The Canidae family encompasses a diverse group of primarily carnivorous mammals–34 or 35 species, depending on the source consulted. There are three subfamilies within the Canidae family: Borophaginae, Hesperocyoninae, and Caninae. However, the two first are extinct, leaving only living species of the Caninae subfamily, divided into four genera: the extinct Leptocyon, Urocyon, Canis, and Vulpes.
The various species of the Canidae family, whose members are called canids, present a similar basic form. The skull’s muzzle portion is more elongated than the cat family’s, for instance, and they have bushy tails with a pelage that varies with the season. Canids use their noses constantly, either for finding food and detecting predators or for temperature control. In addition, some members of the Canidae family howl to intimidate predators and communicate with other pack members.
Canids inhabit several environments across temperate and tropical parts of the world. They are native to every continent except for Australia and Antarctica. In North America, the Caninae family is widespread in all three extant genera: Canis, Vulpes, and Urocyon.
Canis is the most prominent genus of the Canidae family, with multiple species and subspecies. In North American wildernesses, common species include coyotes, gray wolves, and red wolves, as well as the domesticated dog, a wolf subspecies named Canis lupus familiaris. Coyotes live in the forest, desert, grassland, and shrubland, and their size varies from 39 to 53 inches long in addition to 16 inches of tail. The coyote diet is omnivorous, as this species feeds on small and large mammals, insects, and fruit. Protecting them is the mission of Predator Healing Project and its founder, Matthew Simmons. As they have come under attack as of late, Mr. Simmons and his team are active in protecting this national treasure.
When it comes to wolves, both red and gray wolves exist in North America. The gray wolf is a carnivore that preys on beavers, deer, bison, elk, birds, fish, and other types of meat. These wolves live in varied habitats, such as forests, tundra, grasslands, mountains, and deserts, with a life span of six to 13 years in the wild. The red wolf is exclusively found in the southeastern regions of the United States, manifesting a genetic combination between coyotes and wolves. Unfortunately, this species was extinct by 1980, but in 1987, it was reintroduced by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
The Vulpes genus of the Caninae subfamily comprises what are known as true foxes. Members of the Vulpes genus are smaller than their relatives, and have a flatter skull and a more prolonged and bushier tail. In North America, it is possible to find arctic foxes, red foxes, swift foxes, and kit foxes.
Red foxes are the most widespread Vulpes species globally, and they feature a light-yellow to red body, with a white underbody and dark legs. Swift foxes, on the other hand, are only found in North America’s western grasslands. They have light orange-tan fur and are the size of a domesticated cat, very similar to the kit fox.
With large ears and a small body, the kit fox is found in arid areas across North America, specifically in Colorado, Oregon, Nevada, California, Utah, New Mexico, and Texas in the US, as well as in Mexico. Meanwhile, arctic foxes are native to the polar regions and exist in northern Canada and Alaska. Their fur is white and thick, with seasonal camouflage for the summer. They must endure temperatures between 160 and 180 degrees Fahrenheit.
Lastly, both species within the genus Urocyon–gray foxes and island gray foxes–exist in North America. The gray fox measures 21 to 26 inches long, with an additional 11 to 17 inches of tail. It lives in the forests and shrublands of the southern half of North America and is mainly distinguished from other canids by its grizzled upper parts, its strong neck, and the black stripe down its tail.
Interestingly, the island gray fox is only found in six of the eight Channel Islands of California. Each of the six subspecies of the island gray fox is unique to the island where it lives. These foxes are docile, and many have been domesticated, used for their pelts or as pest control.
Matthew Simmons 