Blue foxes are a rare color variant of the red fox species. While they do exist, pure blue foxes are extremely uncommon in the wild. However, blue foxes have been bred in captivity for the fur trade since the late 1800s.
What is a blue fox?
A blue fox is a color morph of the common red fox (Vulpes vulpes). Just like the red fox, blue foxes belong to the Canidae family which includes dogs, wolves, coyotes, jackals and foxes. The blue fox has a grayish-blue colored coat, often with white markings on the tips of the tail, around the muzzle and belly. Their fur color is caused by two recessive gene mutations.
Other than their distinct coat color, blue foxes are physically identical to regular red foxes in terms of size, anatomy, diet, behavior and habitat. An average adult red or blue fox weighs around 8 to 15 lbs and measures 32 to 50 inches in length including the tail.
Blue foxes occur naturally but are extremely rare in the wild. However, they have been commercially bred in captivity since the late 19th century for the fur industry. The breeding of blue foxes on fur farms allows furriers to produce large quantities of blue fox pelts.
Do blue foxes exist in the wild?
Pure blue foxes are rarely found in nature. When they do occur naturally, it is due to a genetic mutation that causes a recessive blue coat color. Both parents must carry the recessive gene for it to manifest in the offspring. Since blue is a recessive trait, foxes carrying the gene may not display the blue coat themselves.
For a fox to be born completely blue, both parents have to at least carry the recessive blue gene. If only one parent carries the gene, their offspring may be born with a few blue hairs mixed with the normal red coat. The chances of two foxes that both carry the rare mutation breeding in the wild are extremely low.
That said, a small number of true blue foxes are spotted in the wild from time to time. They have been sighted in various regions where red foxes are indigenous such as North America, Europe and Asia. Photos and accounts of wild blue foxes are rare but do exist.
Origins of blue foxes
The blue fox originated as a natural color variant of the red fox. The mutation responsible first occurred thousands of years ago in the wild. Historically, their numbers would have been very low since both parents need to inherit the recessive gene.
In the late 1800s, fur trappers and farmers began actively breeding blue foxes in captivity. They caught and bred red foxes that carried the mutated blue gene. Selective breeding allowed them to isolate the blue trait and create a breeding population of blue foxes.
The first commercial blue fox farm was established in Norway in the 1890s. Their desirable grayish-blue fur quickly made them popular for fur clothing. Fox farming spread to other cold countries like Iceland, Canada, the US and Russia where red foxes were native.
Today, virtually all blue foxes come from regulated fox farms that rely on captive breeding. However, a small number of wild blue foxes are still sighted occasionally.
Blue fox fur trade
The blue fox is one of several color mutations of red foxes that are mass-produced on fur farms. Other fox color breeds include silver fox and platinum fox.
Of these, blue foxes make up about 70% of commercially farmed foxes for fur. Their grayish-blue fur is highly valued in the fur industry and commands a higher price than regular red fox pelts. The distinctive color is seen as more exotic and beautiful.
Global production of blue fox fur topped 6 million pelts per year in the late 20th century. However, animal welfare concerns have led to a decline in fox fur farming. There are currently around 3 million blue foxes raised for fur annually.
The vast majority of blue fox farms are located in northern Scandinavia and China where high quality winter fox furs are produced. Other leading producers include North America and Russia.
Top blue fox fur farming countries
| Country | Blue fox pelt production |
|---|---|
| Finland | 1.9 million |
| China | 500,000 |
| Denmark | 350,000 |
| Canada | 150,000 |
| Iceland | 100,000 |
Regulations and animal welfare standards vary greatly between fur producing nations. However, most major producers have taken steps to improve cage sizes, feeding and overall conditions on fox farms due to activism and consumer pressure.
Are blue foxes endangered?
Blue foxes are not considered an endangered or threatened species. Since they are the same species as red foxes, their conservation status is identical.
Red foxes have an extremely large natural distribution across the entire northern hemisphere and are classified as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List. They have stable populations and are abundant throughout most of their habitat range.
While pure blue foxes rarely occur naturally, they are still genetically red foxes. Even if blue foxes completely disappeared in the wild, red foxes would be unaffected.
Moreover, there are millions of blue foxes being bred on regulated fur farms to meet commercial demand. Their numbers are in no danger of decline as long as there is economic incentive to breed them.
However, some activists and organizations have raised ethical concerns about the welfare of commercially farmed foxes. Many fashion brands and retailers have stopped using real fur due to public pressure.
Blue fox facts
- Blue foxes are a color mutation of the common red fox caused by a recessive gene. They are extremely rare in the wild.
- The first commercial blue fox farm opened in Norway in the 1890s. Today they are farmed primarily for fur.
- Over 3 million blue fox pelts are produced annually, mainly in northern Europe and China.
- Blue foxes are not considered endangered since they are genetically red foxes, which are common.
- In the wild, blue foxes have the same habits, diet and lifestyle as red foxes.
- Selective breeding allows fur farmers to isolate the blue fox’s recessive coat color and produce litters of 100% blue foxes.
- A few wild blue foxes are spotted occasionally in places where red foxes live, like North America and Eurasia.
In summary
Blue foxes with a distinctive bluish-gray fur coat do exist but are extremely rare in the wild. They originated as a natural genetic mutation of the common red fox. Since the late 1800s, blue foxes have been commercially bred on regulated fur farms due to the high value of their fur.
Today there are millions of blue foxes being raised for the fur industry in countries like Finland, China, Canada and Denmark. However, pure blue foxes remain a rarity in natural populations of wild red foxes.