Kit Foxes at the Zoo

Kit Kat— male; was rescued in 2015 when a wildlife biologist noticed that he had a severe leg injury and had separated himself from his group.

Joy and Heath – both came from the California Living museum in 2022. Heath is an amputee missing front left limb. Neither are releasable.

Description

(Vulpes macrotis mutica) Kit foxes appear to be able to survive without drinking water. This is an adaptation to living in desert conditions where they get almost all of their water from their prey.

What does the Kit Fox Eat?

Kit foxes are the most carnivorous of all the foxes; they eat kangaroo rats, mice cottontails, hares, ground squirrels, birds, insects and reptiles.

How long do they live?

Kit foxes can live up to 10 years in captivity.

How many Kit Foxes can be born at a time?

Between 3-5 kits are born at a time.

Where are they found?

Kit foxes are found in northern, central and southern California.

Interesting Facts:

• Kit foxes appear to be able to survive without drinking water. This is an adaptation to living in desert conditions where they get almost all of their water from their prey.
• The pads of their feet are very hairy; this helps them with traction on sand.
• The kit fox has very large ears. They use these large ears to help find rodents and insects underground and also to cool themselves off in the desert heat.
• The San Joaquin kit fox is considered to be endangered. The kit fox is also the smallest of all the foxes in North America.