The Fox Connection

It is close to 90% likely that a person with the last name Fox has ancestors who received the name because of the animal.

The long-legged Red Fox is highly prevalent in Massachusetts where Dr. John Laurence Fox was born. And because of the presence of Dr. Fox (named for the animal) onboard the ship, Vincennes, this island was named Fox Island, for Dr. Fox and indirectly due to the Red Fox.

That’s our position for using the image of a Cascade Red Fox to represent Fox Island as it is a sub-species of the more common Red Fox and the only fox indigenous to Washington.

Meet the Foxes

Cascade Red Fox

The Cascade Red Fox is the only fox species indigenous to the state of Washington. It is an endangered subspecies of the red fox. They occupy the meadows and forests at the base of Mt Rainier.

Dr. John Laurence Fox (1811-1864)

Dr. Fox was assistant surgeon of the U.S. Navy in 1837 and served on the Vincennes of the Wilkes Expedition in Puget Sound. LT. Wilkes named Fox Island, WA in honor of Dr. Fox.

New Fox Display at the Museum

Be sure to stop by the museum to visit our new fox display case.

Both stuffed animals in the display case are accurate in the color of their fur. The Cascade Red Fox fur can have red, black, and a multi-color mixture of these. The photo in the background of the fox shelf is taken from the actual location near Mt Rainier where they are found. They are on the endangered species list, partly due to climate change. They have a genetic feature that provides fur on the bottom of their feet so that they can walk on snow at the elevations where they live, between 4,500 and 7,000 ft level. As the snowpack changes, they are at more risk of coyotes being able to reach them.