05/24/2026
Wildlife Spotlight: Sacramento Valley Red Fox
Up until 2010, it was believed that there were only two species of red fox living in California; the native Sierra Nevada red fox (Vulpes vulpes necator), and the non-native eastern red fox (Vulpes vulpes), which populated California after escaping captivity in the 1880's, likely from fur farms. In 2010, researchers looking at the DNA of red foxes living in south Davis discovered that these foxes' DNA was more closely related with the native Sierra Nevada red fox than the eastern species and now there is a new subspecies of native red fox now known as the Sacramento Valley red fox (V. v. patwin). The eastern red fox still occurs in the Sacramento Valley, but is most prevalent south of the bay-delta region.
Sacramento Valley red foxes are currently protected by state law as a Species of Special Concern. Little is currently known about their life history strategy or habitat requirements. Some recent research suggests that grasslands and dense riparian habitat are important to them. Escape cover is important for den-site security and avoiding their primary predator, the coyote. Sacramento Valley red foxes do well on the edge of urban areas where they appear to have a high tolerance to human disturbance and have access to human provided food opportunities (ex. outdoor pet feeding, backyard chickens, etc.). They are opportunistic omnivores, eating a wide range of small mammals, birds, insects, fruit and carrion. Red foxes are excellent climbers and are able to scale trees and back yard fences with ease.
Like their other red fox cousins, Sacramento Valley red foxes are mostly solitary, but family groups form annually. Males will defend a territory in which one to two females reside. Den sites are burrows dug into slopes or under woody vegetation or rock piles. The alpha female will become pregnant in late winter and five to 12 pups are born in March through May. Red fox pups require mom’s support for about six months after which they are encouraged by the adults to find new territory.
