Why is the fox a mammal? red fox

Patrikeevna, fox-sister, robber are popular heroes of folk tales, familiar from childhood. Cunning, cunning, deceit are the main qualities with which the fox is associated. Why did the fox get such a reputation? Is it the result of survival instinct or habitat?

The fox belongs to the predatory mammals of the canine family. It resembles a wolf and a domestic dog: white or dark brown low limbs, sharp dark tips of the ears, an elegant body, an elongated muzzle, an elongated fluffy tail.

The size and coloring of the animal depends on the habitat: in the north the animals are large (up to 90 cm) with a light color, and in the south they are small (from 18 cm) with a dull color. Representatives of mountain regions are characterized by black-brown coat color. Most often, there are foxes with a bright red back, a white belly and dark paws. All types of foxes have thin paws and a white coat color at the tip of the tail. The weight of the animal, depending on the species, ranges from 700 g to 10 kg.

tail functions

Luxurious fox tail saves from cold, strong winds in winter. Length - 20-30 cm. The fennec fox - 40-60 cm. The animal is wrapped in it like a duvet. Having hidden the muzzle in the fluffy hair of the tail, the animal disguises itself from enemies. The cunning predator uses its tail as a stabilizer while catching hares, it deftly rebuilds its movement in different directions. Another use of the tail is as a ruse for pursuing enemies. With long chases, the animal takes the fluffy bait to the side and makes a sharp turn of the body in the other direction. While the enemies, having dispersed, run straight, the animal manages to gain time and hide. Predators always run with raised tails to avoid the accumulation of snow and water. When the tail freezes, it is difficult to catch up with the victim and run away from enemies.

Types and names

Cunning predators have adapted to life in various natural areas. There are more than 55 species of foxes, which belong to different genera.

At the root of the tail is a gland that produces the smell of violets. The aroma intensifies during the breeding season. For certain, the function of the gland in the life of a predator has not been unraveled. Hunters claim that it is intended to facilitate the search for the groom.

The white color of the tip of the tail has a special purpose: a signal for foxes. The animal attracts the attention of its cubs, helping them to make their way through bushes and high vegetation. Little foxes follow the white beacon and do not go astray.

Eyes

The eyes of foxes are characterized by vertical pupils, like those of cats. The structure of the eye is not aimed at recognizing colors. Adaptation of the eyes to a nocturnal lifestyle allows you to quickly respond to moving objects, navigate in the dark.

Survival in the wild is facilitated by a developed visual memory. Predators are able to remember shelters, paths that are far from the hole.

Wool

The fur of foxes is long, thick and soft. The main color is all shades of red. A peculiar color scheme helps to hunt on the edges, fields in the fall. Among the dry grass, the animals are less visible. Closer to winter, predators move to places with shrunken weeds, tall marsh grasses of a brown-red hue, like fox fur. In winter, wool thickens, reliably protecting from frost. Although the color of the red fox does not change to camouflage, this does not prevent it from getting food.

In summer, the molting period begins. The animal sheds its fur, adapting to the ambient temperature. The fur becomes sparse, dull.

Sounds

Fox sounds resemble the hoarse barking of dogs with a variety of intonations and shades. Each type of fox has its own set of sounds, voice timbre, used for different situations.

In the natural environment, it is difficult to catch and even more so to eavesdrop on a fox, they are very careful. Those who are lucky enough to hear a fox voice claim that the hoarse sounds are vaguely reminiscent of a human voice. The mother fox calls her cubs in a low, drawling voice. If danger threatens, she emits a short “ko”, the cubs immediately fall silent, stop moving.

Anxious yelping can be heard in such cases:

enemies have crossed the territory;
there is an attempt on prey;
"strangers" are approaching a hole with cubs;
chattering of teeth, growling and groans testify to the tournament of males.

Researchers admit that the calm communication of foxes among themselves resembles meowing and even joyful cries.

Little Fenki howl, whine, bark. When a stranger appears, mini predators begin to hiss nervously, chirp offendedly. Large species of foxes - corsacs, living in the North, are distinguished by low intonations. Animals rarely communicate with each other, because they live alone. Growling, uterine clatter - sounds characteristic of corsacs.

People who work with foxes in a zoo are able to distinguish the individual voices of each individual. Following intonations, we can say for sure that foxes:

angry;
want to feed offspring;
the name of the foxes;
looking for a mating partner;
longed for freedom.

steppe fox

Korsaks live in the steppes, fields of Asia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, Iran. Steppe foxes live in hilly areas with little vegetation. They don't fit in the forest.

Body length - from 45 cm to 65 cm, weight - up to 7 kg. Coat color: gray with a yellowish-reddish tint. In winter, the color of the fur changes to straw-gray. Korsaks are known for their ability to climb trees. While running, they develop speeds up to 65 km / h.

The steppe fox creates a couple for life, but before that, young males fight for females. Bearing foxes lasts 2 months. They are born blind, covered with a light brown fluff. Within a month, little foxes begin to eat the meat of rodents, mice, ground squirrels, birds or jerboas.

If the fox does not find meat, it begins to eat fruits, vegetables, herbs in order to maintain the vitamin balance of the body.

The steppe species has many enemies: other foxes, birds of prey, wolves. Korsaks run fast and run out of breath. Therefore, they become outlived of a gray predator. Korsaks are listed in the Red Book. People appreciate their warm fur.

mountain foxes

The body length of this fox breed reaches 90 cm. Tail length: 40-60 cm. Mountain foxes live in caves, cracks, beams, badger burrows and hollows. Their diet consists of rodents, birds, insects, fruits, berries. In winter, they do not disdain carrion. In spring, predators become active, attack roe deer, mouflons. A large number of mountain representatives was recorded in the Crimea.

Foxes are regulators of the number of harmful insects, rodents that infect vegetation.

sand fox

Lives in deserts. This species is distinguished by wide ears, paws, protected by fur pads from overheating. The body of the fox is slender (up to 4 kg), sandy in color, adapted to survival in the desert. Foxes can be content with moisture obtained from a trophy for a long time. Being omnivorous creatures, they eat everything that comes in their way (beetles, eggs, reptiles, roots, food waste).

There is a legend that foxes can extract moisture from the air using the night breeze.

Sand foxes actively use the odorous glands of their bodies. The greeting begins with sniffing the anal glands. These same glands protect against strangers: foxes, like skunks, back up and spray the enemy with a specific secret.

Foxes live in large families. They take turns patrolling the territory, marking it with urine. The size of the patrolled area reaches 70 km². Sand foxes are killed for fur. The Bedouins use them as food.

polar fox

The body length of the arctic fox is 50-75 cm, the tail reaches 30 cm. The weight ranges from 4 to 6 kg, although there are also obese representatives of the species - up to 12 kg. Arctic foxes differ from foxes by a seasonal change in color: in winter, the coat is snow-white or blue, and in summer it is brown, reddish-black. The paws of the arctic fox are squat, buried in wool. The fox's ears are shorter than those of other fox species.

In winter, arctic foxes wander in search of food: they go to the coasts of the oceans and seas.

In the summer they lead a sedentary lifestyle. One arctic fox is able to control up to 20 km² of territory. Like all dogs, they live in burrows. Choosing a place on a hill, they are protected from flooding of the dwelling.

In winter, arctic foxes do not use burrows, they dig a hole in the snow. Animals are characterized by perseverance. They do not run away from large predators, but only run away to the side. When the opportunity arises to snatch a piece of meat, the foxes approach again and take their toll. They calmly carry polar bears next to them, sometimes they make their way to human settlements, take food from domestic dogs. The Arctic fox loves active hunting, but also does not miss the remnants of someone else's food. If they are not hungry, they bury the extracted food under the ice.

The main enemy of the polar fox is hunger and lack of food. It is for this reason that they do not live to old age. Among the inhabitants of the North Pole, a bird of prey, a wolf or a raccoon dog can harm the arctic fox.

Lifestyle

Alone or in a flock, foxes occupy a site that can feed them, provide them with burrows. Burrows are rarely dug out by themselves, more often they use empty ones, after burrowing animals.

Housing is often covered with dense thickets, disguised by land emissions, food waste, excrement. Permanent burrows are used only during the period of rearing foxes. Hiding from the chase, they can settle in any available hole.

Where does it live?

Predatory mammals live on almost all continents. Most common habitats:

Europe;
northern part of Africa;
Australia, except for the northern part;
North America;
Asia to northern India.

What does a fox eat?

Being a born hunter, the animal feeds where it lives. The type of food is determined by the area, season, age of the predator. Small desert dwellers react to the movements of small living creatures underground, attack rodents, and collect moisture from solid food. The polar inhabitants have adapted to eat algae, grass and blueberries when they are not getting meat. The common fox's favorite delicacy is mice. The cunning beast loves to climb into the nest of birds, eating eggs and hatched chicks. The inhabitants of the steppe feast on frogs, lizards, snakes and turtles. The Tibetan species of fox waits for the victim near the shelter or drives it into a trap.

Foxes stop hunting during salmon spawning season. Dead fish last a long time.

Reproduction and lifespan

In the second year of life, the fox is ready for fertilization. Smaller species of predator acquire offspring by 10 months. Animals can have babies up to 8 years old. Males mature closer to a year.

Animals choose the time of mating so that the cubs appear in the warm period, when food is in abundance. During the matchmaking period, males choose a female, arrange fights in her honor. When the foxes break into pairs, they frolic in the snow, bite each other by the ears, playfully push. They bear cubs for 47-59 days. During the period of famine, animals give birth to 1-2 foxes, and in a prosperous period - up to 16 pieces.

Life expectancy rarely reaches or exceeds seven years. In the natural environment, the animal lives up to 5 years, dies due to natural causes or becomes a victim of the enemy.

Enemies in the wild

Despite the fact that wild foxes are cunning, cautious animals, they have serious enemies:

wolverines;
the Bears;
wolves;
eagles, golden eagles;
large species of foxes;
badgers;
domestic dogs;
leopards, cougars.

Cubs of predatory mammals suffer from attacks by crows, hawks, and eagle owls.

Breeding at home

The fox can be turned into a friendly pet. She is trainable. The animal requires certain care:

regular combing;
bathing;
a place to sleep (spacious aviary, bedding);
daily outdoor walks.

Decorative fox

Fenech is a cute animal with a capricious character. Weighs up to 2 kg, body length is 40 cm. The cunning animal does not mind playing with cats and humans. Fenech does not tolerate a sharp change in temperature. Smart animals quickly become accustomed to the tray.

What to feed?

Furry animals are omnivorous, get used to the human diet quickly. The basis of nutrition is processed meat, offal. You can add eggs, berries, vegetables. The digestive system of the fennec fox is not ready for fish bones and unpeeled fish.

How to contain?

When choosing a place for a pet, it should be borne in mind that the animal can bounce and climb where it doesn’t need to. To keep the active creature and the owner's house in order, it is important to follow the rules:

Lock windows before leaving home.
Valuable, breakable items should be hidden.
It is better to lock Fenka in a cage if he is left alone at home.
Combing will help to establish relations between the owner and the pet.
Fenki do not tolerate cold. Temperature fluctuations end with colds, inflammation of the eyes of the animal, often fatal.
They walk Fennec on a leash for small dogs.

Wild and domesticated foxes are curious. They calmly wait for the right moment and achieve their goals. Their behavior resembles fragments from fairy tales. The main character, approaching the object of interest to her, pretends that he is not interested in her, she can lie down to sleep. As soon as the object has lost its vigilance, the fox is right there.

The fox is one of the animals that adapt very well to a wide variety of climatic conditions. Therefore, in Africa, and in America, in Europe and in Asia - everywhere you can meet this predator. Only in Europe there are up to 15 subspecies of foxes, inhabiting almost all geographical areas and differing in size and color.

Description of the fox

This is one of the most common red fox. It differs from other representatives of the genus in larger sizes and bright colors.

In animals living in the northern regions, the coat is very rich, almost red. In foxes living to the south, the color is much more modest. The fluffy tail with a white tip reaches 60 cm in length. On the flexible and refined body of the fox, there is a neat head with a sharp muzzle and always alert large ears.

A description of a fox cannot be complete without a description of its hunting abilities. Paws play a big role here. Appearing a little short in relation to the body, they are very strong and muscular. Thanks to such paws and a strong tail, the fox can make fairly large jumps in pursuit of its prey. This feature of the fox allows it to be as viable as other predators. The way a fox looks externally explains its well-known hunting talents.

Where does the fox live

It is believed that the fox lives in a hole. In fact, this dwelling is used only for breeding and in rare cases as a shelter from danger, and the rest of the time the foxes spend in a den located in an open area, in grass or in snow.

Burrows are dug independently, usually on the slopes of ravines with sandy soil, but sometimes they use dwellings that belonged to other animals - marmots, badgers, arctic foxes. The burrow necessarily has several inlets through which one can get into the nest through underground tunnels. The old fox, as a rule, has several holes, where he can always hide in case of danger.

What does a fox eat

The description of the fox characterizes it as a very dexterous and excellent hunter. The main prey of this predator are small animals - mice, hares, and sometimes reptiles. With pleasure he catches fox and fish, crayfish, and sometimes digs up earthworms. The diet necessarily includes berries, fruits and other plant foods. In summer, the fox can also eat insects, especially its cubs love to feast on various bugs, exterminating pests of agricultural plants in large numbers.

In winter, the main food is mouse-like rodents, the squeak of which a fox can hear from 100 m away. Photos of a predator digging up mice can be found quite often. Foxes hunt birds very interestingly. They usually do this in pairs - one fox carries out distracting maneuvers, rolling on the ground, while the other catches gaping birds. No wonder the fox in all folk tales personifies cunning and dexterity. Often in the snow you can see fox tracks that are difficult to confuse with someone else's. The predator puts its hind legs exactly in the footprint of the front ones, forming an even chain. The area where the fox hunts has its own boundaries and is carefully protected from strangers.

fox cubs

In spring, from 3 to 12 small cubs are born in a fox hole. Like wolves, puppies are born once a year. Newborns are very similar to cubs, if you do not pay attention to the main difference that is necessarily included in the description of the fox - the white tip of the tail. For a month and a half, the cubs sit in a hole, feeding on their mother's milk, then they begin to slowly leave the shelter and even look for prey together with their parents, accustoming themselves to ordinary food.

Both parents participate in the educational process. The male is an exemplary family man, carefully cares for his female and offspring. The cubs finally get out of their holes at the age of 6 months, and already next spring some of them have their cubs. But usually they reach puberty in the second year of life. Foxes live in stable pairs. If it happens that the breadwinner dies, another male takes care of the family.

The fox is of great value as a fur-bearing animal. The description of the animal necessarily mentions luxurious fur, which can be not only red, but also silver, and even black. But the main thing is that the fox is an exterminator of harmful rodents and insects, which brings invaluable benefits to agriculture.

The common fox or red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is a predatory mammal that belongs to the canine family. Currently, the common fox is the most common and largest species of the fox genus.

Description of the common fox

The red fox is an extremely widespread predator in our country, belonging to the class of mammals and the canine family. Such an animal is of high economic importance as a valuable fur-bearing animal, as well as a regulator of the number of insects and rodents. In appearance, the fox is a medium-sized wild animal with an elongated muzzle, a very graceful body and low, fairly thin paws.

Appearance

The color and size of the fox have noticeable differences depending on the habitat. In the northern regions, the mammalian predator has a larger body size and a light coat color, while in the south, rather small and dull-colored individuals are more common. Among other things, in the northern regions, as well as in mountainous areas, the presence of black-brown and other melanistic forms of fox color is very often noted.

However, the most common coloration is with a bright red back area, a whitish belly and dark legs. Often, the common fox has brown stripes located on the ridge and in the area of the shoulder blades, resembling a cross in appearance. The average body length of an adult predator varies between 60-90 cm, and the tail length is 40-60 cm with a shoulder height of 35-40 cm. The standard weight of a mature fox can range from 6.0 to 10.0 kg.

This is interesting! Common distinguishing features of the common fox, regardless of the main color, are the presence of dark-colored ears and a very characteristic white tip on the tail.

Fox subspecies

Currently, there are about forty or fifty subspecies of the red fox, not counting the smallest forms of this mammalian predator. About fifteen subspecies live on the territory of European countries, and about thirty main subspecies are known in the rest of the natural range.

Lifestyle and character

An individual site occupied by a sexually mature pair or family of foxes provides predators not only with a sufficient food supply, but is also suitable for arranging holes that this mammal digs on its own. Quite often, foxes use empty burrows abandoned by badgers, marmots, arctic foxes and other types of burrowing animals as dwellings.

There are well-known cases when a fox adapted for its needs a separate nest of another wild animal and, thus, inhabited a hole simultaneously with such an animal as, for example, a badger.

Most often, the fox settles on ravine slopes or among hills, represented by sandy soils protected from the bay by rain, ground or melt water. In any case, the hole of such a predator necessarily has several entrance holes at once, as well as long tunnels and a convenient nesting chamber. In some cases, foxes use natural shelters in the form of voluminous caves and rocky crevices or a hollow in a thick fallen tree for living.

This is interesting! As a rule, foxes use permanent shelters exclusively for the period of birth and rearing of cubs, and the rest of the time the predator is content with resting in an open-type den, equipped in grass or snow.

The common fox, moving in a calm state, moves in a straight line, therefore it leaves behind a fairly clear and well-marked chain of tracks. A frightened animal is characterized by a fast run with a low inclination of the body and a fully extended tail. The vision of a predator is perfectly adapted for the dark time of the day, when the animal is most active.

Along with other predatory animals, the fox reacts with lightning speed to any movement, but it recognizes colors very poorly, especially during daylight hours.

Lifespan

In captivity, the average life expectancy of an ordinary fox reaches a quarter of a century, and a wild predatory animal living in natural conditions can live no more than ten years.

Range and habitats

The common fox inhabits almost all territories of our country, with the exception of the northern tundra and the island parts of the Polar Basin, where it lives en masse. Such a common predator is very well adapted to a variety of habitat conditions, therefore it is found in mountainous areas, taiga and tundra, as well as in steppe and desert regions. However, regardless of the habitat, the fox prefers open or semi-open spaces.

On the territory of the tundra and forest-tundra, the predatory mammal adheres to forests, which are located in river valleys and near lakes. The best place that is optimally suited for the habitat of the fox is represented by the central and southern regions of our country, where small forest zones are interspersed with numerous ravines and rivers, meadows or fields.

If in the autumn-winter period the animal spends a significant part of the time in fairly open areas, then with the onset of spring and summer, at the stage of active reproduction, the predator moves to more remote places.

Food of an ordinary fox

Despite belonging to the category of typical predators, the diet of the common fox is very diverse. The food base of such an animal is represented by four hundred species of animals, as well as several dozen species of plant crops. However, almost everywhere the diet of a predatory mammal includes small rodents. With the onset of the winter period, the fox preys mainly on voles.

This is interesting! Mouse hunting is a way of hunting a common fox, in which the animal, smelling a rodent under the snow cover, practically dives under the snow with quick jumps, and also scatters it with the help of its paws, which makes it easy to catch prey.

Rather large mammals, including hares and roe deer cubs, as well as birds and their chicks, play a lesser role in the diet of the predator. Individuals living in desert and semi-desert areas trade by catching reptiles, and predators of Canada and the northeastern part of Eurasia, inhabiting coastal areas, seasonally use salmon that died after spawning for their food. In summer, the fox eats a large number of beetles and any other insects, as well as their larvae. In a particularly hungry period, a predatory mammal is able to use the collected carrion for food. Vegetable food is represented by fruits, fruits and berries, and sometimes vegetative parts of plants.

Reproduction and offspring

The beginning of the breeding season of the common fox falls on the middle or end of winter, when five or six males, yapping and fighting with each other, can pursue one female at once. In preparation for the birth of babies, the female carefully cleans the hole, and after the birth of foxes, the mother practically stops leaving her home. During this period, the male hunts, leaving his prey at the very entrance to the hole.

In a litter, as a rule, there are five or six, blind and with closed auricles cubs, whose body is covered with a short children's fluff of a dark brown color. From the very first days of life, the cubs have a characteristic white tip of the tail. Growth and development in foxes occur quite quickly. At the age of two or three weeks, the babies are already opening their ears and eyes, as well as teething, so they begin to gradually crawl out of the hole to try the "adult" food.

This is interesting! The growing offspring at this time are fed by both parents.

Milk feeding lasts no more than a month and a half, after which the cubs begin to gradually get used to independent hunting. As a rule, fox cubs enter adulthood not earlier than the onset of autumn. As observational practice shows, some young females begin to breed next year, but in most cases they become fully sexually mature only at the age of one and a half to two years. Males reach sexual maturity about a year or two later.

She is the smallest member of the popular Canine (or Canine) family. It is distributed almost all over the world. She, like her relatives - coyotes and jackals - was able to survive, despite the harsh onslaught of man. The people called her a cunning cheat. Who is she? Of course, the fox!

Who is she?

(or red) is a predatory mammal belonging to the Canine family. It is the most common and largest species of the fox genus. The size of these animals does not inspire much fear, since the size of a fox is usually about a small dog. Their body length ranges from 60 to 90 cm, and the length of the legendary tail does not exceed 60 cm. The red cheat weighs from 6 to 9 kg.

Where is it common?

Currently, the habitat of this red predator is extensive. The common fox is distributed throughout Europe and Asia, up to southern China, in southern Africa (Algeria, Morocco, Egypt) and in North America, up to the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Moreover, this red-haired beast was artificially acclimatized by man in Australia! Since then, these beasts have spread throughout almost the entire small continent. We will tell you more about the settling of certain areas by foxes when we talk about their ecology.

How does she look?

The common fox, the description of which we will now give, is a rather elegant creature. Fox fur has always been famous for its beauty, silkiness and reddish-orange tint, playing in the sun. The fox's breast is white, and black "boots" are clearly visible at the ends of the paws. The muzzle, like all Canids, is elongated. The special charm of this creature is given by intelligent eyes, similar to those of a cat. Her legendary tail is fluffy and long. He visually enlarges the fox in size.

In general, the color and size of these predators are completely different, much depends on the habitat of the animal itself. For example, an ordinary fox living in the northern territories (the photo is given in the article) is larger than its counterparts, and its fur is lighter. In turn, closer to the south you can meet small foxes with tarnished fur. However, her most popular color is bright red, because it is not for nothing that she was nicknamed the red cheat!

What does she eat?

Mostly red foxes prefer open meadow areas where you can catch rabbits and even grasshoppers. Their main “menu” is small rodents from the Polevkov family. It is believed that the population of red foxes largely depends on their number in a particular area. This is especially important in winter: in the cold season, these animals hunt exclusively for foxes, which regulates the number of mouse-like rodents.

Hares are of secondary importance in foxes, however, in some cases, cheats are purposefully engaged in catching rabbits and rabbits. During the so-called hare pestilence, foxes can become scavengers and eat their corpses. Birds play a smaller role in the diet of the red beast, but on occasion, she will not miss her chance! Foxes love to devastate bird eggs, steal domestic chickens, geese, etc.

By the way, these animals, although they belong to but do not disdain and vegetable feed. The common fox eats various berries (strawberries, blueberries, cherries), apples and grapes with pleasure. In times of famine, these animals eat oats, causing significant damage to crops.

How does she hunt?

The main hunting of the common fox is catching voles. This process even got its name - mouse. So she mouses the voles: smelling a rodent under the dense snow cover, the beast first begins to carefully listen to its squeaks, jumps and rustles, and then dives under the snow! Sometimes a fox can quickly and deftly scatter snow in different directions, trying to catch a vole. And she succeeds.

Lifestyle

Usually red foxes live in pairs, in rare cases - in families. Their dwelling is nothing more than an ordinary hole. They can dig holes for themselves or occupy someone else's (for example, burrows of arctic foxes, badgers, marmots). You will not find fox dwellings anywhere: an individual site should not only provide its inhabitants with a normal amount of food, but also be located in a suitable place. These places most often become all kinds of slopes of hills or ravines.

Fox holes usually have several entrances leading through long tunnels to the most important chamber - the nesting area. Often these animals take a fancy to and, accordingly, equip natural shelters - crevices, hollows, caves. As a rule, these animals do not have permanent dwellings. They use only temporary shelters during the period of raising their offspring, and the rest of the time they live in open areas where there are a lot of mice. In the wild, these animals live only up to 7 years, but increasingly, their life expectancy does not exceed 3 years. It has been noted that in captivity they can easily live a quarter of a century.

Ecology of the red fox

As mentioned above, the ecology of this red beast is very extensive. The colors of the fox and its size are directly related to the habitat of the animal and certain factors that determine the existence of the fox in certain areas. The red-headed cheat with different densities inhabits all the landscape-geographical zones available in the world: these are tundras, subarctic forests, steppes, deserts, and even mountain ranges in all climatic zones.

Whatever the area of \u200b\u200bsettlement of the common fox, it still gives preference to open areas and areas with ravines, groves, hills and copses. This is explained by the fact that in winter the snow cover in such places is not too deep, but loose. This allows the foxes to easily do their usual thing - mouse. You already know what it is.

The common fox, as a rule, leads In most regions of the globe, these animals are not characterized by any migration. Mostly inhabitants of mountains, tundras and deserts migrate. In this case, the young growth leaves the “parental home”, moving up to 30 km away from it.

The fox is ordinary. Description of subspecies

This type of fox is rich in its various subspecies. In total, there are more than 40 of them. Scientists have calculated that with their variety of subspecies, these cheats are second only to the progenitor of domestic dogs - the wolf. From time immemorial, the fox has demonstrated an amazing ability to survive. Perhaps it is for this reason that the classification of the red fox is so rich. So, its most popular subspecies are recognized:

European forest;
Tobolsk;
Anadyr;
Yakut;
Kamchatka;
Sakhalin;
Ussuri;
shantar;
European steppe;
Azerbaijani;
Dahurian;
Turkmen;
Crimean;
Caucasian;
Turkestan;
Armenian.

reproduction

Like their wolves, red foxes are monogamous. They breed no more than once a year. At the same time, the breeding period and its effectiveness directly depend on the fatness of the animal and on external factors, such as weather conditions. It often happens that more than 50% of the common fox females cannot bring new offspring for years.

Zoologists note that the red fox is doing an excellent job with its parental responsibilities. For example, males not only actively raise their offspring, but also take care of females. Parent foxes diligently improve their burrows and, like primates, catch fleas on each other. If one of the parents dies, another individual of the corresponding sex takes its place.

Who in childhood did not listen to fairy tales from the mouth of the mother in which the fox was the main character? Such people simply do not exist.

In all fairy tales, the fox is described as a cunning red-haired beauty who can incredibly deceive and eat her victim. And these stories are actually not far from the truth. fox wild animals, namely, they will be discussed now, they have just a chic red coat, which becomes thick and lush in winter.

The color of the coat varies, depending on the habitat of the animal, from bright red to paler. The tail is always darker, and its tip is painted white. This is the color of the fur coat in the wild.

Pictured is a wild fox

Those that are grown specifically on farms are most often platinum or silver-black (black-brown) in color. Such animals are highly valued in the fur industry. The size of the fox is small.

Pictured is a silver fox fox

She is slim and mobile. The length of her body is approximately 90 cm, she weighs from 6 to 10 kg. She is flexible and poised. Thanks to the relatively short legs, it is easy for the animal to creep up on its prey and attack it unnoticed.

But, despite the fact that the legs are short, they are very strong and muscular, which helps to jump suddenly and far in length. The muzzle of the fox is elongated, with a graceful, thin nose. Ears rather big, always alert.

About the fox animal it cannot be said that she is strong, like, or has sharp fangs, like a wolf, or strong claws, like wild cats, but her vitality is not inferior to these predatory animals, in nothing.

Features and habitat of the fox

fox forest animals live on almost the entire planet, except for the arctic tundra and islands. There are about 11 species and 15 subspecies of this animal.

This wild predator loves the tundra, taiga, mountains, deserts, steppe. Everywhere he can adapt and arrange his own home. The closer she lives to the North, the larger her size, and the color of her coat is brighter and richer.

Conversely, in the southern regions, the fox is smaller and its color is paler. They are never tied to any particular place of residence.

Thanks to their amazing ability to adapt, they can live a thousand kilometers from their real homeland.

The nature and lifestyle of the fox

The fox most often prefers to get its food during the day. But she has absolutely all the necessary skills for night hunting, which she sometimes does. Her sense organs are very highly developed, many predators can envy them.

The fox's vision is at such a high level that it sees everything even during rather poor visibility. Her ears, which are constantly moving, catch the slightest rustling, this helps the fox to notice rodents.

At the slightest hint of what is nearby, the fox completely freezes and tries to figure out in this position where and how the rodent is sitting.

After that, she makes a powerful jump and lands just on the victim, pressing her tightly to the ground. Each predator has its own territory marked with excrement. Many farmers consider this animal as a pest for agriculture. This question can be considered from two sides, completely opposite to each other.

Yes, these predators are considered a threat to poultry, they can sneak into the chicken coop and steal it. But it was noticed that the fox chooses the weakest and most unadapted to life. On the other hand, the “red-haired beast” destroys rodents in the fields and next to the barns, which helps to save and double the harvest.

In the photo, a fox hunts a mouse

For foxes, a meeting with a puma and a person is very dangerous. In addition to the fact that people hunt the animal because of its beautiful valuable fur, pathos hunting has long been open to the animal, during which horsemen surround the fox and drive it to death.

It is this type of hunting that has been banned since 2004, but all its other types remain legal. This animal is revered. The fox for them is the God of rain and the messenger of the God of rice. According to the Japanese, the fox protects a person from evil and is a symbol of longevity.

Native Americans differed in their opinion about this animal. Those Indians who live closer to the North say that she is a wise and noble messenger from heaven. The tribes living on the plains claim that the fox is a cunning and vile predator that can lure a person into a deadly embrace in a matter of seconds.

For us, the fox is a wise, decisive animal with an incredible desire for action. IN fox animal world These are animals with great inner qualities and potential.

Fox food

Animal world of foxes It is designed in such a way that these predators are able to adapt amazingly and find a convenient moment for this even in the production of food for themselves. Their main food is rodents, various small animals. They will not refuse hunger and carrion, insects and berries.

Interestingly, before catching its prey, the fox fully studies its habits. For example, to feast on a hedgehog, which she cannot reach because of the thorns, she can sharply push him into a pond.

In the water, it turns around and the fox grabs him by the abdomen with lightning speed. Wild foxes have to be caught in pairs. One distracts, the other sneaks up and suddenly attacks.

Rodents, on the other hand, cannot hide from foxes even under the snow. Incredible hearing calculates their any rustle. fox animal species, which under any difficult weather conditions will not be left without food.

Pictured is a white fox

The fox is a smart animal. And it is this feature that is its main and distinguishing feature. It helps the animal survive in any critical situation and find a way out of it.

white fox animal It's not a mythical creature. In fact, these animals exist. They are very similar to their relatives with red hair. You can meet them in the tundra, on the Scandinavian Kola Peninsula, in Polar Eurasia and North America, in the south of the Baikal region, in Japan.

Reproduction and lifespan of a fox

Spring time is the period of birth of little foxes. Before the birth, mother foxes dig a large hole, or they can outwit someone and occupy his territory.

The gestation time is approximately 44-58 days. Usually 4 to 6 babies are born. For 45 days, a caring mother feeds her children with milk, then gradually accustoms them to solid food. After they are two years old, they become fully grown and independent, able to reproduce and get their own food.

In nature, foxes live for about seven years, at home, their life expectancy can reach 20-25 years. Foxes as pets- it's all quite real and possible. Only before you need to better learn how to properly care for them and follow some precautions.

The very first thing is that not every country is allowed to keep a fox at home, so you need to find out from competent people how things are in your country. The second and also important factor is the presence of a familiar veterinarian who will be able to examine the animal at any time, provide him with veterinary care, and make the necessary vaccinations.

The pet must have its own space. The fox must be provided with a lair in which it can hide at any time, sand for a pot, on which it can be taught to walk very quickly.

The more time a person spends with a fox, the closer the bond between them develops. Domestic foxes are not much different from and. You can also play with them and take them for a walk on a leash. Foxes buy an animal you can go to a pet store or find an advertisement for the sale of exotic animals.