Strange question for biologists.

Factual Questions
1

Either I’ve lost my mind, or I saw something that I had no idea existed. I saw a calico fox. I was driving home at night, and saw something jump out in front of me. I smalled on the brakes not knowing what it was. I think the combination of the lights and the tires squealing shocked, and it stopped and stared as I came to a stop 8 feet in front of it. I got a good look for about 10 seconds before it took off.

My neighborhood is full of foxes, red foxes, and I know what they look like. I also know what grey foxes look like(sometimes a damn lot like red foxes, but I digress), even though there aren’t any in my neighborhood that I’ve seen. But this fox has tufts of white, grey, black, and red hair, and the normal body of a fox. It wasn’t a cat or dog, because of the long, narrow, defined snout that only a fox has. Is this a rare speciman of a fox, or a one of a kind mutation that I should go look for again to tray to catch and become rich? I suppose it could have been an albino red fox that got dirty and bloody, but that seems even more far fetched.

2

If you catch a mutated fox tomorrow and become rich as a result, let me know, because then I’ll kill myself and anyone that’s even slightly pissed me off in the past year. Those bastards at Burger King better watch out!!

3

Some foxes have layered fur consisting of short white hairs and longer red ones, if the animal is injured or afflicted with some kind of skin condition, the fur can become patchy in colour.

4

You’ll kill yourself, then go on the rampage? Hmmm… sounds like a bit more planning is required.

5

Kids today just don’t know how to get organized. :smiley:

6

Something like this? :

http://www.ssimicro.com/~wildart/foxbee.htm

If so it’s a color morph known of the Red Fox known as a “Cross Fox” ( because of what is usually a cross-shaped pattern across the shoulders ). It’s not terribly uncommon. As much as 25% of some populations, I believe.

  • Tamerlane
7

Wow - thanks for that linnk, Tamerlane.

8

Thanks Tamerlane,
After you gave the term ‘Cross fox’ I did a little web research. And I’m pretty sure it is. I found this little guy here on the web
( #385)
http://www.blueiceberg.com/nature/nature29.htm

And the coloration of his face and ears is what the guy I saw had on his whole body. The sizes of the patches were a little bigger, but the same colors and patterning. I’m just glad I’m not losing my mind and imagining things, because I’ve just never seen one before.