.facts

Here's some interesting facts about foxes (and wolves) that you may (or may not) find interesting...

• Foxes do not have the same amount of chromosomes as wolves and dogs, and are not as close in genetic structure to wolves or dogs as they are to each other. Therefore, foxes can not breed with dogs (or wolves) to create "fox-dog" (or "fox-wolf") offspring, the way dogs can breed with wolves to create half-wolf, half-dog offspring.

•  Maned Wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus) are not really wolves, nor are they foxes. They are often called, "Stilt-legged foxes" because of the fact that they look like a stretched, long-legged fox. Their lifestyles are similar to that of a fox, as well--they are monogamous, living in pair during breeding season, and are nocturnal. They weigh up to 50 lbs, however, unlike foxes, and are particularly found in South America. It can grow to be 3 ft at the shoulder, and pretty much resembles the maned wolf shown in the picture: ruddy brown, with patches of white, long legs, and the unmistakable black patch of fur running down the scruff of the neck. 

• A wolf's howl can carry up to 7 miles.

• Baby foxes are born dark brown. Their coat lightens as they get older. 

• While there is no specific breed of black foxes, it is one of the color variations of red foxes. Though it is fairly rare, some foxes are born with the black and silver coat. Unfortunately, their black and silver coats are highly prized by the fur industry.  

• Arctic foxes have a white coat in the winter, and in the summer time their coat turns black (for camo purposes!!) Even cooler, there are two distinct variations of Arctic Fox--one is the "blue" colored, the other is the normal white. 
  
   
  (Pic taken from Free Art http://www.fotoclipart.com/photos/arcticfox.htm)