Rare Black Red Fox Draws Attention in Northbrook, Illinois

Melanistic red fox has been reported across the north suburb for up to two years

NORTHBROOK, Illinois — A rare black red fox has been repeatedly spotted in Northbrook over the past year or two, drawing attention from residents and wildlife experts because of its unusually dark coat. The animal, believed to be a male weighing about 15 pounds, is a red fox with a genetic color variation known as melanism, according to Northbrook animal control officer Gina Manski.

Manski said she continues to receive photographs of the nearly all-black fox from residents and recently received another image from a police officer who saw the animal. Some people who submit photos are uncertain what species they have encountered, while others simply want to share images of what Manski described as a striking and unusual fox.

The fox is mostly black with what Manski called “silver trim,” distinguishing it from the more familiar rusty-orange red fox commonly seen in the Chicago region. She said another local fox has the traditional reddish coloring but noticeable dark shading along its back.

A genetic variation rather than a separate species

Wildlife specialists refer to the dark coloration as melanism, a genetic trait involving elevated levels of melanin, the pigment that affects skin, hair and fur color. Seth Magle of the Lincoln Park Zoo Urban Wildlife Institute said albinism is essentially the opposite condition, involving a lack of normal pigmentation.

Black or silvery red foxes are often called silver foxes, although they remain red foxes rather than a distinct species. The Forest Preserve District of Will County says red fox coats can range from reddish-brown animals with dark stripes to silver and nearly black individuals. The district estimates that silver or black foxes account for about 10% of red foxes, though some estimates put the occurrence below 1%.

The Northbrook animal should not be confused with a gray fox, which is a separate and generally smaller species that is less common in Illinois. Gray foxes are also notable for their ability to climb trees, a behavior not associated with red foxes.

Cook County Forest Preserves wildlife biologist Chris Anchor said melanism has been documented in several regional animals, including red foxes, gray foxes, coyotes, deer and gray squirrels. A black red fox kit was reported in Lockport in 2024, while another young dark-colored fox was seen near Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park in 2025.

Northbrook landscape offers corridors for wildlife

Northbrook, a northern Chicago suburb of about 35,000 residents, includes open spaces such as golf courses, wooded areas and cemeteries. The Chicago River branch and railroad corridors can also provide travel routes for wildlife. Still, Manski said Northbrook’s red foxes are frequently seen in residential neighborhoods.

Red fox sightings have become familiar in parts of Chicago and its suburbs, including Beverly, Humboldt Park, Norwood Park, Rogers Park, the Loop, Bensenville, Elmhurst, Park Ridge, Plainfield and St. Charles. The National Park Service notes that red foxes can thrive both in remote habitats and developed residential landscapes.

Magle said, however, that foxes are not as widespread in the city and inner-ring suburbs as their larger canine competitors, coyotes. Red foxes generally present little threat to household cats and dogs and commonly feed on rabbits, squirrels, rats and mice. They may also eat birds, amphibians, fruit and food left in garbage.

Manski saw the Northbrook fox in person once last year, when it appeared to be limping on a rear leg. Despite the injury, she said, it jumped a five-foot chain-link fence and ran off. The limp has since disappeared in more recent sightings, suggesting the animal recovered. Officials have reported no conflicts involving the fox, and the unusual Northbrook sightings remain an ongoing example of urban wildlife adapting to suburban surroundings.