U.S. #5742
2023 40¢ Red Fox
Issue Date: January 5, 2023
First Day City: Fox, AR
Type of Stamp: Definitive
Printed by: Banknote Corporation of America
Printing Method: Offset, Microprint
Format: Pane of 20
Self-Adhesive
Quantity Printed: 10,000,000
Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are the largest fox species and can be found across the Northern Hemisphere. While they are called "red," they can be found in a number of different colors including leucistic (white), melanistic (black), and more. In general, red foxes living in the northern parts of their range are larger than those in the southern parts.
Red foxes have longer, narrower heads compared to dogs and live two to four years in the wild. They have strong senses of hearing and smell that allow them to track scurrying rodents from great distances. Both sexes can reach running speeds up to 30 miles per hour and can jump obstacles measuring over six feet tall. Foxes are also excellent swimmers.
Red foxes live in family groups sharing a single territory. Foxes choose a single mate for their entire life. They breed once a year in the spring with females (vixens) giving birth to four to six offspring (kits) after approximately 49-58 days of gestation. Kits are born blind, deaf, and without teeth. They are born with dark brown fur, which changes color as they get closer to adulthood (six to seven months later). Young adults may stay in their parents' territory if food supplies are abundant and will help raise the next generation.