Sly fox (fox). What does a fox eat? What does a fox eat in the forest in winter? Who does the fox hunt in the forest?

In the darkness of a moonless night
The fox crawls along the ground,
Sneaking towards a ripe melon.

Basho

Though fox and is a predator, but still its diet consists of a wide variety of foods. The fox is practically omnivorous.

No matter what conditions a fox finds itself in, it will always be able to find food and adapt to environment and human activities. At the same time, they show amazing persistence and ingenuity. That is why foxes are distributed everywhere from arctic to tropical latitudes and live in the most different conditions and geographical areas.

Red-haired cougars

Foxes do not limit themselves to any one dish, they can eat animals of more than three hundred various types. The main part of the diet consists of voles, gophers and other small rodents. Therefore, it is believed that foxes provide significant benefits to agriculture by reducing pest numbers.

Much less often, the fox is lucky when hunting larger game, such as hares. Hares occupy a small share in the diet of foxes, although predators do not miss the opportunity to feast on long-eared animals and quite often catch hares. And when the hare pestilence sets in, they do not disdain even corpses.

Birds play a smaller role than rodents in the fox’s diet, although the fox will never miss an opportunity to hunt any bird that flies down, both small and large, and does not shy away from laying eggs, small chicks, and destroys nests.

According to popular belief, foxes like to visit chicken coops for poultry, however, this happens much less often than is commonly thought; predators are forced to do this by hunger when they cannot get other food. These raids cause much less harm compared to the benefits of reducing the number of rodents by foxes.

Mouse

In winter, most food sources disappear, fly south, fall asleep deep in burrows, plant food practically none, and then the fox is rescued by the always available voles. In winter, you can often see a red-haired predator performing an intricate dance on the field. This is mouseing.

Having heard and smelled the nesting of voles, it begins to dance in one place, jumping on its hind legs and hitting the snow or ground with force with its front legs. Then all she has to do is catch the frightened mice running out of their holes. Sometimes she dives into the snow with her muzzle at a run and can fall under the snow up to half her body. Each such dive is rewarded with the presence of prey in the fox’s mouth.

Not just meat

In the southern part of Europe, foxes often hunt for small reptiles, on Far East and in Canada, living along rivers, they seasonally feed on salmon fish that wash ashore after spawning. The fox happily and deftly hunts beetles and other insects in the summer and eats quite a lot of them. In this way, foxes bring great benefits to the forest and agriculture: By eating chafers and their larvae, they keep the number of beetles within the normal range. Fox cubs love to chase chafers, honing their skills and catching favorite treat. The fox will not lose sight of the gaping fisherman, or rather, his net with a fish.

Finally, foxes, for lack of anything better, do not disdain various carrions, and in times of famine - all kinds of garbage. Then they can be seen rummaging around trash cans and garbage dumps, although they do not do this as often as people.

And for dessert

The fox's ability to feast on a wide variety of foods has become firmly entrenched in folklore.

Almost all foxes feed on plant food, especially in the southern territories. When the fruits are almost ripe

Fox- one of the most popular heroines of children's fairy tales. But the Fox, as a fairy-tale image, is endowed with features characteristic of these animals in reality. The fox is beautiful: a bushy tail that is slightly less than half the length of the body, a red fur coat and a roguish narrow-nosed muzzle with beautiful brown eyes. Besides Fox slim, graceful, weighs 6-10 kilograms.

What does Lisa look like?

Fox They also call her a redhead, and this is actually true, only her belly is white, gray or slightly brownish, and her chest is light. The back and sides of the Fox are colored differently in different parts: from bright red to gray.

IN northern forests Foxes are fiery red and larger, in the forest-steppe they are yellowish-gray and smaller. Greyhounds, crosses, and silver foxes are common Foxes with deviations from the usual color. The most beautiful is black-brown fur: guard hairs with white upper parts give the fur a silvery tint.

Such Foxes began to be bred on fur farms many years ago; black-brown Foxes are very rare in nature.

Summer Fox fur hard and short, in it she looks lean, big-headed and even long-legged, it suits the Fox less than the winter one. And by autumn, winter fur grows - beautiful, thick. Fox Shedding once a year - in the spring.

Fox Habits

Fox is a good hunter. In addition to observation and intelligence, she has excellent visual memory, a good sense of smell and acute hearing. The mouse squeaks barely audibly, and Fox hears a hundred meters away, a vole will rustle through dry grass under a half-meter layer of snow - and hear it. It climbs well, swims well, and is extremely maneuverable on the shore. Her ingenuity on the hunt or when escaping from pursuers is admirable.

Fox will be able to climb a tree if it is slightly inclined or branches low from the ground. The fox is very active. She knows her hunting area down to the smallest detail and systematically inspects it. Patterned chains in winter Fox tracks bizarrely cross fields, copses, ravines, getting lost on roads and paths and intertwining around stacks of straw, piles of dry soybean stalks, piles of dead wood and in other places where mice and voles live.

There was, and still is, the opinion that the main Fox food - hares. Of course, the Fox loves hare meat, but she can’t often catch up with a hare - how can she keep up with such a runner.

However, Foxes get along just fine without hare meat. It is estimated that the Fox's diet includes more than 300 different animals - from insects to large birds.

And yet the main food Foxes - rodents. They take up 80-85% of her diet. To get enough, the Fox needs to catch and eat at least two dozen mice and voles a day. And where fox feeding- and the area of ​​its feeding area is on average 10 kilometers in diameter - there are much fewer rodents than where there are no foxes.

After the rains, the fox collects earthworms in abundance. In shallow water Fox successfully catches fish, crayfish, takes out shells. It happens that half-eaten prey remains, and then the Fox hides it, taking it away different places. Then she will certainly find these supplies and eat them.

It is characteristic that, being a typical predator, the Fox is happy to eats berries, apples, some vegetables.

Fox hunts, as a rule, at dusk and at night, during the day it can be seen only during the lean period, most often in winter, and even in summer, when the fox cubs are growing.

Norami fox It is used mainly during raising offspring, and the rest of the time it prefers to rest in an open place: under the roots of an upturned tree, in a ravine, on a haystack.

Reproduction of foxes

Mating season for foxes begins from the end of January - in February, and in the north in March, although even before that you can often see a male and female in pairs. IN wedding time, in March, several males are courting one female, and fights between them are common. During the rut, Foxes are very excited, often yapping and howling, especially single ones who have not yet found a mate for themselves.

You can tell the difference between a male and a female by their voices. Female Fox makes a triple bark and ends it with a short howl, and the male barks more often and more, like a dog. Having retired, the couples play a lot, even organize some kind of dances: the Fox climbs hind legs and walks in this position with small steps. This dance got its name from this dance. foxtrot(the word "foxtrot" is English and means "fox step").

Male foxes - good family men . They not only take an active part in raising the young, but also take touching care of their friends long before they give them adorable fox cubs: they carry food and improve their burrows.

Fox cubs There are from 4 to 12 in a litter, but most often there are 5-6. They appear after 51-53 days of pregnancy, usually at the end of April or in the first half of May. Fox cubs They are born weak and helpless, deaf and blind, weighing only 100-150 grams, but grow quite quickly. In less than a month, they can already see, hear, weigh about 1 kilogram, emerge from the hole, and soon begin to play and frolic. From now on, Fox's parents bring them half-dead game so that the fox cubs acquire hunting skills.

As soon as a person even accidentally stumbles upon a fox hole, the very next night The cubs will be transferred to another location, into a spare hole; Foxes usually have several of them on their site. If Fox cubs are in danger, adults discover something surprising presence of mind. Even when a person breaks a hole with a shovel, they try to the last to save their children - to get them out through one of the holes.

Fox trick

Sometimes you can notice in fox behavior actions that resemble episodes from fairy tales. For example, the Fox approaches the black grouse gathered at a lek in an open clearing in an amazingly cunning way: she pretends that she is not at all interested in them, and does not even look in their direction; sometimes he will lie down and take a nap, and the birds lose their vigilance and go about their business - very Lisa is a good actress.

Meanwhile, Patrnkeevna will move a meter or two towards them. Lisa spares no time in playing: sometimes such a performance lasts an hour or two. Then a few lightning-fast jumps - and the hunt is victoriously completed.

Not many animals are called by their first name or patronymic. But the Fox is often called that way. Moreover, her middle name is unusual - Patrikeevna. About 600 years ago there lived a prince named Patrikey Narimuntovich, famous for his resourcefulness and cunning. Since then, the name Patrikey has become equivalent to the word cunning. And since the Fox has long been considered by the people to be a very cunning beast, as the heiress of the famous prince, she received the patronymic name Patrikeevna.

Being a typical predator, the Fox happily eats berries, apples, and some vegetables.

Little Foxes They fight well against pests such as chafers.

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 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 big ears, as 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 family independent life. 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 ordinary 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 animal instinct, which nature endowed her with so that the fox could survive.

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She is the smallest member of the popular Canidae (or Canidae) 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. People called her a cunning cheat. Who is she? Of course, a fox!

Who is she?

(or redhead) is carnivorous mammal, belonging to the Canidae family. Is the most common and most close-up view from the family of foxes. The size of these animals does not inspire much fear, since the fox is usually the size of 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 cheater 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, all the way to the northern Gulf Coast. Moreover, this red-haired beast was artificially acclimatized by humans in Australia! Since then, these animals have spread almost everywhere. small continent. We will tell you more about the settlement of certain areas by foxes when we talk about their ecology.

How does she look?

The common fox, which we will now describe, is a rather elegant creature. Fox fur has always been famous for its beauty, silkiness and reddish-orange tint that plays in the sun. The fox's chest is white, and black “boots” are clearly visible at the ends of its paws. The muzzle, like that of all Canines, is elongated. The clever eyes, similar to those of a cat, give this creature a special charm. Her legendary tail is fluffy and long. It visually increases the size of the fox.

In general, the coloring and size of these predators are completely different; a lot here depends on the habitat of the animal itself. For example, the common fox living in the northern territories (photo given in the article) is larger than its counterparts, and its fur is lighter. In turn, closer to the south you can find small foxes with dull fur. However, her most popular color is bright red, it’s not for nothing that she’s nicknamed the red-haired cheat!

What does she eat?

In general, red foxes prefer open meadow areas where they can catch rabbits and even grasshoppers. Their main “menu” is small rodents from the Vole 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: during the cold season, these animals hunt exclusively for foxes; it regulates the number of mouse-like rodents.

Hares are of secondary importance in foxes, but in some cases cheats are deliberately engaged in catching rabbits and hares. During the so-called hare pestilence, foxes can become scavengers and eat their carcasses. Birds play a lesser role in the red beast’s diet, but given the opportunity, she will not miss her chance! Foxes love to devastate clutches of bird eggs, kidnap domestic chickens, geese, etc.

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

How does she hunt?

Main hunt common fox- catching voles. This process even got its own name - mouseing. So she mouses for voles: sensing a rodent under the dense snow cover, the animal first begins to carefully listen to its squeaks, jumps and rustles, and then dives under the snow! Sometimes a fox can quickly and deftly throw snow in different directions, trying to catch a vole. And she succeeds.

Lifestyle

Typically, red foxes live in pairs, in rare cases - in families. Their home is nothing more than an ordinary hole. They can dig their own holes or occupy someone else’s existing ones (for example, the holes of arctic foxes, badgers, marmots). You won’t find fox dwellings just anywhere: an individual plot must not only provide its inhabitants with a normal amount of food, but also be located in suitable place. These places most often become all kinds of hillsides or ravines.

Fox holes usually have several entrances leading through long tunnels to the main chamber - the nesting chamber. Often these animals take a fancy to and, accordingly, arrange natural shelters - crevices, hollows, caves. As a rule, these animals do not have permanent homes. They use only temporary shelters during the period of raising their offspring, and the rest of the time they live on open areas where there are a lot of mice. In conditions wildlife 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 for a quarter of a century.

Ecology of the common fox

As mentioned above, the ecology of this red beast is very extensive. The coloring of a fox and its size are directly related to the habitat of the animal and certain factors that determine the existence of a fox in certain territories. Red-haired cheat with varying densities, it populates all landscape-geographical zones in the world: tundra, subarctic forests, steppes, deserts, and even mountain ranges in all climatic zones.

Whatever the habitat 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 period The snow cover in such places is not too deep, but loose. This allows foxes to special labor do your usual thing - mouseing. You already know what it is.

The common fox usually leads in most regions globe These animals are not characterized by any migration. Mostly inhabitants of mountains, tundras and deserts migrate. In this case, the young animals leave " parents' house", moving at distances of up to 30 km from it.

Common fox. Description of subspecies

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

• European forest;
• Tobolsk;
• Anadyr;
• Yakut;
• Kamchatka;
• Sakhalin;
• Ussuri;
• Shantar;
• European steppe;
• Azerbaijani;
• Daurian;
• Turkmen;
• Crimean;
• Caucasian;
• Turkestan;
• Armenian

Reproduction

Like their wolf relatives, red foxes are monogamous animals. They reproduce no more than once a year. Moreover, the breeding period and its effectiveness directly depend on the fatness of the animal and on external factors, For example, weather conditions. It often happens that more than 50% of female foxes cannot bear new offspring for years.

Zoologists note that red fox copes well with her parental responsibilities. For example, males not only actively raise their offspring, but also take care of females. Parent foxes diligently arrange 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.

Photos of foxes taken in their natural environment habitat, and short descriptions species will give you an idea of ​​these colorful furry wild animals.

Photo by: Roselyn Raymond

Photo by: Kai Fagerstrom

Photo by: Wenda Atkin

The red fox is the most widespread and therefore the most varied look of all the foxes. They can be found throughout the Northern Hemisphere and in Australia. These agile hunters are known to be able to jump over fences two meters high. (Photo credit: Roselyn Raymond)

Marble fox

Author of the photo: unknown

Author of the photo: unknown

The Arctic marbled fox is a subspecies of the red fox. It is not found in nature with this color; people raised it for its fur. (Photo credit: Ewald Mario)

Gray fox or tree fox

Photo credit: Variegated Vibes

The gray fox is common in North America. It is distinguished by its fawn-gray fur color with a black tip of the tail. This fox is one of the few dogs that can climb trees. (Photo credit: John Payne)

Black and brown fox or silver fox

Photo by: Shelley Evans

This is another variety of fox with a beautiful color ranging from completely black with a white tip of the tail to gray with a blue or brown tint. The silver fox is known as one of the most valuable fur-bearing animals. They are still bred and raised for their fur. (Photo credit: Matt Knoth)

Photo by: Daniel Parent

Source: imgur.com

Photo by: Einar Gudmann

Photo by: William Doran

The arctic fox lives beyond the Arctic Circle. Thick fur saves him from the most low temperatures up to -70 degrees Celsius. These foxes have relatively short legs and snouts, which help them retain heat. (Photo credit: Cecile Sonsteby)