Red Fox

This book is simply a beautiful little story. I recall owning a battered paperback copy of this book as a young boy and reading it at least a half-dozen times. Rereading now, I was reminded of the charm this little book offers. I'm so glad I could take this trip down memory lane. Red Fox is a fantastic story for anyone who loves nature and stories about the creatures therein.

A thoroughly engaging story of a red fox in the Canadian wilds. Well-written, realistic, without being overly sentimental, this story should please lovers of nature. As ever in the wilds, death and danger are present in the lives of animals, but this author does not glorify the harsh reality of the north woods.

Tamer and kinder than similar books of its era (such as those written by Jack London), it is appropriate for youth or adult reading. Recommended.

The lifestory of a fox in the Canadian woods. It is based on observations of wild foxes, many true-life incidents all complied into one adventurous story. The hero of Red Fox is the largest of his litter, stronger, braver and smarter than the rest. He learns survival lessons and hunting skills from his mother, also from his siblings' blunders and his own mistakes. He must outwit his prey, deal with changing weather conditions and confront or avoid other predators- mink, lynx, eagles, bears, rival foxes. By the time he is an adult he knows how to outwit dogs and farmers, but then a young boy who has been quietly watching him helps trap the fox and tries to tame him. That failing, he sells the fox, thinking the animal will be taken to a show more zoo. But Red Fox is let loose on the grounds of a foxhunting club, where he must use all his wits against the hounds if he wants to gain his freedom again. The story ends a little abruptly, but otherwise I enjoyed it. The pen-and-ink illustrations by John Schoenherr are quite nice.

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