Red foxes do not primarily inhabit prairies. Instead, they prefer diverse landscapes that include forest edges, woodlands, shrublands, and open fields.
These mixed habitats offer the variety of food sources and protective cover that red foxes need to thrive. Vast, open grasslands typical of prairies may lack the denning sites and shelter that make other environments more suitable.
While a red fox might cross a prairie while traveling, it is more likely to establish its home in terrain that provides a mix of cover and open hunting ground.