Red Fox vs. Coyote Dens
Scouting is a major part of hunting and can be vital to success. In the predator game, one needs to be able to determine the species of predator living in the area. One way to do this is to look at dens. Red fox dens and coyote dens are similar in many ways and worlds apart in others.
There are several methods of determining if you are looking at a fox or coyote den.
1) Opening of the entrance hole. Coyote dens are typically larger in diameter than fox dens. However, this can be deceiving as some foxes utilize dens created by other animals such as badgers. Some coyotes are just smaller in stature and can squeeze into a smaller den.
2) A coyote den will usually be kept clean of food debris and scat. Not so for the fox. Most fox dens are covered in scat, bones, and partially chewed food. This is a relatively good method of determining the occupant of the den.
3) A badger hole may look very similar to a coyote den. Coyotes will occasionally utilize a badger den and do a bit of construction work to make it suitable quarters for the spring. Look for tracks near the den opening in the excavated dirt pile. this should tell you who is living within.
4) Porcupine holes are also similar to coyote dens. Look for quills and tracks in the opening of the den. The presence of quills indicates that a sticker pig resides in the hole.
These tips are not foolproof. Use them with the understanding that each situation can be different. These tips are guidelines and not rules.
Top: Red fox den (notice the scat around the opening); Bottom: Coyote den (Much cleaner than the fox den)
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