Are red foxes invasive to North America?

Comments

1. 

   Darknessie

   May 3, 2025

   The answer is yes…. and no, red foxes existed in north America pre human arrival, but Europeans also brought some European red foxes over for hunting etc.

   They interbred with native population and now most red foxes are a hybrid.

2. 

   howard_t_g

   May 3, 2025

   Red foxes are native but also have expanded. Here’s a good quote “Though the species is native to North America, introductions were made in eastern North America during colonial times, resulting in increased numbers and/or range expansion in some areas.”, from here https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.105935/Vulpes_vulpes. Another good site https://www.inaturalist.org/guide_taxa/1963983

   But that doesn’t really answer if they are invasive, as native white tailed deer can be invasive in places. I don’t know of cases of red fox having large negative impacts on natural systems, so perhaps not.