Fox animal. Fox lifestyle and habitat. Common fox Morphological description of the fox

1. Northern part of Africa, including Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria.
2. The whole territory of Europe.
3. Asia to the very north of India.
4. North America before Gulf of Mexico.
5. Australia (except for some northern parts of it).

Thus, the animal can be found on almost all continents, foxes perfectly acclimatize and inhabit all geographical and landscape zones: steppes, deserts, tundra, etc.

Foxes prefer those natural areas where there are ravines, hills and groves in open areas. These representatives of canids choose those natural areas, where snow cover not very deep, which makes it difficult for them to move and view the area. The fox is a sedentary animal. But migrations are also characteristic of some of these mammals. It most often occurs in the tundra, mountains or deserts.

Description of the fox

Foxes are incredibly beautiful animals to which songs, poems, fables and even paintings were dedicated. Depending on the habitat, these predators acquire unusual, in comparison with the usual forest beauties, features of appearance.

The fox got its poetic name for a fur coat dyed in gold. The Slavs have always watched the inhabitants of the forest, noticing any distinctive details of appearance, behavior or even voice. Translated from the Old Slavonic "fox" meant "yellowish". Therefore, funny red mushrooms are also called "chanterelles".

There is another version of the interpretation of the word. A number of etymologists believe that "fox" is formed from the Slavic "lis" (wife, spouse). This theory is also explained in different ways: some explain that some species of these predators create monogamous pairs and raise cubs together, others suggest that cunning wives were called that. There is also a third assumption. The word "fox" comes from the Polish "liszka" (dashing). Thus, the mischievous nature of the animal is noticed.

Fox tail functions

All foxes have fluffy a long tail, which not only decorates the beast, but also serves as a useful survival tool. It allows you to develop greater speed when running, being a special pole for balance. The tail also serves as an effective rudder. When a predator (for example, a dog) is chasing a red cheat and is about to grab it, the fluffy train turns sharply at a right angle and the animal instantly turns to the side. The pursuer rushes on in bewilderment.

Many probably wondered: “Why is the tip of the tail of the fox white?”. The answer is simple enough. The fox in the forest must constantly monitor the cubs. In order not to lose sight of the kids among the foliage, a white beacon was created, which each crumb cheerfully raises for mom.

In its tail, the fox stores some nutrients for a rainy day. This fluffy tool also serves as a blanket for the animal. In cold weather, the fox covers its nose or cubs with its tail. With this body part, animals can even communicate! When raised, it shows the strength of the beast, and the willingness to defend territory and prey.

Did you know that a fox's tail smells like violets? Right at its base is a fairly large gland that produces the scent of flowers. This is the perfect disguise! Leaving the chase, the fox covers its tracks in the forest and hides its scent.

How much does a fox weigh?

Depending on the species, foxes can reach a length of 40 cm to 90 cm. Tail length adult ranges from 20 to 60 cm. And the mass is from 1.5 to 14 kg.

Fox's eyes

The eyes of a fox are one of the main weapons of an animal in hunting. Vision is tuned to moving objects, which allows you to instantly notice potential prey. Even a butterfly flying past will not be able to hide from a clever predator. Also, all types of foxes are perfectly oriented in the dark, since it is at night that animals go hunting. Not a single bird sleeping peacefully on the ground or in the thickets will go unnoticed.

Foxes have excellent visual memory. This allows predators to remember places of shelters, paths. This ability is very important for survival in harsh conditions wildlife.

fox fur

The condition of the coat of an animal for a normal existence in a certain area should be acceptable. All types of foxes are carefully prepared for the environmental conditions in which they will live.

In summer, the coat color of these predators is masking. Neither you nor the little animals will notice the approach of the fox. In the north, Arctic foxes are dressed in white furs that blend with the snow. In the mountains, where rocks and poor soil are combined, foxes disguise themselves in spotted (grey with ocher) fur coats. The inhabitants of dry deserts received from nature a yellow or light ocher coat. In the forest, the common fox, with its dull red robe, hides well against the background of branches, earth and fallen leaves.

Until now, scientists have not figured out why the coat of these predators does not adapt in color to other seasons. The fact is that many types of foxes become brighter with the onset of winter. Red, brown and black animals stand out strongly against the background white snow, which, oddly enough, does not affect the effectiveness of hunting.

However, depending on the temperature, the structure of the fox coat changes. The animal adapts to nature. In summer, the fox's fur is sparse, dull, without undercoat, close to the body. This makes it much easier to keep the body cool. In winter, after seasonal molt, foxes dress in tight clothes. The thick undercoat keeps the heat out and keeps you warm like a down jacket. The upper fibers are impregnated with a special secret that does not allow the predator to get wet (foxes often fall asleep in the snow).

fox species

Below is a brief description of several varieties of foxes:

• Common fox (red fox) (lat. Vulpes vulpes) is the largest representative of the fox genus. The weight of the fox reaches 10 kilograms, and the length of the body, together with the tail, is 150 cm. Depending on the area of ​​​​residence, the color of the fox may vary slightly in tone saturation, but the main color of the back and sides remains bright red, and the belly is white. Black "stockings" are clearly visible on the legs. A characteristic feature of the common fox is the white tip of the tail and dark, almost black ears. The habitat includes the whole of Europe, the territory North Africa, Asia (from India to South China), North America and Australia. Representatives of this species of foxes are happy to eat field mice, hares, roe deer cubs, if possible, destroy the nests of geese and capercaillie, feed on carrion, beetles and insect larvae. Surprisingly, the red fox is a fierce destroyer of oat crops: in the absence of a meat menu, it attacks cereal farmlands, causing damage to them.

• American fox (lat. Vulpesmacrotis) - predatory mammal medium sizes. The body length of the fox varies from 37 cm to 50 cm, the tail reaches a length of 32 cm, weight adult fox fluctuates between 1.9 kg (female) - 2.2 kg (male). The back of the animal is painted in yellowish-gray or whitish tones, and the sides are yellowish-brown. Distinctive features of this species of foxes are a white belly and a black tip of the tail. Side surface muzzles and sensitive whiskers are dark brown or black. The length of the fur hairs does not exceed 50 mm. The fox lives in the southwestern deserts of the United States and north of Mexico, feeding on hares and rodents (kangaroo jumpers).

• Afghan fox (Bukhara, Baluchistan fox) (lat. Vulpescana)- a small animal belonging to the Canine family. The length of the fox does not exceed 0.5 meters. The length of the tail is 33-41 cm. The weight of the fox ranges from 1.5-3 kilograms. The Bukhara fox differs from other species of foxes in rather large ears, the height of which reaches 9 cm, and dark stripes running from the upper lip to the corners of the eyes. In winter, the color of the fox's coat on the back and sides acquires a rich brownish-gray color with separate black outer hairs. In summer, its intensity decreases, and the whitish color of the throat, chest and abdomen remains unchanged. The Afghan fox has no hair on the surface of its paw pads, which protects other desert foxes from hot sand. The main habitat of the fox is the east of Iran, the territory of Afghanistan and Hindustan. Less common in Egypt, Turkmenistan, UAE, Pakistan. The Afghan fox is an omnivore. With appetite absorbs locusts, mice and ground squirrels, does not refuse the vegetarian menu.

• African fox (lat. Vulpespallida) It has resemblance with a red fox (lat. Vulpes vulpes), however, has a more modest size. The total body length of the fox, together with the tail, does not exceed 70-75 cm, and the weight rarely reaches 3.5-3.6 kg. Unlike the common fox, its African relative has more long legs and ears. The coloration of the back, legs and tail with a black tip is red with brown tint, and the muzzle and belly are white. Around the eyes in adults, a black rim is clearly visible, and a strip of dark-colored fur runs along the ridge. The African fox lives in Africa - it can often be seen in Senegal, Sudan and Somalia. Fox food consists of both animals (small rodents, lizards) and plant components.

• Bengal fox (Indian fox) (lat. Vulpesbengalensis). This type of fox is characterized by medium size. The height of adults at the withers does not exceed 28-30 cm, the weight of the fox ranges from 1.8 to 3.2 kg, and the maximum body length reaches 60 cm. The length of the tail of the fox with a black tip rarely reaches 28 cm. The wool that forms the hairline , short and sleek. It is painted in various shades of sandy brown or reddish brown. This type of fox lives in the foothills of the Himalayas, feels great in India and in Bangladesh and Nepal. On the menu Indian fox there is always a place for sweet fruits, but preference is given to lizards, bird eggs, mice, and insects.

• Korsak, steppe fox (lat. Vulpescorsac) has a distant resemblance to common fox, however, in contrast to it, representatives of this species of foxes have a shorter pointed muzzle, large wide ears and longer legs. The body length of an adult corsac is 0.5-0.6 m, and the weight of the fox ranges from 4 to 6 kg. The color of the back, sides and tail of the fox is gray, sometimes with a red or red tint, and the color of the belly is yellowish or white. characteristic feature of this species is the light coloration of the chin and lower lip, as well as dark brown or black color of the tip of the tail. The steppe fox lives in many countries: from the southeast of Europe to Asia, including Iran, the territory of Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Afghanistan and Azerbaijan. Often found in the Caucasus and the Urals, lives on the Don and in the lower Volga region. steppe foxes feed on rodents (voles, jerboas, mice), destroy nests, hunting for bird eggs, sometimes attack hedgehogs and hares. There is practically no plant food in the diet of the steppe fox.

• Sand fox (lat. Vulpesrueppelli) has characteristically large, wide ears and paws, the pads of which are protected from the hot sand by a thick fur coat. Unlike most relatives, representatives of this species of foxes have well-developed not only hearing and smell, but also vision. The pale brown color of the back, tail and sides with separate white guard hairs serves as a good camouflage color for the fox in conditions of sand and stone placers in habitats. The weight of adult animals rarely reaches 3.5-3.6 kg, and the length of the body of the fox, together with the tail, does not exceed 85-90 cm. The sand fox lives in a desert area. Numerous populations are found in the sands of the Sahara desert - from Morocco and sultry Egypt to Somalia and Tunisia. The sand fox feeds not too diversely, which is associated with the habitat. The fox's food includes lizards, jerboas and mice, spiders and scorpions, which the animal is absolutely not afraid of and deftly absorbs.

• Tibetan fox (lat. Vulpesferrilata) grows to a size of 60-70 cm and weighs about 5 kg. The rusty-brown or fiery red color of the back, gradually turning into a light gray color of the sides and a white belly, gives the impression of stripes running along the body of the fox. The fur of the fox is dense and longer than that of other species. The fox lives on the territory of the Tibetan plateau, is less common in northern India, Nepal, in some provinces of China. The food of the Tibetan fox is varied, but pikas (haystacks) are its basis, although the fox is happy to catch mice and hares, does not disdain birds and their eggs, eats lizards and sweet berries.

• South African fox (lat. Vulpes chama)- a fairly large animal with a weight of 3.5 to 5 kg and a body length of 45 to 60 cm. The length of the tail is 30-40 cm. The color of the fox varies from gray with a silvery tint to almost black on the back and gray with a yellowish tint on the stomach . The fox lives exclusively in countries South Africa, especially large populations are found in Angola and Zimbabwe. An omnivorous species of foxes: small rodents, lizards, low-nesting birds and their eggs, carrion and even food waste, which the animal looks for when entering private yards or landfills, are eaten.

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 vision of the fox is on such high level that she 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 that a mouse is nearby, the fox completely freezes and tries to figure out where and how the rodent is sitting in this position.

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 chickens. 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.

For foxes, encounters with eagles, coyotes, wolves, bears, cougars and humans are 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 with dogs 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. In Japan, 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 the animal world, foxes are animals with great inner qualities and potential.

Where does the fox live: the habits of the fox. fox holes

Foxes don't always live in burrows. They use these dwellings only when raising offspring, and spend the rest of the time on open space. Foxes have almost no feelings of home. They settle where they like, and even then not for long. The fox willingly digs holes near human dwellings, sometimes foxes wander even into big cities. The fox often does not want to dig a hole on its own and uses other people's dwellings, for example, the fox has great respect for comfortable burrows dug by a badger.

A mature fox acquires burrows not only in order to grow offspring in them or hide from prolonged bad weather. Often burrows serve as a refuge for them in case of danger. The old fox, as usual, has not one hole where her brood is placed, but several at once, which provide her with a reliable refuge in exceptional cases.

Fox hatching holes are mainly located on the slopes of a ravine, not far from a stream, in a forest thicket, that is, where people usually do not wander. It happens that the fox from year to year returns to the hole dug by her once. Then such "apartments" are constantly expanding, being updated, acquiring several additional "rooms", which are usually located on 2-3 floors. Hunters are well acquainted with such holes and call them "secular".

Usually, a fox hatching hole is equipped with several exits - otnorks, which allow it to leave its shelter unnoticed in case of danger. The main snout, which the fox regularly uses to enter and exit, is noticeable from afar. Usually this is a clean area, sprinkled with sand, which appeared here as a result of many years of cleaning the hole. Here you can often see playing foxes.

The fox's molting period

By the end of winter, the fox coat, previously shiny and fluffy, begins to fade and becomes rough. The fox begins a period of molting - hair falls out, and the beast loses its external attractiveness. Molting occurs quite quickly, and by May the foxes acquire a new fur coat - summer. If the fox is sick or thin, the molting period is extended, and then even in June you can see a fox with disheveled winter fur. Summer wool is not valued: it is coarse and rare, since there is practically no undercoat - with the beginning of autumn, the wool begins to thicken. And only with the onset of cold weather fox fur begins to be considered full-fledged.

What does a fox eat. How does a fox hunt?

The fox is a great hunter. In addition to observation and ingenuity, she has excellent memory, good sense of smell and remarkably acute hearing. The squeak of a vole, for example, a fox hears for 100 m. Being a predator, the fox eats a wide variety of animals. She eats mice, hares, rabbits, amphibians, reptiles with pleasure, digs up earthworms from the ground after rain, catches fish and crayfish in the river. But he especially loves red cheat enjoy the bird. Therefore, she often looks into chicken coops. By the way, the proximity of a person does not scare a fox at all, so you can often find a fox hole very close to the village. The fox successfully supplements the meat diet with berries, apples, and vegetables.

Each fox has its own individual feeding area. She jealously guards him from the intrusion of strangers and always knows what is happening near her hole. The fox usually hunts in the evening and at night, although there are exceptions. Some animals prefer to go around hare nesting sites during the day, hunt birds and feed exclusively on large game, neglecting mice or frogs.

Despite the fact that the fox will not miss the opportunity to feast on a gaping hare, catch a black grouse or ruin a bird's nest, in the forest it does much more good than harm. The main food of foxes are voles, mice, ground squirrels and other rodents that are harmful agriculture. And the growing foxes exterminate the May beetles in large numbers - well-known pests in forest areas.

reproduction

Like the wolf, the fox is a monogamous animal that breeds only once a year. Rutting time and its effectiveness depend on the weather and fatness of the animals. There are years when up to 60% of females remain without offspring.

Even in winter, foxes begin to search for places in order to bring out young animals, and zealously protect them. There are practically no ownerless holes at this time, in the event of the death of one female, her dwelling is immediately occupied by another. The female is often courted by two or three males, bloody fights occur between them.

Foxes are good parents. males accept Active participation in the upbringing of offspring, and also take care of girlfriends even before the appearance of foxes. They improve burrows, even catch fleas from females. In the event of the death of the father, another single male takes his place, sometimes the foxes even fight among themselves for the right to become a stepfather.

Pregnancy in foxes lasts 49-58 days. In a litter, there are from 4–6 to 12–13 puppies covered with dark brown hair. Outwardly, they resemble wolf cubs, but differ in the white tip of the tail. At the age of two weeks, the cubs begin to see and hear, their first teeth erupt. Both parents take part in the upbringing of foxes. The father and mother are extremely careful at this time, and in case of a threat they will immediately transfer the cubs to the spare hole. They also have to hunt around the clock to feed their offspring. Growing puppies begin to leave the "home" early and are often found far from it, while still very small.

For a month and a half, the mother feeds the cubs with milk; in addition, parents gradually accustom the cubs to ordinary food, as well as to obtaining it. Soon, the grown foxes begin to go hunting with their father and mother, playing among themselves, pestering the elders, sometimes endangering the whole family. From the time of the rut to the final exit of the fox cubs from the hole, about 6 months pass. By autumn, the cubs are fully grown and can live on their own. Males leave for 20-40 kilometers, females - for 10-15, rarely 30 kilometers, looking for a site and a mate. Some females are already next year begin to multiply, in any case, reach sexual maturity at the age of two.

Economic importance

The fox is of great economic importance as a valuable fur animal, as well as a regulator of the number of rodents and insects. At the same time, the damage caused by game foxes and poultry is much less than the benefit that they bring by destroying rodents - grain consumers.

Foxes are bred in captivity specifically for fur. AT late XIX centuries, a breed of silver-black (black-brown) foxes was artificially bred. Then, thanks to selection, the quality of fur was significantly improved in this breed (compared to the wild type), and a number of other fur breeds based on it were bred: platinum, Bakurian, Dakota and others.

In the south of Europe wild foxes- the most common carrier of the rabies virus, so they are vaccinated everywhere.

domestication

In 1959, D.K. Belyaev, director of the Institute of Cytology and Genetics, began a long-term experiment on the domestication of silver-black foxes. In the course of the experiment, only individuals that were most friendly to humans were selected for reproduction. The result of the experiment was the creation of a population of domesticated silver foxes, which have differences from their wild ancestors in physiology, morphology and behavior. The result was a population of domesticated foxes, some representatives of which show signs that were absent in the original population: a curved tail, a change in coat color (the appearance of white spotting), a change in the proportions of the skull, in some puppies early age drooping ears are noticeable. There has been a change in the seasonality of reproduction. There are changes in various systems, including neuroendocrine. The quality of the fur has deteriorated. This project is a model of the microevolutionary process and is conducted for research purposes.

• In ancient times, fox skins were the equivalent of banknotes.
• Foxes are very smart and cunning animals, often confusing hunting dogs chasing them.
• The fox received the nickname "Patrikeevna" on behalf of the Novgorod prince Patrikey, who at one time became famous for his cunning and resourcefulness in the conduct of trade.
• The image of the fox is widely used in the folklore and literature of different countries. In most of them, the animal is a symbol of cunning. However, in ancient Mesopotamia, the fox was a sacred animal, and in Japan it was considered a werewolf.
• The most famous works in which the fox is one of the main characters are the poem of the end of the 12th century "The Romance of the Fox", the fairy tale by Carlo Collodi "The Adventures of Pinocchio" and " The little Prince”, written by the famous Antoine de Saint-Exupery.
• The hearing of the fox is so perfect that it is able to hear the squeak field mouse at a distance of 100 m.
• While eating, the fox gnaws the meat into small pieces and swallows them without chewing.
• An image of a small fennec fox is the logo of the Firefox multimedia product line.
• The maned wolf is very similar to the fox, but does not belong to the genus of foxes. In addition, he lacks feature foxes - vertical pupil.

Video

Sources

https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_fox#Reproduction https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox

Description of the fox art style or scientific for children will help you write essays and prepare for the lesson.

Brief description of the fox

The fox is a beautiful animal. Her body is covered with thick red hair. The fox has a luxurious fluffy tail. She has short legs and a sharp muzzle. The eyes of the fox are beady, glow with cunning fire.

She lives in abandoned minks of ground squirrels and badgers, prefers meadow areas. The fox feeds on mice and hares. A sleepy owner drags chickens.

Chanterelle - great swimmer. She runs away from enemies in zigzags. The fox runs very fast.

The fox is the hero of many fairy tales, where she performs a not very plausible role - she steals chickens, is cunning, hunts birds, etc. In fairy tales, they call her - gossip, Patrikeevna, cheat, prankster, etc.

Description of the fox for children

The fox likes it everywhere - in the field, in the forest, in the meadow, on the shore of the reservoir. It is impossible to confuse it with another animal. Well, tell me, who else has such a gorgeous red fur coat and a long fluffy tail with a white speck at the end?

Lisa is a big fashionista. She has two fur coats - winter and summer. Moreover, the winter one is much warmer: its fur is thicker and longer than that of the summer one.

It is to the honor of the fox that it is distinguished by great intelligence, cunning.
This beast has excellent hearing. In winter, the fox carefully listens to various sounds and accurately determines where the mouse is tinkering under the snow. The fox immediately rakes the snow and overtakes the prey. They say that the fox "mouse".

Fox - typical predator. In the summer, the diet of the fox is made up of frogs, small birds, and animals. And if you get into the habit of running to the farm - beware! He will carry hens and cockerels.

The fox, preparing to bring out the cubs, becomes a real builder for a while. She digs (builds) long, intricate holes with several exits. You never know! But sometimes the fox is lazy. Without building anything, he uses a ready-made hole, the one dug by a badger or some other animal.

Have you heard the voice of the fox? He is sonorous, she “yapps”. And if it comes to a fight, then the foxes squeal so piercingly that it won’t seem enough. Fox dad and fox mom caring parents. The male takes care of the female with the cubs.

The fox story

Lisa is a real beauty. She has a warm red coat. Narrow curious muzzle. Her ears and paws are black. But the fox is proud of its tail - large, fluffy.

The tail is also red, and the tip can be dark or white. When a fox runs or jumps, the tail helps it keep its balance.

The fox is really smart, observant, dexterous and cunning beast. The red-haired "cheater" prefers to live not in a dense forest, but closer to the edge. Or where there are fields, ravines, small copses.

Often a fox lives next to a person - not far from the village and even the city. In order not to catch the eye of a person or relatives - dogs, both dexterity and cunning are required.

An observant fox knows that when a dog sits on a chain, there is no need to be afraid of it. Let yourself lie! And she minds her own business. The fox may not pay attention to the people working in the field: they are not up to her.

But if she is in danger, the fox, almost flattened in running above the ground, stretching her fluffy tail, quickly runs away. Get the fox! Hold on! And she was gone!

Sometimes hunters look for a cheat in forest thickets, along ravines, and she will run away into a field sown with tall wheat or oats and hide. Very close to the village where the grief-hunters live.

Some are sure that the fox only hunts by stealing chickens. Of course, the fox will not refuse chicken, but this does not happen so often. The fox's main food is mice.

The fox also hunts hares, catches birds, ruins their nests. Will not refuse beetles and other insects. Will gladly swallow a frog, lizard or snake.

The fox loves to eat berries, fruits, some plants. Patrekeevna has a rich menu.

The fox has good hearing and sense of smell. In winter, the fox “mouses”: it runs across a snow-covered field and listens to see if a mouse squeaks under the snow. If he hears, he will dig and seize the prey.

Sometimes he will be so carried away by prey that he can let him close: the fox's eyesight is not so good.

A fox digs a hole to breed. But she herself does not want to work, and she often takes other people's holes. But he will definitely make several emergency exits: which does not happen in life!

Fox cubs are born blind, deaf and toothless. The fox feeds them with milk. And soon the cubs both see and hear. And they cut their teeth.

Grown up fox cubs do not sit in a hole for a long time. They are interested in exploring the world. But as soon as the fox barks, the cubs quickly hide in the hole. Or they run to their mother.

Foxes do not gather in flocks, they prefer to live alone.

It seems that thanks to folk tales, we know everything about the fox. She is the first raider in the world who captured a bast hare hut only because it was cold for her to spend the winter in an icy one. She is an unreliable business partner, with whom it is better not to mess with even a straightforward, unsophisticated wolf. She is so cunning that she can extricate herself from any sticky situation, especially one that would threaten her life or her red fluffy tail.

In the folklore of many peoples of the world, she was given the status of an “anti-hero”, and even the famous medieval “Romance of the Fox”, in which the Fox Renard looks very attractive against the background of the characters opposing him, could not shake this opinion.

Naturally, the answer to the question of what the fox eats is assumed to be unambiguous: the scope of its gastronomic interests is defenseless bunnies, koloboks, which so carelessly escaped from their owners, chickens, which we did not have time to keep track of for some reason ... And we, like the presenters the popular American TV show MythBusters, we will now try to find out how “a fairy tale is a lie” and what percentage of a hint it contains. Moreover, in recent times keeping foxes at home is becoming fashionable, and it is natural that their owners are very interested in the issue of feeding their red pets.

But, as usual, let's start in order and a little from afar.

As science says...

If we apply for primary general information to scientists, then with considerable surprise we learn about disagreements in determining which animals can be attributed to foxes. We will be told that in common word"Fox" is the name given to the mammals of the canine family, and it will be added that only ten species are assigned by zoologists to this genus. However, the existing classification consists of at least 22 species. Thus, we can make an intermediate conclusion that the diet of a fox directly depends on two factors: where it lives and what species it belongs to.

The most famous and widespread representative of foxes, which will be mainly discussed, is an ordinary fox. It is distributed over most of the land - both in the Russian forest and in the Canadian tundra, and in arid areas. North Asia and on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. Throughout the territory inhabited by it, there are more than 40 subspecies, not counting those that are artificially grown in captivity for fur. But they differ from each other more on formal grounds than on essential ones.

What does it eat

In the matter of nutrition, the fox shows an amazing omnivorousness. Despite the fact that she is a predator to such an extent that she does not disdain carrion in winter, her menu also includes a number of plants. The main component of her diet in wild nature, especially in winter, these are small rodents: field mice, steppe lemmings, mole voles, lemmings, muskrats. There is even a special kind of hunting for them - mouseling - inherent only to the fox and consisting in the following: smelling a rodent under the snow, she first "listens" to him, then, after waiting for a moment, dives under the snow or scatters it with her paws, trying to grab her prey. The value of voles for the fox is so great that its population even directly depends on their numbers.

The common belief that foxes feed on hares is not entirely true. They are usually neglected by foxes due to their size difference, although there are examples when they actually hunt rabbits and eat the corpses of adult hares. Foxes large sizes may also prey on roe deer cubs. A fox will not pass by a bird that is on the ground, it can even feast on a large bird like a capercaillie, ruin a nest with eggs or eat chicks. The statement that the fox eats chickens and other poultry is not entirely true either. Of course, if she settled near the dwelling, then she would not fail to raid the chicken coop, but she would not do this as often as it is commonly thought - mainly during periods of feeding foxes. However, this danger can be minimized by taking certain safety measures in relation to your hens. A much more terrible enemy for chickens is the marten.

The further south the habitat of the fox, the more sophisticated and unusual its diet. In deserts and semi-desert areas, the fox feeds on various reptiles. Living near rivers (particularly in Canada), foxes feed on dead salmon. In summer, insects - beetles and grasshoppers - fall into the sphere of her gastronomic preferences. Finally, the same plants that we mentioned at the beginning, and their fruits, fruits and berries are part of the fox menu in the south.

As for representatives of other fox species, they basically eat the same as the common fox. Differences in food are dictated by the habitat and are more cognitive than fundamental, representing a change in the proportion of certain foods. We will talk about these features now.

1. The menu of the American corsac consists of rodents, rabbits, birds that nest on the ground, small reptiles and fruits. In winter, he will not pass by carrion, and in summer - by insects (beetles, grasshoppers and locusts), which can make up to half of his entire diet.
2. the Afghan fox is more herbivorous than other species. In addition to the desert and semi-desert flora and plants of the mountainous areas, where it mainly lives, the fox also feeds on insects, not excluding locusts, and small rodents. She also regales herself with gourds - in those areas where they are grown, she can be found quite often.
3. the African fox is the most herbivorous of all foxes, also prefers berries and fruits. Occasionally, she can diversify her lunch with rodents, lizards and invertebrates.
4. the Bengal fox eats small animals, insects, reptiles, beetles, bird eggs, and only occasionally fruits.
5. the gastronomic interests of the corsac (steppe fox) coincide with the preferences of the common fox, so for each other they are food competitors and enemies. The only difference in their menu is that occasionally the corsac can hunt ground squirrels, hedgehogs and hares - both adults and cubs - and that it is almost not interested in plants and fruits.
6. the sand fox eats pretty much the same food as the afghan fox.
7. the main role in the diet of the Tibetan fox is played by pikas - small animals that look like hamsters. In addition to them, she also feeds on other animals related to them - hares, rodents - as well as birds that nest on the ground and their eggs. May also eat berries, insects and small reptiles.
8. Fenech, living in the deserts of the northern and central parts of the African continent, is one of the most omnivorous fox representatives. A significant part of the food - and these are small animals, eggs, various insects, locusts, carrion, fruits and roots of plants - he has to dig up. Large ears make it easier for him to get food, capable of picking up the smallest rustle that is made by his potential victims.
9. to omnivorous species also includes the South African fox, which feeds on small animals and fruits.
10. the arctic fox, which is also called the polar fox, is also omnivorous due to its range. His behavior can serve as an excellent illustration of the saying "Hunger is not an aunt, she will not serve a pie." At the heart of its diet, as in many species, are rodents - most often lemmings - and birds. In addition, it actively feeds on fish - both caught on its own and washed ashore - and almost all types of scarce northern vegetation- berries, herbs, even algae. A large share of its menu is made up of carrion and animals caught in traps, including their own relatives. Arctic fox can often be seen accompanying polar bears - he picks up the meat of dead seals that they have not eaten. Sometimes he even preys on baby reindeer.
11. the gray fox (tree fox), which is often found in the North American forest, feeds on various forest rodents, birds, insects, and sometimes chickens. She is also supportive of plant foods and will not miss the opportunity to ruin a squirrel or bird's nest due to the fact that she climbs trees very well.
12. the island fox, living in only one place - on the six Chenep Islands off the coast of Southern California - eats what can be found there: insects, fruits, small animals, reptiles, birds and their eggs. It is interesting that in nature there are six subspecies of the island fox - exactly according to the number of islands - and that each island has only its own subspecies inherent in this particular island.
13. on the diet of the mikong found in South America, seasonality affects, so it is almost the most diverse. Maikong eats everything they can offer him. surrounding flora and fauna: rodents and marsupials (mole and opossum), reptiles, birds, fish, turtle eggs, insects, crabs, carrion, berries. Sometimes he even kidnaps chickens and domestic ducks.
14. almost nothing is known about the diet of the little fox that lives in the South American forest, since it leads secret life, which contributes to its color. One can only assume that her menu consists of plant foods and some small inhabitants of the forest.
15. Andean fox (culpeo) mainly eats traditionally - rodents, birds, lizards, hares, rabbits and pikas. Interestingly, only occasionally does she allow herself to eat carrion or some kind of plant food.
16. the menu of the South American fox, like mikong, is influenced by the change of seasons. In spring and summer it feeds on rodents, occasionally on rabbits and birds, in autumn it switches to fruits, seeds and berries. It is interesting that in some places of its range (and it is distributed throughout the south of the South American continent), the fox, on the contrary, prefers European rabbits, birds and their eggs, also eats scorpions, reptiles. In winter, carrion, rodents and armadillos become almost the main source of food in its menu. If a fox of this species lives near a settlement, it can eat and poultry.
17. Darwin's fox prefers to eat insects, small mammals, birds, amphibians, berries and carrion.
18. The food of the Paraguayan fox is almost no different from that of the Maikong and, in addition, includes hares, scorpions, armadillos and snails.
19. The Brazilian (aka gray-haired) fox is insectivorous and feeds on termites and grasshoppers, but rodents can also be found in its diet.
20. The Securan fox mainly consumes plant foods, but can also diversify its breakfast with grasshoppers, mice, carrion, scorpions, fruits, poultry and guinea pigs, and even its small size does not stop the fox from hunting the last two.
21. the big-eared fox (motlozi, sechuan) is perhaps the least diverse in its diet, but at the same time, in comparison with the diet of other foxes, it is the most unexpected. Insects (termites, beetles and locusts) and their larvae occupy the main place in its menu, and less than one tenth of the total diet is accounted for by lizards, rodents and bird eggs. Occasionally, she can afford to eat something vegetable. It is also known that the big-eared fox has a sweet tooth and loves honey and sweet fruits and fruits. The addiction to them comes to the point that if they are in abundance, then she can eat them more often than her favorite insects.

Conclusion

As can be seen from all of the above, the fox remains a predator in any corner the globe, even eat it at the same time insects and fruits. Therefore, the question of whether a fox is dangerous for a hare can be answered as follows: it all depends on where the hare has to live. If - in the forest, then an ordinary fox can pass by it; if in the steppe, then the corsac will not fail to dine with them.

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 differ in size and color.

Description of the fox

This is one of the most common red fox. It differs from other members of the genus in more large size and bright coloring.

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 lair 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 must include berries, fruits and other vegetable feed. 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 symbolizes 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.

AT educational process both parents are involved. The male is 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 fox is a predatory mammal that belongs to the canine family. This is an unusually attractive predator with a long and fluffy tail. No wonder in the old days there were many fairy tales with the participation of this predatory beauty.

The group of foxes includes only 11 species. The most common of these is the common or red fox.

The red fox refers to the most big representative sort of, its weight varies from 6 to 10 kg. Body length(without fluffy tail) is from 60 to 90 cm. Well, the smallest fox is the fennec fox, which is 30-40 cm long and weighs no more than 2 kg.

The predator prefers to live in the steppes, tundra, forest belt and desert. Recently, more and more residents of villages or the outskirts of houses complain about the machinations of foxes. People are not happy with such a neighborhood, because the fox loves to eat pets (birds, ducks, geese, etc.). Moreover, even the presence of dogs in the house does not stop the predator.

Mostly foxes found on five continents:

• Africa,
• Eurasia,
• Australia,
• North and South America.

The color of a fox depends on its habitat. So, in the steppe you can meet a gray-yellow fox, in the north - red. Fox fur for a very long time is valued and considered the most beautiful, so they began to breed predators even on farms.

Fox diet

What does the fox eat? Although she belongs to the predators, her diet is very large. Of course, the basis is meat. The diet of a predator can include more than 300 different small mammals, rodents and birds. The diet of the fox depends on the time of year and its habitat.

What do foxes eat in winter? The most attractive type of food at this time of the year are rodents. More often, the family of voles. Hunting foxes for rodents resembles hunting cats. The fox also applies the effect of surprise, having tracked down the victim, attacks it without a chance. This process is called mouseover.

In winter, the fox carefully checks forest plantations and river banks in search of a bird; it can also eat carrion. Birds are caught both small and large. Does not pass by eggs and chicks. In the forest belt, the predator loves to eat hares, if she finds a hare hole, she destroys the entire hare family. Having met a roe deer, it will not pass by either. Well, near residential buildings, she is not averse to looking into the chicken coop. . This is such a rich diet. fox food even in winter time of the year.

What does a fox eat in spring and summer? At this time of the year, the predator eats quite densely, because at this time she has her own cubs. At the end of March, the cubs are born; for a month and a half, they feed on mother's milk. Usually 5-6 foxes are born. By the end of April, they are already starting to play and climb out of their holes. Mom and dad at this moment are already beginning to pamper their children with living food. During the period of feeding cubs, foxes can hunt more than large birds- swans. Rodents are brought to fox cubs to develop their passion for hunting.

In addition to its main food, the fox can eat wild berries and fruits. As a rule, foxes that live in the southern regions resort to this.

The food of the fox in the desert is different. Here the predator can also eat reptiles, beetles, larvae, earthworms. Often she catches dead fish from the reservoirs.

In the taiga, foxes have a hard time because there is not much food in this place. The basis of the diet is made up of small rodents and birds.

Feeding a predator at home

Currently, more and more often you can see unusual animals in people, including predatory ones. Of course, it is recommended to have predatory animals in the house at a young age. A wild fox can be kept at home, but the necessary conditions for a normal life should be created for it. Including you need to pay attention to the nutrition of the predator.

Keep the fox in an aviary. Keeping a predator in an apartment is less convenient than in a private house. This will require a large cage where the fox can play. For the toilet you need a box of sand. To accustom a fox to such a tray will not be difficult. It is necessary to let the fox out of the cage, at least when the owner is at home.

It is better to feed high-quality dog ​​food, and for a change, you should pamper the predator with berries and fruits. But do not forget that the fox is also a predator, you can feed it with chicken giblets and cartilage.

It is forbidden to feed foxes with raw fish and bones. Little foxes are usually fed milk or dairy products. But, when getting such an animal at home, one should be wary of its behavior, which can be completely unpredictable, and sometimes dangerous even for the owner.

Thus, the diet of the fox is quite diverse. It depends on the nature and living conditions, as well as on the season. Someone thinks that a fox can only eat meat, however, in addition to the main diet, she can eat more fruits and berries.