JACKSON, Wyo. — A red fox’s big, bushy tail isn’t just for show, but one of the best adaptations this species has to keep warm in winter.
According to a U.S. Department of the Interior’s Facebook post this week, spotting a fox curled up into a little ball this season is actually witnessing an evolutionary adaptation to cope with cold weather conditions. With their particularly dense coats and a tail that acts like an insulating blanket, foxes are able to rest on top of the snow between hunting and not have to go back to their dens to avoid the elements.
The National Park Service (NPS) notes a fox’s compact body also minimizes surface area when they curl up and helps conserve heat.
While there is currently no population estimates for red foxes in Yellowstone or Grand Teton National Parks, the National Park Service says that red foxes are more abundant than previously thought in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Winter is one of the best seasons to spot this species, as foxes increases their activity around dawn and dusk at this time and could even be out hunting in broad daylight.
Read about how bison keep warm in winter here.
