The answer: Loudoun County is home to a red fox that we'll call "Rat-Tail".
Rat-Tail is a unique red fox with a tail that is not bushy at all. It is unknown why this fox looks like this. It could be mange, disease, parasites, genetics, injury, or self-inflicted, we just don't know yet.
Rat-Tail first appeared on camera-trap images last year, then went A.W.O.L. for months, until now. Rat-Tail could be a male or a female, there's no telling yet.
This fox could have a mate, since we have seen it romping around with another red fox lately. It came across this camera in the daytime, just trotting by in a very canine-like fashion with its nose down. It didn't stop at all by the camera, and continued on quickly.
