Foxes, like many other members of the canine family, are typical terrestrial carnivores. However, unlike the same wolves and dogs, they can climb trees. 
What are you looking at, bring the cheese here. Now I'm a crow instead.
If the tree from Krylov’s famous fable were a little lower, and the trunk was not straight, but sloping, then the crow would be left without cheese without additional tricks in the form of flattery. Or she would have flown away immediately, quickly noticing the attempt on the tasty treat. Why? Yes, because foxes, although only a little, can climb trees!
But how was the fox brought to such a life that sometimes he has to jump on branches? What is not sitting on the ground? So much space! The reason, as in the fable, is food. Dogs and wolves are stalking predators. They catch up with prey, rather than wait. The fox is an ambush hunter, like seals. 
Catching lizards in the nearest bushes, spending energy on just one precise jump - great! Mousing in the fields, diving into the snowdrifts is a nice thing! Bird eggs, fruits and berries - the fox also needs these. With the latter, it turns out that this goodness can be found not only on the ground, but also among the branches. And from there you can make a cool high ambush. This way, jumping on larger prey is much more convenient, and the chances of a successful catch will be clearly greater, because an attack from the air is always more unexpected and more accurate! 
Why then don’t wolves and dogs use such a bun? But physiology doesn’t allow them! These two (non-)acrobat brothers have dense, heavy torsos compared to their own legs. Foxes are lighter in themselves, and lighter in relation to their limbs. It’s simply easier for them to catch up. And make a jump immediately preceding the climb, too. 
Also, dogs and wolves have less joint flexibility than their red relatives. And this greatly affects the ability to successfully position itself in such an uneven space as the crown. Squeeze through a narrow hole between two branches, place and bend your leg so that it does not slip, distribute your body weight evenly on it... There are many tricks! 
But no matter how cool it all is, not every tree can be climbed by an ordinary red fox. A tall bare trunk without a hitch will be inaccessible to her. Therefore, arboreal acrobatics are a nice addition to the main ground activities. 
But for the gray fox living in North America, this is already a full-fledged half of life! Sharp claws, like climbing hooks, help climb trees like seals. This saves the little fox from big problems in the face of coyotes, red foxes and wolves. 
He waits for a bun to run along the path below.
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