Foxes in Montana: Where to Look and What Signs to Watch For

Red foxes are found throughout Montana, favoring prairies, agricultural fields, and brushy coulees. Gray foxes are rarer, limited to the southeastern corner near the Powder River. Your best odds are in the Missouri River breaks, the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge, and around isolated farmsteads where rodents are plentiful.

Foxes are crepuscular, meaning they are most active at dawn and dusk. In winter, they may hunt during midday to take advantage of warmer hours. If you're out early morning or late evening along field edges, you have the best chance of spotting one moving through the grass.

Fox tracks are smaller than coyote tracks, about 1.5 to 2.5 inches long, with a narrow heel pad and four toe pads. Their scat is often pointed and filled with fur and seeds. Look for dens under rock piles, in hollow logs, or along creek banks. Unlike coyotes, foxes tend to walk in a straight line, leaving a neat trail.

See our state animal guide for the next step.

Winter is excellent because tracks in snow reveal their routes. Late spring and early summer bring active pups playing near den entrances. Fall sees young foxes dispersing, increasing the chance of sightings in unexpected places. Early morning in any season offers the highest success.

Red foxes produce a sharp, high-pitched bark and an eerie, long scream often mistaken for a woman shouting. During the breeding season (December to February), you may hear a series of rapid barks. Listening at dusk near wooded draws can alert you to their presence before you see them.