Foxes in Delaware: where to look and what signs to watch for

Both red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) call Delaware home. Red foxes prefer open fields and edges, while gray foxes stick to denser woodlands and swamps. Gray foxes are slightly smaller and can climb trees, a trick reds can't pull off.

Focus on the central and southern counties: Kent and Sussex. The agricultural areas around Dover, Harrington, and Milford have good populations. Also check the coastal marshes near Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge and Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. Gray foxes appear more in wooded parts of northern New Castle County, like White Clay Creek State Park.

Foxes are crepuscular, most active at dawn and dusk. In summer, early morning around 5:30-7:00 AM gives the best odds. Winter sightings can happen later in the morning. They also move during the night, so listen for bark-like calls around midnight.

See our state animal guide for the next step.

Tracks are the easiest clue. Fox prints are about 1.5 to 2.5 inches long, oval with four toe pads and a small heel pad. Look for them in soft mud along farm ditches or dry sand paths. Scat is often pointed, dark, and full of fur or seeds. Fox dens can be found in brushy hillsides, but never disturb them.

Breeding season peaks in late January to March. You might see pairs traveling together or hear vixen screams. Summer brings the pups out around May to July: watch for playful kits near den entrances. Fall and winter are good for tracking because leaves are down and foxes become more visible hunting in harvested fields.