Hero or villain? Few animals divide opinion like the red fox. This most successful of the worlds wild canids has lived alongside people from time immemorial. Celebrated by some for its resourcefulness and lush pelt, reviled by others for plundering chicken runs and overturning trash bins, it has worked its way deep into Western culture--from Janáceks Cunning Little Vixen to Roald Dahls Fantastic Mr. Fox. Behind the folklore and tabloid headlines, however, lies a remarkable natural-history success story.This highly readable study explores how the red foxs versatility has allowed it to thrive across the northern hemisphere, from desert and mountain to farmland and urban jungle. Separate chapters explore all aspects of its biology and lifestyle, from hunting and caching food to defending a territory and raising a litter.
