Kit Foxes

Of the three fox species found in Arizona, kit foxes (Vulpes macrotis) are the smallest, weighing only 3 to 6 pounds. Known for their oversized ears and black-tipped tails, the foxes den in sandy desert washes and rely on kangaroo rats, squirrels, rabbits, insects and cactus fruit for sustenance. After mating season, which typically runs from December through February, litters of kits (such as these, photographed at Cienega Ranch, near Willcox) are born in early spring. The other two fox species found in Arizona are red foxes and gray foxes.