Fox's message is short. Fox (fox) - types of foxes, where they live, how long they live, what they eat, photos

The common or red fox is a predatory mammal of the canine family, the most common and largest species of the fox genus. Appearance The color and size of foxes vary in different areas; in total there are 40-50 subspecies, not taking into account smaller forms. In general, as you move north, foxes become larger and lighter in color, and as you move south, they become smaller and duller in color. In the northern regions and in the mountains, black-brown and other melanistic forms of fox coloration are also more common. The most common color: bright red back, white belly, dark paws. Often foxes have brown stripes on the ridge and shoulder blade, similar to a cross. Common distinguishing features: dark ears and white tip of the tail. Externally, the fox is a medium-sized animal with a graceful body on low paws, an elongated muzzle, pointed ears and a long fluffy tail. Molting begins in February-March and ends in mid-summer. Immediately after this, the fox begins to grow winter fur, in which it is completely dressed by the turn of November and December. Summer fur is much thinner and shorter, winter fur is thicker and more lush. Foxes are distinguished by their large locator ears, with the help of which they pick up sound vibrations. Ears for foxes are the “catcher” of prey. The red fox's vocalization is the same "oo-oo-oo" as a wolf's, only lower.

Nutrition The fox, although it belongs to typical predators, feeds on a very diverse diet. Among the food it eats, more than 400 species of animals alone have been identified, not counting several dozen species of plants. Everywhere, the basis of its diet consists of small rodents, mainly voles. One can even say that the state of the population of this predator largely depends on the sufficiency of their number and availability. This especially applies to the winter period, when the fox lives primarily by hunting field mice: the animal, sensing a rodent under the snow cover, listens to its squeak, and then quickly dives into the snow or scatters it with its paws, trying to catch its prey. This method of hunting is called mouseing. Larger mammals, in particular hares, play a much smaller role in nutrition, although in some cases foxes purposefully catch them (especially hares), and during a hare pestilence they can also eat corpses. Sometimes large foxes can attack roe deer cubs. Birds in the fox's diet are not as important as rodents, although this predator will never miss an opportunity to catch a bird that ends up on the ground (from the smallest to the largest, such as geese and wood grouse), as well as to destroy a clutch of eggs or flightless chicks. The fox can also kidnap domestic birds, but, according to the observations of zoologists, it does this much less often than is commonly believed. In deserts and semi-deserts, foxes often hunt for reptiles. In Canada and northeastern Eurasia, foxes that live along large rivers seasonally feed almost 100% on salmon fish that have died after spawning. Almost everywhere in the summer, foxes eat a lot of beetles and other insects. After all, they willingly use carrion for food, especially during periods of hunger. Plant food - fruits, fruits, berries, less often vegetative parts of plants - are part of the diet of foxes almost everywhere, but most of all in the south of the range; however, nowhere do they play a key role in feeding representatives of this species.

Reproduction Like the wolf, the fox is a monogamous animal that breeds only once a year. The time of the rut and its effectiveness depend on the weather and the fatness of the animals. There are years when up to 60% of females are left without offspring. Even in winter, foxes begin searching for places to breed their young, and jealously guard them. There are practically no ownerless holes at this time; in the event of the death of one female, her home is immediately occupied by another. A female is often courted by two or three males, and bloody fights occur between them. Foxes are good parents. Males take an active part in raising their offspring, and also take care of their friends even before the cubs appear. They improve the burrows and even catch fleas from females. If the father dies, 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. The litter contains 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 two weeks of age, fox cubs begin to see and hear, and their first teeth erupt. Both parents take part in raising fox cubs. The father and mother show extreme caution at this time, and if there is a threat, they will immediately transfer the cubs to a spare hole. They are also forced to hunt around the clock to feed their offspring. Growing puppies begin to leave their “home” early and are often found far from it, while still very small. For a month and a half, the mother feeds the foxes milk; in addition, parents gradually accustom their cubs to regular food, as well as to obtaining it. Soon, the grown-up fox cubs begin to go hunting with their father and mother, playing with each other, pestering their elders, and sometimes endangering the entire family. From the time of the rut to the final exit of the fox cubs, about 6 months pass. By autumn, the fox cubs are fully grown and can live independently. Males go 20-40 kilometers, females - 10-15, rarely 30 kilometers, looking for a site and a mate. Some females begin to reproduce as early as next year; in any case, they reach sexual maturity at the age of two. The fox weighs 5-8 kg. Behavior

A fox, moving calmly, walks in a straight line, leaving behind a clear chain of tracks. A frightened animal can run very quickly, at a gallop, or literally spread out over the ground, with its tail fully extended. Among the fox's senses, the most developed are smell and hearing; vision is much less developed - therefore, for example, a fox can come very close to a motionless sitting or standing person from the windy side. During the rut and simply in a state of excitement, the fox emits a sharp, loud bark; foxes squeal piercingly when they fight. The female and male differ in their voices: the female makes a triple “bark” ending in a short howl, the male barks like a dog, without howling. Many foxes, especially young ones, lie down for the day in a field if it is located near a forest and is rich in rodents. Before settling down under a bush or hillock, the fox, frozen in place, examines the surroundings for a long time for danger. Then he curls up, covering his nose and paws with his tail, but before falling asleep, he looks around the area several more times. Foxes also like to rest in dense thickets, ravines and other hard-to-reach places. Foxes hunt at different times of the day, preferring, however, early morning and late evening, and where they are not pursued, they meet during the day, and without showing concern when meeting a person. Otherwise, these animals are distinguished by extreme caution and an amazing ability to hide and throw off the chase - this is why in the folklore of many peoples the fox is the embodiment of cunning and dexterity (the Japanese spirit is the werewolf Kitsune, the European spirit is Verfuchs). Foxes living near hiking trails, boarding houses, and in places where hunting is prohibited quickly get used to the presence of humans, are easy to feed and can beg. It is assumed that foxes have a sense of magnetic fields.

Fox- one of the most graceful predators that fill almost the forests of Russia and many other countries! And today, friends, we will tell you about life common fox in nature.

Description of the common fox

In nature, there are more than 50 species of foxes, which have one thing in common - a slender physique. Fox rather resembles a cat, with a long build and a weight of 10 kg. She has an elongated muzzle, small pointed ears, short legs and a long, fluffy tail, which is the main decoration, along with fur, of course. The tail itself occupies about 40% of the body length, growing up to 40-60 cm. The fur of the predator requires special attention - most often the color is bright orange with a white belly and dark paws, but northern individuals are lighter. Fur common fox thick and short, which she sheds from February to mid-summer, acquiring a new soft and smoother one. But, the most interesting thing is in the form of shells, thanks to which the animal has excellent hearing, and it can clearly boast of a sense of smell. You've probably seen a fox jumping in the snow more than once in fairy tales? And all thanks to hearing, which allows a rodent to hear under a thick layer of snow . Lifespan of a common fox 30 years.

HABITAT AND REPRODUCTION OF FOXES

Where does the common fox live?

Fox- an animal that lives in pairs or families.
As a rule, they independently dig holes for themselves for a comfortable existence, or settle in abandoned ones. For your hole fox chooses sandy soil next to a ravine where rain will not fall. But holes are needed only for shelter and breeding; in other cases, the animal can easily do without them. Do you know that fox inhabits Russia, America, Europe, reaching Africa and Australia. But not only the forest creates the most comfortable conditions; parks, cities and even landfills are no worse. Thanks to its hearing and sense of smell, the fox is a good hunter, diet which includes not only rodents and various animals, but also insects. Essentially, she is a predator that will eat anything that is edible - hares, snakes, lizards, fish, chicks and bird eggs, mainly hunting at night.
And despite the short legs, the fox runs quite deftly and quickly.

Reproduction of foxes

At the end of winter, the female goes in search of a male, who may fight among themselves for the right to choose her. The winner gets the female's approval for reproduction. Pregnancy lasts approximately 50 days, and after their birth, the males again enter into battle for the right to raise the cubs. All newborns look more like small puppies with a white tail, which are born in small numbers between April and May.

VIDEO: ABOUT FOXES

IN THIS VIDEO YOU WILL LEARN A LOT OF USEFUL AND INTERESTING ABOUT THE LIFE OF FOXES IN NATURE

Read the author's essay: Red-haired cheatand essays: Common fox: ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;

Reproduction: raising offspring Yu.A. GERASIMOV(Zagotizdat, Moscow, 1950)

Pregnancy in a fox lasts 51-53 days. In the southern regions of the Soviet Union, the whelping period occurs in the second half of March, in mid-latitudes (Kiev-Moscow) - in April, and in more northern regions (north of Leningrad) - at the end of April - the first half of May. In all these zones, whelping dates may vary within 10-15 days depending on meteorological conditions, the abundance or lack of food during the rutting period, diseases, etc.

Feed largely determines the number of puppies born. The average number of puppies in a litter does not exceed 5-6, sometimes it reaches 9 and, as an exception, up to 12.

Fox cubs are born covered in plump fur and weigh 100-150 grams. The primary hair coat is dark brown in color and evenly covers the entire body and tail of the puppy. The end of the tail of fox cubs is always white, which allows them to be distinguished from wolf cubs, as well as from raccoon dog and arctic fox puppies.

For the first 15-19 days, the fox cubs are blind. Their ear openings are covered with membranes. During this entire period, the puppies are completely helpless and are entirely dependent on their mother, who warms them and feeds them milk. By constantly licking the puppies' perineum, the female causes them to release feces and urine onto her tongue, thereby maintaining cleanliness in the den.

At the same time, the male’s paternal instinct awakens, and he regularly brings prey to the hole.

A month after birth, normally developed fox cubs weigh up to 1 kilogram. At this time, they are already constantly appearing on the surface of the earth and in good weather they spend whole days at the hole, not moving further than 20-30 meters from it.

It is interesting to observe such a brood, sitting in a storage shed built on the nearest tree, or simply behind a bush 20-30 meters from the hole (downwind). Usually, as soon as the sun begins to warm up, all the fox cubs, one after another, run out of the hole in a crowd and start a fuss. They play for hours, chase each other, tumble, forming a common ball.

Sometimes a low-flying crow or a bird fluttering nearby causes the most cautious little fox to mutter in alarm, which makes everyone else wary (Fig. 2). At this tense moment, it is enough for at least one puppy to sneak into the hole, and all the others rush after him, crowding each other. Half an hour or an hour will pass and the pointed ears of the most curious daredevil will again appear from the hole. After looking around, the puppy will quietly climb out to a spot in front of the hole. Everyone else will appear behind him. And the frisky game begins again.

Having played enough and tired, fox cubs love to lie down and take a nap on the sand under the rays of the morning sun. On a hot afternoon, they usually climb into the cool of the underground lair, and then silence and calm reign around the hole.

And in the evening twilight, at night or early in the morning, old foxes bring the foxes a wide variety of prey: a vole, a gerbil, a gopher, and sometimes even a hare, a chicken, etc. We had to observe how one fox managed to bring the puppies an uncrushed mallard duck egg. Often the fox delivers the victim to the hole while still alive. This develops hunting skills in fox cubs.

Arriving at the hole, the fox calls the fox cubs with a peculiar snort, often reminiscent of the repeated syllable “oof-oof.” At such a call, all the fox cubs immediately jump out of the hole. Usually the prey falls into the teeth of the fox cub that jumps out first. The strongest and hungriest puppy decides the further fate of the prey.

A fierce fight often breaks out between fox cubs over a gopher, water rat, etc. brought by their mother. Snatching prey from each other, the puppies become furious. Pouncing on each other with chattering noises, they gnaw, scratch with their front paws, or, grappling, roll on the ground in a ball, trying to push the opponent away from the desired prey with their rear. When the victim is torn to pieces and eaten, the fox cubs begin to suckle their mother. But at this time the fox already avoids feeding them milk, and usually, after making a few jumps to the side, hides from the puppies in the bushes, leaving the brood to its own devices.

If at this time a person or a dog approaches the hole, the fox will not hesitate to return back and in such cases often shows great dedication in saving the brood. With a sharp bark, reminiscent of the abruptly and hoarsely pronounced syllable “uhau,” the fox tries to attract the attention of a person, without at the same time catching his eye. The fox sometimes runs very close to the dog and, dodging its teeth, rushes away, distracting the dog from the hole.

The instinct of motherhood also manifests itself in foxes that do not have puppies. Thus, fox cubs, placed in a cage next to a single fox, awakened the instinct of motherhood in her. Such a fox systematically starved, and she carried the freshly killed jackdaws that were brought to her in her teeth all day long, constantly purring and trying in every possible way to call the fox cubs from the next cage to her. When a fox cub was brought to the bars of her cage, the fox willingly gave him the meat she had stored.

Fox cubs begin to catch small animals from the very first days after their first exit from the hole. While frolicking near the hole, they do not miss the opportunity to trample or crush a running lizard with their paws, to grab a descending May beetle or dung beetle in flight, or to catch a fleet-footed ground beetle. This is how they gradually develop hunting techniques.

At two to three months of age (for mid-latitudes in June-July), fox cubs become more independent. At this time, they begin to move away from their burrow several hundred meters to hunt for fillies, beetles, lizards and mouse-like rodents. At night they return to their den, as old foxes still continue to come to the hole and share their prey with the cubs.

Near the residential burrow, fox cubs destroy all small animals, including frogs. In this regard, young animals are gradually expanding their hunting area.

By August, the weight of the fox cubs reaches 2.5-3 kilograms. By this time, their hair becomes more luxuriant, similar to the fur of their parents. Such fox cubs become so independent that they can feed themselves. At this time, they move away from the hole to a distance of over a kilometer and do not always return, remaining in the field for the whole day and even at night.

Sometimes a lonely fox cub temporarily settles in the nearest neighboring hole. Such frightened fox cubs, frightened near their homes, often do not hide in a hole, but run into the bushes or reed thickets.

Old foxes still continue to stick to the breeding area. They often give away their presence by barking at a person who appears at the hole in which the fox cub is hiding.

In September and October, when the fox cubs finish replacing their milk teeth, the young animals have already grown so much that in appearance they are almost indistinguishable from adults. From this time until the end of winter (until the rutting period), young foxes lead a solitary nomadic lifestyle, adhering to the territory of their permanent hunting area. Of the 27 fox cubs that we banded in the summer of 1949 in the Brovary district of the Kiev region, 6 months later three foxes were killed in the same area at a distance of 12-22 kilometers from the place of release.

In winter, foxes do not have a permanent shelter - holes and burrow only in exceptional cases, escaping from danger or hiding in damp, inclement weather.

The period of raising young animals is not always calm for a fox. In many industrial and agricultural areas of the central regions of the European part of the Soviet Union, foxes dig holes not only in remote places, but also in arable lands, among crops, in meadows or on forest edges, often in close proximity to villages. As a result, local residents can easily spot fox litters. Often, children, having found a living hole, stick sticks into it, throw in smoking firebrands, or simply stuff the holes with earth. Such a hole, as a rule, becomes uninhabited on the same day. In areas where a fox is heavily pursued by a person, it is enough for him to visit the hole once, especially in the presence of old foxes, for the animals to leave their shelter.

The fox carries helpless puppies in her teeth, and transfers more independent ones to a secluded place 2-3 kilometers away. If this happens in May or June, then the still fragile fox cubs during such a transition lag behind their mother, get lost and become victims of dogs, wolves and large feathered predators.

In areas where there are few suitable places for burrowing, such an alarmed brood is forced to wander without shelter for quite a long time, as a result of which the entire brood may die. In Ukraine in May, we observed many cases when from litters of 5-7 puppies, after they moved to other burrows, 2-3 fox cubs remained alive.

The fox is without any doubt the most interesting animal on our planet. How many stories, fables and fairy tales do we know about this fiery red beauty? What makes her so popular is not only her beauty, but also her unique character, intelligence and savvy. The wild fox has caused a lot of trouble for agriculture with its thievery; it is especially attracted to poultry. However, in addition to the red fox, so well known to all of us, there are more than 40 species in the world, varying in size and color of fur. All of them are united by the canine family, and have characteristics characteristic of them. Occupying different continents, all species are united by basic similarities, way of life, way of feeding and reproduction.

The brightest of the foxes. The red fox can be found throughout Eurasia and North America, it is difficult to say where they do not live, this is all its home. Its phenotype is characterized by a strong body structure, large size, good health, and a playful temperament. Animals of this type have thick, lush and silky hair of the same length throughout the body. The chest is light or yellowish, the belly is white or reddish (as are the sides), or with a black spot on a red background. The ears and toes of the paws are black. The tip of the tail is usually white, but black hair is scattered along the entire length, and not rarely over the body. The down all over the body is gray or brown in various shades. The backbone and sides of the animal are bright red in color, which can be of various shades. The red fox is the largest species of the fox genus. The length of its body reaches 90 cm, tail -60 cm, weight from 6 to 10 kg.

The fox is the most typical predator that knows no pity for the object of its hunt. Its usual diet consists of rodents and insects, but it is not averse to eating hares, bird eggs, and even the bird itself. Jumping high like a cat, it will not be difficult for her to catch it.

Plant foods, such as fruits, berries or fruits, although they do not play a role in feeding the fox, are nevertheless included in its diet.

Foxes breed only once a year. The female's pregnancy lasts from 7 to 9 weeks. In a litter, from 4 to 12 puppies are born, colored dark brown. Outwardly, they can easily be confused with wolf cubs if you do not see the white tip of the tail. After 14 days, the fox cubs can already see and hear, and can already boast of sharp teeth. Foxes cannot be called bad parents; both mother and father take care of the offspring. However, the constant absence of parents in search of prey leads to the early development of the offspring, and after 1.5 months of life, fox cubs can gradually develop new territory and eat adult food. After half a year, they are considered fully grown and can live independently.

In Alaska, there is a mutation of the Canadian red breed - the black and brown fox. Currently, various breeds of foxes are known in fur farming, characterized by the type of coloration of animals bred by humans in captivity to obtain fur, which are the result of crossing the red fox and the silver fox.

Korsak, the second representative of the fox family. In appearance it resembles a red wild fox, but is smaller in size with large ears and long paws. With wide cheekbones and small triangular-shaped ears, the corsac's muzzle is short and pointed. The fur of this fox is light gray and reddish-gray. But, there are individuals with an element of red on their fur coat. The belly is white or slightly yellowish, and the chin is light. The tail tassel is dark brown or completely black. In winter, you can observe the appearance of a gray coating near the ridge of the animal. The length of hair in animals is also subject to seasonal changes. In winter, he exchanges his short summer coat for longer and heavily pubescent fur. It is a colonizing species of the southern and eastern parts of Europe and Asia. They inhabit steppes and deserts with little vegetation. The corsac avoids dense thickets, which is why it is also called the steppe fox. As a home, it uses ready-made badger holes, holes of marmots, gerbils or other foxes.

Corsac fish usually hunt at night. The main diet consists of rodents, reptiles, insects or birds, which is what competes with the common fox. If there is a shortage of food, it will not disdain carrion or various garbage. They are not attracted to plant food. At the sight of a person, the corsac exhibits fox cunning; it often pretends to be dead, and runs away at the first opportunity. Interestingly, representatives of this species are apparently monogamous, which is not typical for the common fox. As for the rest, as far as reproduction and nutrition of puppies are concerned, they are almost similar. The female bears from 2 to 11 puppies (rarely 16) within 2 months. From the second week, the offspring show their first activity, they begin to see and hear. After 5 months they leave their home.

Korsak is listed in the Red Book.

This fox is also a representative of the fox genus. Lives in the Middle East up to Afghanistan. The Afghan fox is not afraid of hot climates; it can be found both in the mountains and in the driest areas, for example in the Dead Sea. This representative of the fox family cannot boast of large size and bright color, but her long tail with thick fur is equal in length to her body, and attracts attention to her external appearance. The height of foxes does not exceed 30 cm, and the body length ranges from 45 to 55 cm, with a weight of 1.5-3 kg.

The animal has a small graceful head with a short and pointed muzzle, on which a black stripe extends symmetrically from the eyes to the upper lip. Nature, having awarded this fox with large ears, which serve not only as an organ of hearing, but also as a heat sink in hot weather, deprived it of the protective thick layer of hair that covers the paw pads of all types of desert foxes, protecting it from the hot sand.

In summer, the fox's fur is covered in an unremarkable steel color with a lightish stripe on the throat and belly. Depending on where they live, animals can be light brown or almost black. And in winter, the coat of the Afghan fox is colored rusty-brown, with a gray underfur and black guard hairs. It looks very velvety and lush. The diet of the Afghan fox is quite different from other species. In addition to insects and rodents, plant food plays an important role in her life. In “love” these foxes are fickle, and form a pair only during the mating season. The female plays a major role in caring for the offspring. The male can only perform the security function of the den. The pregnancy of a fox lasts about 2 months; compared to the common fox and even the corsac fox, which does not differ in size, the Afghan fox has low fertility. 1-3 cubs are born, rarely three.

This species is also listed in the Red Book.

They are inhabitants of dry, sandy, siliceous desert types stretching from Africa to the Sahara. African foxes lead a rather hidden life. From the known facts of the existence of this species, we can say that these are rather small representatives of foxes: body size 38 -45 cm, a small tail up to 30 cm and height at the withers up to 25 cm, weight from 1.5 to 3.6 kg. The body color can be light red or brown, the tail is darker with a black tip. The back along the entire length in the center is painted with a dark stripe. The belly, muzzle and outer sides of the ears are white. The eyes of older individuals are framed with black edging. It is interesting that representatives of this genus of foxes have scent glands at the base of their tail. The African fox's diet is similar to other foxes.

A feature of their way of life is the presence of so-called family groups, which consist of the main couple, a single male and growing young foxes that have not yet reached maturity. The breeding season of the African fox is unknown. Pregnancy in a female proceeds faster and lasts almost one and a half months. The offspring number from 3 to 6 children, in whose upbringing all members of their social group take part.

Bengal fox or Indian fox

This is a moderately built animal. The length of the body reaches 45-60 cm. The tail is half the length of the body, the height of the fox varies up to 28 cm. The brown color of the fur can be of various shades: from light to red. But the tip of the tail always remains black. Inhabits the foothills of the Southern Himalayas, Nepal, Bangladesh and India. Avoids dense vegetation, but the bare desert is not to its taste either. The Bengal fox feels good in sparsely populated forests, fields and mountains.

This fox also does not adhere to a diet; floral food is a rare occurrence in its diet. The objects of its hunt are insects, arthropods, reptiles, birds, eggs and rodents. Bengal foxes are monogamous. Females whelp 2-5 puppies after a month and a half of pregnancy.

It is a desert native extending from Morocco to Tunisia, Egypt to Somalia. Fennec fox is the tiniest fox with an unusual appearance. This animal is the size of a pet

cat. At the withers, the fennec reaches 18-22 cm, the body length is on average 30 cm, and the animal weighs one and a half kilograms. The muzzle is short and sharp. Fenech attracts a lot of attention with its ears. He is the owner of the largest ears, disproportionate to the head, among predators. Their length reaches almost half of the animal’s body. However, such an inharmonious build of the fennec is due to its habitat. The ears, as well as the furry feet, characteristic of all steppe foxes, serve them for cooling.

The fennec cat's fur is thick, silky and long. Its upper part is red or fawn, and its lower part is white. The tail is quite pubescent, with a black tip. In the wild habitat it digs a deep hole with numerous tunnels, in the vicinity of bushes and grass thickets. Fenech does not like loneliness; family groups consist of 10 individuals. The members of such a family are usually usually a “married” couple and children from the previous litter who have not reached puberty. The chanterelle's food consists of small vertebrates, eggs, insects, carrion, plant rhizomes and fruits.

When catching food, they show agility, agility, mobility and the ability to jump high and far, up to 70 centimeters in height.

Fenech breeding occurs once a year. Puppies are born after 50-53 days.

The female does not leave the den until they are two weeks old, and does not allow the male to approach them. After 3 months of life, babies can already leave their mother.

The little fennec can also be found at home as a pet. Fans of exotic animals are ready to pay a considerable amount for a pretty fennec. Domestic phoenixes are very inquisitive, affectionate and funny animals.

This is one of the representatives of the genus of South American foxes, an inhabitant of the steppes of South America. It has quite large dimensions: height 40 cm, body length 65 cm, weight from 4 to 6.5 kg. The fox's back is reddish to black, with dark stripes down the middle. The top and sides of the head are red, the bottom of the head and white. The animal's ears are triangular in shape and red with white hair inside. The back, shoulders and sides of the street are gray. The hind legs are gray, on the sides with black spots below. The sides of the forelimbs are red. This fox was lucky in the variety of food on the continent. In addition to the main diet: rodents, insects, birds, the Paraguayan fox can feast on snails, scorpions, fish, crabs, possums or armadillos. Pregnancy in the species lasts almost two months. The offspring number from 3 to 6 cubs, which are looked after by both parents. At 2 months they are considered fully grown.

This is the only species of the gray fox genus.

Thickets of bushes, forest edges and mountain copses of southern Canada and northern South America are its native habitat. The tree species is characterized by an elongated, rather plump body on short and strong limbs, and a long shaggy tail. With the size (body length 48-69 cm, tail length 25-47 cm, height at the withers up to 30 cm) of a fox, there are quite large individuals up to 7 kg. Their average weight ranges from 3 to 6 kg. Unlike the American, Afghan and corsac foxes, the tree fox has a rather remarkable appearance. The fur on the back, sides and top of the tail is gray or silver-flecked. The back may be decorated with barely noticeable dark stripes. The neck, chest, front part of the forelimbs and the inside of the hind legs are painted with white tan marks. Bright red-red spots adorn the top of the head, neck, edges of the abdomen and the outer parts of the animal’s paws. The fox's muzzle is gray.

The gray fox is perfectly adapted to climb trees; for this it has two dozen strong hook-shaped claws.

The diet of arboreal foxes is quite varied. For lunch, a predator can feast on fresh meat of small rodents, or it can get by with lean food in the form of nuts, fruits, and grains. And, in some cases, the carrion will not pass by. The ability to climb trees makes it easier for a fox to succeed in hunting squirrels, birds or their nests. Foxes lead a sedentary lifestyle in pairs. Animal dens vary widely. These can be abandoned holes, tree hollows, rock crevices, voids under piles of stones and trunks. The couple produces offspring after 51-63 days of gestation. On average, female foxes give birth to 3 to 7 black puppies.

Who is this fox? What she looks like, where she lives and what she eats, what her habits are - our message will tell you about all this.

What kind of animal is this? What does a fox look like

The fox is a predatory animal that belongs to the canine family.

Externally It looks like a medium-sized dog, but its habits are more cat-like. On her flexible body there is a neat head with a sharp muzzle and mobile, always alert, large dark ears; her legs are short, thin, but strong.

The fur coat of this animal deserves special attention - it is lush, beautiful, and comes in different colors. Most often, bright red foxes are found, but there can also be black, black-brown, and silver ones. There is such a pattern: in the northern regions the fur of these animals is thick and bright, but the further you go south, the more modest it is in both density and color. And the tail of foxes is very beautiful - long, up to 60 cm, fluffy, always with a white tip. Foxes are hunted only for their valuable fur.

Hearing and vision, smell and touch

The fox has excellent hearing. A hundred steps away she can hear the rustling of a mouse in a hole, the distant flapping of wings and the babbling of a hare. Her large ears, like locators, are very good at identifying the source of sound. The fox can also determine the distance from where the sound came to it.

This animal has interesting vision: far-sighted eyes are adapted to notice even the smallest movement of a blade of grass, see well in the dark But the fox does not distinguish colors well, so it can come very close to a motionless person.

She has a good sense of smell, but many other animals have a much more acute sense of smell.

Very good for foxes developed sense of touch: Walking softly and silently on the ground, leaves or snow, they feel the smallest details with their springy paws. They can find a hole with just their paws.

Where live

Foxes can be found throughout the northern hemisphere of the Earth, even in.

They dig holes for themselves with several entrances and exits and underground tunnels that lead to the nest.

Sometimes they occupy other people's homes, for example, badger holes. Here they breed and hide from danger. They spend a lot of time in the den in an open place, under a bush, in the grass or snow. They sleep very lightly.

What do they eat?

Fox - predator, excellent, very fast and dexterous hunter. She gets great pleasure from the hunting process itself. Its prey is small rodents, moles,... Loves to feast on eggs, eats insects, their larvae, worms, catches fish and crayfish. In times of hunger, it does not disdain carrion. Can diversify the diet with berries and fruits.

By the way, by exterminating rodents and beetles, the fox brings great benefits to agriculture.

Reproduction

The mating season for foxes is January-February. One female is courted by several males at once, who fight each other until they bleed. The fox creates a pair with the winner. Foxes are good parents. They do everything together - they dig a hole, raise offspring, get food.

The female's pregnancy lasts 2 months, in early spring in the burrow 5-7 blind and deaf puppies are born(that's what fox cubs are called). At 2 weeks, puppies begin to see and hear, and they are teething. But for a month and a half, the babies do not leave the hole, feeding on their mother’s milk. Only in June do the fox cubs begin to go outside with their parents. They play and frolic in the sun, learn to hunt.

In mid-autumn, foxes leave their families to live independently. At 2 years old they are already able to reproduce.

Types of foxes

Total in nature there are more than 20 types these animals. The most common is the common red fox. There are also African, Bengal, gray, sand, small, Brazilian and other types of foxes.

One of the most interesting is the fennec. This is a miniature fox with an interesting appearance; it is even smaller in size than a cat... Lives in North Africa.

Habits

Why In all fairy tales, the fox is quick-witted, cunning and insidious, dexterous and smart? Because that's what she really is. One can only wonder how this animal knows how to confuse its tracks, deceive game, pretend and deceive. Although you shouldn’t attribute any incredible abilities to the fox.

Intelligence and cunning are just an animal instinct that nature endowed her with so that the fox could survive.

If this message was useful to you, I would be glad to see you