The Cross Fox
It’s not uncommon to spot a fox while visiting the North Shore. The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) population in northern Minnesota and Canada is alive and well. This small wild dog is even living and thriving in more populated areas. So you don’t need to look too hard to see one. What you don’t see as often, however, is the unique color variant known as the cross fox.
A Red Fox Variant
What was once thought to be a separate species entirely, the cross fox is a red fox with a melanistic color variant. What makes them unique and distinct from the common red fox is the long, dark stripe that runs down their back and intersects with another stripe of dark fur that runs across their shoulders, creating a cross-like shape of dark fur. This gives this variety of red fox its name. The black fur also covers parts of their face, neck, and chest. This gives them the appearance of wearing a mask. Some say it makes them look like a muddy red fox.
During the fur trade, they were considered more valuable than a common red fox fur. Plus, the darker in color the cross and face markings were, the more valuable they were. This may account for the reason why the cross fox population isn’t as abundant as the common red fox.
It is estimated that this variant accounts for about 30% of red fox species, so they aren’t too uncommon that your chances of spotting one are next to impossible, but they are rare enough that spotting one is pretty exciting. They call the northern parts of North America home and are seen more often in Canada than in the United States, but sightings frequently do happen in Minnesota, especially near the US/Canadian border.
Size and Diet
As for size, diet, and behavior, they are very similar to the common red fox. They do tend to be a bit larger than the common red fox, but still much smaller than the other wild dogs that frequently roam the area- the grey wolf.
Spotting a cross fox can be a bit of a challenge. If seeing one of these beautiful creatures is high on your list of things to do while exploring the North Shore, plan to head as far north as possible. There have been sightings of one in recent years near the US/Canadian border in Grand Portage. Visit the Grand Portage State Park and keep your eyes peeled. Plus, areas of the Gunflint Trail and Boundary Waters Canoe Area.
While the common red fox can be seen even in town in some areas, there are quite a few that will roam the Highway 61 area just east of Grand Marais and on the lower part of the Gunflint Trail, the cross fox is a bit more elusive. If you happen to see one, consider yourself lucky!
Msalaba Fox Si jambo lisilo la kawaida kuona mbweha wakati wa kutembelea North Shore. Idadi ya mbweha mwekundu (Vulpes vulpes) kaskazini mwa Minnesota na Kanada ni hai na inaendelea vizuri. Mbwa huyu mdogo wa mwituni hata anaishi na kusitawi katika maeneo yenye watu wengi. Kwa hiyo huhitaji kutazama kwa bidii sana ili kuona moja. Hata hivyo, jambo ambalo huwezi kuona mara nyingi ni rangi ya pekee inayoitwa cross fox. Mnyama anayeitwa Red Fox ni aina ya mbweha wa rangi nyekundu, ambaye kwa kawaida huitwa cross fox. Kile kinachowatofautisha na yule mbweha mwekundu ni mstari mrefu wa giza unaopanda juu ya mgongo wake na kukutana na mstari mwingine wa manyoya ya giza ambayo hupita kwenye mabega yake, na kuunda umbo la msalaba wa manyoya ya giza. Hilo ndilo linalotoa jina la aina hii ya mbweha mwekundu. Pia, manyoya yao meusi hufunika sehemu fulani za uso, shingo, na kifua chao. Hilo huwafanya waonekane kama wamevaa kinyago. Wengine husema kwamba huwafanya waonekane kama mbweha mwekundu mwenye matope. Wakati wa biashara ya manyoya, yalionwa kuwa yenye thamani zaidi kuliko manyoya ya kawaida ya mbweha mwekundu. Isitoshe, msalaba na alama za uso zilikuwa na rangi nyeusi kadiri zilivyokuwa zenye thamani zaidi. Hii inaweza kuwa sababu ya kwa nini idadi ya mbweha msalaba si kama wingi kama mbweha wa kawaida nyekundu. Inakadiriwa kuwa aina hii ya mbweha ni asilimia 30 ya aina zote za mbweha, kwa hivyo sio nadra sana kwamba nafasi yako ya kugundua moja ni karibu haiwezekani, lakini ni nadra vya kutosha kwamba kugundua moja ni ya kusisimua. Wanasema sehemu za kaskazini mwa Amerika ya Kaskazini ni nyumbani kwao na wanaonekana mara nyingi zaidi nchini Canada kuliko Marekani, lakini mara nyingi wanaonekana huko Minnesota, hasa karibu na mpaka wa Marekani na Canada. Ukubwa na Chakula Kwa habari ya ukubwa, chakula, na tabia, wao ni sawa sana na mbweha mwekundu wa kawaida. Wao huwa na ukubwa mkubwa kuliko mbweha mwekundu wa kawaida, lakini bado ni wadogo sana kuliko mbwa wengine wa mwituni ambao mara nyingi hutembea katika eneo hilo - mbwa mwitu wa kijivu. Kuona mbweha anayeitwa cross fox kunaweza kuwa jambo gumu. Ikiwa kuona mojawapo ya viumbe hawa maridadi ni jambo la kwanza kwenye orodha yako ya mambo ya kufanya unapochunguza Pwani ya Kaskazini, panga kwenda kaskazini zaidi iwezekanavyo. Katika miaka ya hivi karibuni, ndege mmoja ameonekana karibu na mpaka wa Marekani na Kanada huko Grand Portage. Tembelea Grand Portage State Park na uwe macho. Kwa kuongezea, maeneo ya Gunflint Trail na Boundary Waters Canoe Area. Mbwa mwekundu wa kawaida unaweza kuonekana hata katika mji katika maeneo fulani, kuna wachache ambao watatembea katika eneo la Highway 61 mashariki ya Grand Marais na sehemu ya chini ya Gunflint Trail. Ukipata kuona moja,jihesabu kuwa na bahati!