Up until the last 40 years, East of the Mississippi Fox populations were the "top dog" in the Eastern woodlands and farm fields. With the Coyote now found in every State in the USA, red fox populations have declined significantly throughout their range. Just as Gray Wolves displace their smaller Coyote cousins when the two species are sympatric in the West, so do Coyotes displace foxes(reds more than grays as gray foxes can climb trees and escape much more often from pursuing coyotes--red foxes cannot climb trees) when the two species occupy the same habitat. Both Coyotes and Foxes utilize the same small mammal matrix for food so the larger Coyotes are quick to chase and kill foxes when the two species cross paths.
Foxes(like coyotes in the West) are learning to adapt to the presence of a larger Canid in their midst by taking up residence closer to humans where often coyotes get persecuted, trapped and killed. The smaller foxes can den under barns, sheds and cellars and find sanctuary in wooded suburbs.
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