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33-856: The river rises at Gouy-en-Ternois and passes Frévent , Hesdin , and Montreuil-sur-Mer before leaving the chalk to flow to the coast between Étaples and Le Touquet-Paris-Plage . Its principal tributaries are the Ternoise , the Planquette , the Créquoise , the Bras de Bronne , the Course, the Dordogne (not to be confused with the Dordogne ) and the Huitrepin which all join on its right bank, i.e. to

66-479: A conservation victory, in respect of the coast, was first achieved, in 1976. Plans had been made to put in place an earlier project, dating from the 1960s, to create an artificial environment on the estuary. The work included creating a harbour and a marina. This was supposed to be “compensation” for extracting the waters of the Canche at Hesdin in order to supply the city of Lille . Of course, this threatened to destroy

99-438: A diverse range of wildlife. Seventy-five varieties of resident and migratory birds nest in and around the estuary and valley, such as the nightjar , woodlark , several types of warblers , common snipe , oystercatchers (using rabbit-holes as homes) and the predatory merlin and common buzzard . This area shelters mammals such as deer , wild boar , red foxes , European badgers , stoats , squirrels , European rabbits and

132-449: A pest and furbearer for many centuries, as well as being represented in human folklore and mythology. Because of its widespread distribution and large population, the red fox is one of the most important furbearing animals harvested for the fur trade . Too small to pose a threat to humans, it has extensively benefited from the presence of human habitation, and has successfully colonised many suburban and urban areas . Domestication of

165-643: Is Eurasian in origin, and may have evolved from either Vulpes alopecoides or the related Chinese V. chikushanensis , both of which lived during the Middle Villafranchian of the Pleistocene Epoch . The earliest fossil specimens of V. vulpes were uncovered in Baranya County , Hungary , dating from 3.4 to 1.8 million years ago. The ancestral red fox was likely more diminutive compared to today's extant foxes, as

198-413: Is also eaten sometimes. Although the red fox tends to kill smaller predators, including other fox species, it is vulnerable to attack from larger predators, such as wolves , coyotes , golden jackals , large predatory birds such as golden eagles and Eurasian eagle owls , and medium- and large-sized felids . The species has a long history of association with humans, having been extensively hunted as

231-508: Is considered to be a more specialised form of Vulpes than the Afghan , corsac and Bengal fox species, in regards to their overall size and adaptation to carnivory ; the skull displays far fewer neotenous traits than in other foxes, and its facial area is more developed. It is, however, not as adapted for a purely carnivorous diet as the Tibetan fox . The sister lineage to the red fox

264-408: Is known; British red foxes have crossbred extensively with red foxes imported from Germany, France, Belgium, Sardinia and possibly Siberia and Scandinavia. However, genetic studies suggest very little differences between red foxes sampled across Europe. Lack of genetic diversity is consistent with the red fox being a highly agile species, with one red fox covering 320 km (200 mi) in under

297-704: Is listed as least concern on the IUCN Red List . Its range has increased alongside human expansion, having been introduced to Australia , where it is considered harmful to native small and medium-sized rodents and marsupials . Due to its impact on native species, it is included on the list of the " world's 100 worst invasive species ". The red fox originated in Eurasia during the Middle Pleistocene at least 400,000 years ago and later colonised North America sometime prior to 130,000 years ago. Among

330-507: Is simply called "the fox" in colloquial British English. The word "fox" comes from Old English , which derived from Proto-Germanic * fuhsaz . Compare with West Frisian foks , Dutch vos , and German Fuchs . This, in turn, derives from Proto-Indo-European * puḱ- 'thick-haired; tail'. Compare to the Hindi pū̃ch 'tail', Tocharian B päkā 'tail; chowrie', and Lithuanian pūkas 'fur / fluff'. The bushy tail also forms

363-497: Is the Rüppell's fox , but the two species are surprisingly closely related through mitochondrial DNA markers, with Rüppell's fox nested inside the lineages of red foxes. Such a nesting of one species within another is called paraphyly . Several hypotheses have been suggested to explain this, including (1) recent divergence of Rüppell's fox from a red fox lineage, (2) incomplete lineage sorting , or introgression of mtDNA between

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396-755: The Sacramento Valley red fox ( V. v. patwin ) only in a narrow hybrid zone. In addition, no evidence is seen of interbreeding of eastern American red foxes in California with the montane Sierra Nevada red fox ( V. v. necator ) or other populations in the Intermountain West (between the Rocky Mountains to the east and the Cascade and Sierra Nevada Mountains to the west). The 3rd edition of Mammal Species of

429-537: The San Joaquin Valley , Monterey and north-coastal San Francisco Bay Area (including urban San Francisco and adjacent cities). In spite of the red fox's adaptability to city life, they are still found in somewhat greater numbers in the northern portions of California (north of the Bay Area) than in the south, as the wilderness is more alpine and isolated. The eastern red foxes appear to have mixed with

462-496: The D82 road. This Arras arrondissement, Pas-de-Calais geographical article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Red fox The red fox ( Vulpes vulpes ) is the largest of the true foxes and one of the most widely distributed members of the order Carnivora , being present across the entire Northern Hemisphere including most of North America , Europe and Asia , plus parts of North Africa . It

495-644: The North American continent in two waves: before and during the Illinoian glaciation , and during the Wisconsinan glaciation . Gene mapping demonstrates that red foxes in North America have been isolated from their Old World counterparts for over 400,000 years, thus raising the possibility that speciation has occurred, and that the previous binomial name of Vulpes fulva may be valid. In

528-685: The World listed 45 subspecies as valid. In 2010, a distinct 46th subspecies, the Sacramento Valley red fox ( V. v. patwin ), which inhabits the grasslands of the Sacramento Valley, was identified through mitochondrial haplotype studies. Castello (2018) recognized 30 subspecies of the Old World red fox and nine subspecies of the North American red fox as valid. Substantial gene pool mixing between different subspecies

561-506: The basis for the fox's Welsh name, llwynog , literally 'bushy', from llwyn 'bush'. Likewise, Portuguese : raposa from rabo 'tail', Lithuanian uodẽgis from uodegà 'tail', and Ojibwe waagosh from waa , which refers to the up and down "bounce" or flickering of an animal or its tail. The scientific term vulpes derives from the Latin word for fox, and gives the adjectives vulpine and vulpecular . The red fox

594-408: The drying-up of the valley downstream as far as Hesdin . In the last quarter of the 20th century the authorities became aware of the importance of the marshes and started trying to preserve them, having earlier contributed to their disappearance. The Canche and its valley have been incorporated into a national natural reserve since 1987. The Canche estuary was the first site in northern France where

627-477: The earliest red fox fossils have shown a smaller build than living specimens. The earliest fossil remains of the modern species date back to the mid-Pleistocene, found in association with middens and refuse left by early human settlements. This has led to the theory that the red fox was hunted by primitive humans (as both a source of food and pelts); the possibility also exists of red foxes scavenging from middens or butchered animal carcasses. Red foxes colonised

660-502: The emergence of new perceptions of marshland, long considered as unhealthy places in which to live. Administrative authorities encouraged action to recover the peat marshes by drainage work and the planting of more trees. The reduction of marshland again allowed for even more areas of cultivation to feed the increasing population. During the 19th century, technical progress (for example, the replacement of windmills by steam engines ) led to further improvements in drainage, contributing to

693-598: The far north, red fox fossils have been found in Sangamonian Stage deposits near the Fairbanks District, Alaska , and Medicine Hat , Alberta . Fossils dating from the Wisconsinan are present in 25 sites across Arkansas , California , Colorado , Idaho , Missouri , New Mexico , Ohio , Tennessee , Texas , Virginia , and Wyoming . Although they ranged far south during the Wisconsinan,

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726-551: The large northern foxes and the small, basal southern grey desert foxes of Asia and North Africa. Red foxes are usually found in pairs or small groups consisting of families, such as a mated pair and their young, or a male with several females having kinship ties. The young of the mated pair remain with their parents to assist in caring for new kits. The species primarily feeds on small rodents, though it may also target rabbits , squirrels , game birds , reptiles , invertebrates and young ungulates . Fruit and vegetable matter

759-676: The larger subspecies V. v. alascensis , V. v. abietorum , V. v. regalis , and V. v. rubricosa . The southern (or montane) refugium occurs in the subalpine parklands and alpine meadows of the west, from the Rocky Mountains to the Cascades and the Sierra Nevada ranges, consisting of the smaller subspecies V. v. cascadensis , V. v. macroura , V. v. necator , and V. v. patwin . The latter clade has been separated from all other red fox populations since at least

792-524: The last glacial maximum, and may possess unique ecological or physiological adaptations. Although European foxes ( V. v. crucigera ) were introduced to portions of the United States in the 1900s, recent genetic investigation indicates an absence of European fox mitochondrial haplotypes in any North American populations. Additionally, introduced eastern North American red foxes have colonised most of inland California, from Southern California to

825-409: The local marshy soils, contributed to bind the ground, and produced timber. It was realized that forestry also helped in drainage . Further developments in the 18th century saw permanent enclosures with animals being fenced-in and property boundaries being created by the planting of hedges and the digging of ditches, contributing to organized and cooperative farming methods. The 18th century also saw

858-501: The north of the Canche. The lie of the land means there is no notable tributary from the south until the Grande Tringue , which flows from marshland into the small, dredged estuary . The valley of the Canche has been occupied by man since ancient times because of the productive nature of the land. The unhealthy aspect of marshland means much has been done over the centuries to drain the land efficiently, which has brought about

891-622: The occasional seal, but, in contrast to the bay of the Somme , the estuary of the Canche does not seem to possess a seal colony. Numerous amphibians ( Common toads , newts and frogs ) are found in and along the river. Gouy-en-Ternois Gouy-en-Ternois is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of France . A small farming village situated 17 miles (27 km) west of Arras, on

924-464: The onset of warm conditions shrank their range toward the north, and they have only recently reclaimed their former North American ranges because of human-induced environmental changes. Genetic testing indicates that two distinct red fox refugia exist in North America, which have been separated since the Wisconsinan. The northern (or boreal) refugium occurs in Alaska and western Canada, and consists of

957-418: The partial destruction of its original character. The principal activities of the village communities occupying the valley and its surrounds have been (and still are) farming, fishing and reed harvesting. The extraction of peat from the marshes of the lower river was known in the 16th century; peat being the principal means of heating and also a multi-purpose fertilizer. The alder tree, which grew well in

990-503: The red fox is also underway in Russia , and has resulted in the domesticated silver fox . Males are called tods or dogs, females are called vixens, and young are known as cubs or kits. Although the Arctic fox has a small native population in northern Scandinavia, and while the corsac fox 's range extends into European Russia , the red fox is the only fox native to Western Europe, and so

1023-414: The rich wildlife and flora of the estuary. The mobilisation of the local inhabitants, various associations and many scientists, after many public enquiries and heated arguments, stopped the plans and left the estuary to nature. With sandbars and spits , the estuary of the Canche is typical of the estuaries of this region of France. The coastal dunes, marshes and valley are home to 485 different plants and

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1056-451: The true foxes, the red fox represents a more progressive form in the direction of carnivory . Apart from its large size, the red fox is distinguished from other fox species by its ability to adapt quickly to new environments. Despite its name, the species often produces individuals with other colourings, including leucistic and melanistic individuals. Forty-five subspecies are currently recognised, which are divided into two categories:

1089-534: The two species. Based on fossil record evidence, the last scenario seems most likely, which is further supported by the clear ecological and morphological differences between the two species. Arctic fox [REDACTED] Kit fox [REDACTED] Corsac fox [REDACTED] Rüppell's fox [REDACTED] Red fox [REDACTED] Cape fox [REDACTED] Blanford's fox [REDACTED] Fennec fox [REDACTED] Raccoon dog [REDACTED] Bat-eared fox [REDACTED] The species

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