Fox Crossing

This is a portrait of a particular fox. Although all foxes are perky and elegant, this one was particularly so, leading me to believe that it must be a female. She was unusually tame, adopting a particular household in the forest of northern British Columbia, which she visited for cat food. She was also especially pretty with her multicoloured coat. Although she was a red fox, this colour form is known as a cross fox.

There is dispute about whether the name comes from the idea that this form is a cross between a red fox and a black or silver fox or whether it is because the dark area down the back and across the shoulders forms the sign of a cross. The former theory cannot really apply because there is no evidence that mates of a different colour are needed to produce a cross fox. In fact, although red is by far the commonest form, a cross or black fox can pop up at any time in a litter of red foxes.

I featured the luxuriant tail, a very important asset to all foxes. This one is graced with a superb and abundant appendage. Of course the tail, when wrapped around a sleeping fox's face and paws becomes a muff and comforter with great insulation properties, but easy to breathe through.