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You are here: Home / wildlife / Desert Kit Fox – kit fox

11/18/2009 by Editor

Desert Kit Fox – kit fox

 
 
 
 

Desert Kit Fox NPS file photo

Desert Kit Fox (Vulpes macrotis) – The smallest of foxes, the Desert Kit fox is about 30 inches from nose to tip of tail.  It has very large ears and is gray and buff colored with a black-tipped tail.  The bottoms of its fee are covered with fur to faciltate travel on sandy soil.  Mostly nocturnal, the fox hunts rodents, lizards, birds, and insects. (the ocasional house cat).

NOS - Desert Kit fox file photo

Habitat -Likes open desert, on cresote bush flats, and amongst sand dunes if any.  The Kit Fox is almost exclusively carnivorous.  They are will adapted to desert living seldom needing water to drink. They get most their water from the food they eat, dining mostly on the Merriam’s kangaroo rat. They also like jack rabbits and desert cottontails.  Kit foxes are active at night and stay in dens during the heat of the day.

 Note: It is rare to see one of these guys along the trail, but they are out there. The only one I have seen was a road kill, I wore his tail on my hiking hat for awhile.

 

Filed Under: wildlife Tagged With: Desert Kit Fox, Fox, Foxes, Kit Fox, Nevada Wildlife

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Comments

  1. T-Jean says

    06/24/2010 at 10:08 AM

    Live in East Mesa-Arizona
    I’v taken pictures of Gray tail fox with two young ones-the other night, I miss getting a picture of a desert Kit Fox by three feet. Will try again tonight. 06-24-10

  2. Carole says

    08/10/2010 at 6:40 PM

    I spotted a Kit Fox yesterday at 110th and FLW, Scottsdale at 3.30am while on my way to work. It was right inside my neighbourhood. I slowed down as i drove past it and it did not appear perturbed. Very cool. first time I have seen a fox here.

  3. dolores salomon says

    11/14/2010 at 7:54 PM

    I just moved up tp Sonoma (Calif.) and am amazed at the road kill i see. I often stop and move it t0 the side of the road so that nature (turkey vultures) can take its course without becoming more road kill. Yesterday it was a kit fox and I actually took it to a different location cuz I wanted to observe it more closely. I believe if it had gotten to a vet, it may not have perished. It was very pretty and like that other post, it’s the only one I’ve iever seen, and u can add a pheasant to that list. I dread the day I see a wild animal hurt, and won’t know what to do to help

  4. rmltman says

    12/07/2010 at 4:51 PM

    This post seems to get a lot of Kits on search. Is there a lot of interest out there about the Kit Fox?

  5. Ray Derickson says

    07/08/2012 at 5:26 PM

    I photoed three pups on Friday in Roswell, NM at 5 pm. One of them almost came up to me. We are working at a rock crusher and the mother has been out and seen several times a day. 7/6/12

  6. Judith says

    08/08/2012 at 11:54 PM

    We saw at night this type of fox. Actually have seen them many times at the very same parking lot ( Oso blanca ) NW Las Vegas, NV. Next to shopping center Montecito/ Smith. Wouldn’t want to make a walk at night there.

  7. debbie says

    10/01/2012 at 12:12 PM

    we saw three kit foxes in barstow california friday night 92812

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River Mountains Loop Trail
1 week ago
River Mountains Loop Trail

Update: Closure at RR Pass due to storm damage impacting concrete at railroad tracks.

Henderson is working with UPRR and the Boulder City Railroad Museum to make this repair as soon as possible.
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River Mountains Loop Trail
1 week ago
River Mountains Loop Trail
Hello All,

The City of Henderson is  temporarily re-routing trail traffic around the railroad tracks near Railroad Pass Casino. We dont have a timetable for this closure yet. 

Updates coming soon on the re-opening of this trail section.

Hello All,

The City of Henderson is temporarily re-routing trail traffic around the railroad tracks near Railroad Pass Casino. We don't have a timetable for this closure yet.

Updates coming soon on the re-opening of this trail section.
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  • Likes: 18
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15 CommentsComment on Facebook

It’ll be like this till next year or so .

Had a employee from Railroad museum, train is running but is being stop half down, it is not going pass Railroad Hotel and Casino he sad the track was damaged from Hilary and monsoon rain we had

Where does the trail reroute for this section?

I biked this today and there was no closure?!?!

Lisa Lohmann we will have remember this when we plan our long ride

For your safety = the government is all knowing and you must comply because you know no better!

Great, I’m usually hauling ass there, only to find a barricade 3 seconds till I hit them if I’m watching closely

Part of the F1 race construction?

Steve Burchell

There’s no easy “re-routing” once you’re at this point….

anything fun in henderson, the city wants to tax you to use.

Someone I know biked this section today from the ped bridge over the 11 to BC and said the trail was clear of all the dirt that was on the trail a week ago.

Rode by the Railroad Pass today, no problem. Is it still closed elsewhere?

Mattchew Fisherino

The resurfacing that was slated to begin back in April HAS BEGUN! Someone I know rode the RMLT early morning Monday the 18th and said there were roadwork crews busy repairing cracks and applying blacktop, so please abide by the trail closure signs on the northern section of the trail unless you enjoy riding through fresh tar. BTW, the gates at the RR Casino crossing have been moved out of the way and there appears to be nothing going on there in the way of repairs. Also, the entire trail has been cleared of all gravel and debris from the recent rains so thanks to the City of Henderson for dealing with that. The attached trail closure map that was put online last March now actually applies.

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River Mountains Loop Trail
3 weeks ago
River Mountains Loop Trail
Thank you John Day for cleaning storm debris off of the RMLT!

Thank you John Day for cleaning storm debris off of the RMLT! ... See MoreSee Less

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  • Likes: 595
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34 CommentsComment on Facebook

Thanks John and all that keep our trail clean! Your hard work is greatly appreciated!!

There are some great people in this world!!!

Awesome. We encountered some rough patches on Saturday morning.

Your a legend!! Thank you sir

Wow! What a mess, thanks for clearing all that. I loved riding that trail when I lived in Vegas🚴‍♀️

Thank you...so much!!

You can do the Beltway Trail when you are finished. LOL. All your hard work is greatly appreciated by the cycling community. Thank you.

We have an amazing group of “trail gnomes” in our mountain bike community who put in significant hours to maintain trails throughout the year that are my inspiration to contribute to the biking culture in Henderson, Las Vegas, and Boulder City.

Awesome my friend 🤙🏽

🙌🙌🙌

Clap clap for him .. thank you so much

Thank you

Huge thanks!

I’ve been there 3x on that trail it’s amazing. we start at the railroad casino, thanks for your outstanding support 👏🏻👏🏻

Thanks much. Does anyone know if it needs cleaning anywhere else?? I have free time tomorrow.

Thank you!!!

Thank you John Day!

Thank you!

Thank you!!

Thank you 😊

thanks!

thank you so much, i saw you Saturday but i had to find my husband who turned around, thanks again, appreciate you!!!

Thank you John!

Thank you sir! Greatly appreciated! Kerry Jo Mitchell

Robert Jr Samano

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