Fox, Dire

This giant fox has dark red fur and a mouthful of white glistening fangs.

Fox, Dire (CR 2)

Medium Animal
Alignment: Neutral
Initiative: +4
Senses: Low-Light Vision, Scent; Perception +11

Speed: 50 feet
Space: 5 feet

Defense

Armor Class: 20, touch 14, flat-footed 16 (+4 Dex, +6 natural)
Hit Points: 34 (4d8+16)
Saving Throws: Fort +10, Ref +8, Will +4

Offense

Melee: bite +7 (1d6+4)
Reach: 5 feet

Statistics

Str	Dex	Con	Int	Wis	Cha
16 (+3)	19 (+4)	18 (+4)	2 (-4)	16 (+3)	10 (+0)

Base Attack Bonus: +3
CMB +6
CMD 20 (24 vs. Trip)

Feats: Great Fortitude, Weapon Finesse

Skills: Acrobatics +6, Perception +11, Stealth +13, Survival +8

• Racial Modifiers: +2 Acrobatics, +4 Perception, +4 Stealth, +4 Survival

Languages:

Special Abilities

NONE

Ecology

Environment: Cold or Temperate Forests or Plains
Organization: solitary
Treasure: none


Dire foxes are larger and fiercer versions of the normal fox. They are solitary creatures whose hunting grounds can cover up to 10 square miles. Dire foxes spend about one-third of their day hunting for food. They are excellent hunters and have no problem attacking and bringing down large prey. They are omnivorous and feast on a diet of rodents, dire rodents (such as dire rats), insects and giant insects, and various plants and herbs. If food is scarce, dire foxes live off of carrion until their food supply increases.

Mating season varies depending on climate. Dire foxes found in colder climates mate during the late winter and early spring months. Those found in warmer climates mate during the winter. This is the only time more than one dire fox will be encountered and such encounters consist of one male and at least one female (two females sometimes). If pups are present, there will be 2d6 of them. Young dire foxes reach maturity at about 10 months of age and leave the den to claim their own hunting territory which can be up to 250 miles away from their birthplace.

Dire foxes are about 5 feet long and have yellowish-red or reddish-brown fur. A strip of black fur runs across their shoulders and down the center of their backs. The dire fox's underbelly is white more often than not, but a gray underbelly is not uncommon. Dire foxes have thick, bushy tails with the same color fur as their body. The tail ends in a black or white bushy tip. The lower legs of a dire fox are either black or white and their eyes are yellow. A rare breed of dire fox has silver or silver-black fur.

A dire fox prefers to sneak up on its prey and catch it unaware. When it spots a potential meal, the dire fox stands motionless, waiting for its target to move closer. When its prey is within range, it leaps out and attacks. If cornered, dire foxes fight to the death.