<P> Red foxes are among the most important furbearing animals harvested by the fur trade . Their pelts are used for trimmings, scarfs, muffs, jackets and coats . They are principally used as trimming for both cloth coats and fur garments, including evening wraps . The pelts of silver - morph foxes are popular as capes, while cross foxes are mostly used for scarves and rarely for trimming . The number of sold fox scarves exceeds the total number of scarves made from other furbearers . However, this amount is overshadowed by the total number of fox pelts used for trimming purposes . The silver morphs are the most valued by furriers, followed by the cross and red morphs respectively.> In the early 1900s, over 1,000 American fox skins were imported to Britain annually, while 500,000 were exported annually from Germany and Russia . The total worldwide trade of wild red foxes in 1985--86 was 1,543,995 pelts . Foxes amounted to 45% of US wild - caught pelts worth $50 million . Pelt prices are increasing, with 2012 North American wholesale auction prices averaging $39, and 2013 prices averaging $65.78 . </P> <P> North American red foxes, particularly those of northern Alaska, are the most valued for their fur, as they have guard hairs of a silky texture, which, after dressing, allow the wearer unrestricted mobility . Red foxes living in southern Alaska's coastal areas and the Aleutian Islands are an exception, as they have extremely coarse pelts that rarely exceed one - third of the price of their northern Alaskan cousins . Most European peltries have coarse - textured fur compared to North American varieties . The only exceptions are the Nordic and Far Eastern Russian peltries, but they are still inferior to North American peltries in terms of silkiness . </P> <P> Red foxes may on occasions prey on lambs . Usually, lambs targeted by foxes tend to be physically weakened specimens, but not invariably . Lambs belonging to small breeds, such as Blackface, are more vulnerable than larger breeds such as Merino . Twins may be more vulnerable to foxes than singlets, as ewes cannot effectively defend both simultaneously . Crossbreeding small, upland ewes with larger, lowland rams can cause difficult and prolonged labour for ewes due to the heaviness of the resulting offspring, thus making the lambs more at risk to fox predation . Lambs born from gimmers (ewes breeding for the first time) are more often killed by foxes than those of experienced mothers, who stick closer to their young . </P> <P> Red foxes may prey on domestic rabbits and guinea pigs if they are kept in open runs or are allowed to range freely in gardens . This problem is usually averted by housing them in robust hutches and runs . Urban foxes frequently encounter cats and may feed alongside them . In physical confrontations, the cats usually have the upper hand . Authenticated cases of foxes killing cats usually involve kittens . Although most foxes do not prey on cats, some may do so, and may treat them more as competitors rather than food . </P>

Do red fox change color in the winter