesser of two evils. Not saying that either are evil per se.....ahh you get the point.

I saw a video once of a wolverine taking down a full grown whitetail doe, the wildest thing I have ever seen.

 

[newchickmom09]

Here our coyotes look more like what you described. They are the size of a australian cattle dog to about a lab. There color varries from an auborn to brown to grey with white or black around the face, back, tails, or belly. There color changes with the seasons also. Our foxes are little only about the size of a jack russel terrier to a rat terrier just fluffy.

My guess is a coyote if it looks like nothing you have seen before and you have seen the foxes in your area.