Game animals · Side by side
Coyote vs Red Fox
How to tell them apart
Quick answer
Look at the tail tip and the legs: a red fox has a white tail tip and black stockings, while a coyote has a black-tipped tail and tan or rusty legs. A coyote is also two to three times heavier and stands noticeably taller.
Coyotes and red foxes share farm country, suburbs and forest edges across most of North America, and at dawn across a hayfield, or with a mangy coyote or a dark-phase fox, the two can be confused. Both come to the same calls and both are furbearers, but they differ in size, color and habits, and where coyotes move in, red foxes often lose ground.
Key differences
| Trait | Coyote | Red Fox |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | Mostly 20–45 lb | About 7.5–15 lb |
| Tail tip | Black, tail carried low | White in every color phase |
| Legs | Long, tan to rusty | Black stockings on the lower legs and feet |
| Coat | Grizzled gray-tan, rusty on ears and muzzle | Bright rusty orange, or cross and silver phases |
| Breeding | January to March; about 63-day pregnancy | Late December to March; about 52-day pregnancy |
| Litter | Usually 4–6 pups | Usually 4–7 kits |
| Diet | Small mammals plus deer fawns, carrion and fruit | Mice, voles and rabbits plus birds, insects and fruit |
Why foxes give way to coyotes
Coyotes compete with red foxes for the same rodents and rabbits, and they sometimes kill foxes outright. Wildlife biologists list coyote competition as a possible reason red foxes have declined in parts of the Midwest, and as a threat to the rare Sierra Nevada red fox in California. In Missouri, for example, red foxes have declined over recent decades, though the exact cause is still unknown.
Calling the two
Both respond to rabbit and rodent distress, but they come in differently. Coyotes usually circle to get downwind, so callers need to watch the downwind side and expect stands of 15 to 30 minutes. Red foxes tend to come more directly and often answer softer sounds such as mouse squeaks, so shorter stands at lower volume work well. Seasons, night-hunting rules and fur seasons differ by state, so check them before going out.
Fur and handling
Both are taken mainly for fur, and both pelts are at their thickest and most valuable in midwinter. A fox pelt is small and thin-skinned, so small, fast bullets or close shotgun shots help limit damage. Both species can carry mange, rabies and parasites, so wear gloves when handling and skinning either one.
By the numbers
The traits the daily hunt game compares for each.
| Clue | Coyote | Red Fox |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Predator | Predator |
| Habitat | Grassland | Farmland |
| Headgear | None | None |
| Region | Nationwide | Nationwide |
| Typical weight | 35 lb | 13 lb |
| Diet | Omnivore | Omnivore |
FAQ
Will a coyote kill a red fox?
Yes, sometimes. Coyotes compete with red foxes for food and occasionally kill them, and biologists consider that competition a possible factor in local fox declines.
Can a coyote and a fox interbreed?
No. Coyotes belong to the genus Canis with wolves and dogs, while red foxes belong to Vulpes, and the two are too distantly related to produce hybrids.
How can you tell a coyote from a fox at night?
Size and the tail tip are the best clues on a trail camera or in a spotlight: a fox is small and light, with a white tail tip, while a coyote is much taller with a black-tipped tail carried low.
Could you tell them apart from a few clues? Test yourself in today's puzzle.
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