NPSpecies

Coman (1987) observed along the carriage roads and trails in the park. Manville (1960) report this species near Great Head.

There is question regarding whether the red fox is native to North America at all (Whitaker and Hamilton1998). Godin (1977) european red fox was introduced to the eastern seaboard in about 1750. Native to Maine (Palmer 1937) occurs on larger islands.

Coman (1987) Common on MDI although numbers fluctuate widely.

Park Species Detail: Whitaker and Hamilton (1998) recent studies indicate the North American fox to be the same species as the Old World red fox and not a separate species as originally thought. Sawdy (1997) Verified by sight, sound, or sign at Indian Point between 21 April and 28 May 1997. Coman (1987, 1981): Common on MDI although numbers fluctuate widely. Black color phase is reported from time to time. A silver phase specimen (melanistic with white tipped guard hairs) was reported by O.Y. Thompson about 1918 at The Ovens. Observed along the carriage roads and trails in the park. Acadia National Park (1976): considered common during 1939, 1942, 1944, and 1962; then was considered rare for the period 1964-1976. A population of 100 was estimated in 1962 and a population of 30 was estimated in 1964 and 1965. Barden (1970) fox tracks were common along frozen channels of Bass Harbor Marsh in late winter 1970 but were scarce in Seawall Bog in late winter 1970. Allen (1969): Present at Western Point (based on observatoins of scat). Manville (1960) reports this species near Great Head and this species has increased in numbers on MDI. Calhoun (1951) reported that a fox raided his small mammal traps during trapping efforts during 1950. Manville (1942) suggests that Red Fox were abundant on MDI; also mentions an adult with young and a silver fox seen about 1918 at the Ovens. (Silver Fox is a color phase of the red fox and these color phases may be mixed in the same litter of typical red foxes (Whitaker and Hamilton 1998). Stupka (1933) reports 50 fox on the island, and only 10 of these are within park boundaries. Bailey (1925): Abundant on MDI;, Park Species Data Source: Coman (1987); Coman (1981); Barden (1970); Allen (1969); Manville (1960)