Where foxes live. The fox is a cunning animal. Description, photo, video (Vulpes vulpes). Where does the red fox live?

All the children admired the red-haired beauty, the cheating little fox-sister in childhood, listening to grandmother's tales. In all stories and fables, the fox is identified with intelligence, cunning and resourcefulness. The dodgy and seductive Lisa Patrikeevna either lures cheese from a crow, or steals a chicken from her grandmother, or catches a fish with her tail. What does a fox actually eat?

Fox habits in the wild

The fox is a wonderful predator. She belongs to the canine family, but there is also much in her from cats: both grace, and playfulness, and the ability to hide her claws and, in case of danger, even climb a tree. She has perfect hearing. The fox hears the rustle of a mouse under the ground at a distance of a hundred meters! And absolutely accurately determines its mink. Fox hunters even have a special term for "mouse". It sounds kind, but it means fox hunting for rodents. The fox will fall to the ground, listen, and then, like a stretched bowstring, it will break and will certainly catch the mouse.

In the event of a chase, the fox runs like a stele: a red-haired beauty flies above the ground, and its hind legs drop exactly into the tracks of the front ones. No hunter will confuse a chain of fox tracks with other people's tracks. Breaking away from the chase, the fox will go to look for a secluded place. Despite the myth that foxes live in holes, the fox mostly sleeps under a bush. It will curl up in a ball, put a sharp muzzle on its paws, and cover itself with its tail, like a fluffy blanket.

In the hole, the fox breeds, takes care, and until next spring she will no longer need the hole. By the way, the fox does not dig holes often, but usually uses molehills. Sometimes he even puts up with his neighborhood, if only there were emergency passages and exits.

cute fennec fox

Depending on the habitat, the appearance of foxes also changes. The closer to the north, the larger and brighter the fox, and in Africa and the deserts the fox is getting smaller and the fur is dull shades. But there are several signs inherent in any fox.

1. The fur is thick and red, of different shades. There is a rare species of black-brown fox.
2. White belly.
3. Black paws and tips of the ears.
4. The white tip of the tail: it is by it that newborn fox cubs are recognized, so similar to cubs.

The most interesting species is the fox- fenech. Her ears reach 15 cm, the largest ears on the planet in relation to the body. They not only help her hear small rodents, but also save her from overheating. Foxes eat everything in the desert: plants, beetles, small vertebrates, and eggs. In times of famine, they do not disdain carrion.

Red foxes, as well as fennec foxes, can be tamed. In captivity, the fox quickly becomes attached to the owner. She is loyal like a dog and affectionate like a cat. Feeding a pet is better with what you eat yourself - soups, pieces of meat, fruits, vegetables. And at night, the fox cub will have to be hidden in a booth or cage until it gets used to it: foxes are nocturnal animals, and the fox cub may not return home.

How do fox families live?

In the wild, cubs feed on their mother's milk for a month and a half, and then the fox brings them trophies from the hunt, often wounded victims, so that the cubs learn. Two months after birth, babies crawl out of the hole, play, chase butterflies, eat bugs, and destroy accessible bird nests. Soon they will get quite strong and by autumn they will catch mice, hunt hares and capercaillie.

Foxes live in families: mother, father and children. The fox father is an exemplary family man, he will never leave his family and will protect it to the last. It happens that the family loses the breadwinner, and then another fox will take care of the new brood. And it will be no worse than a native to defend the interests of the family, protect the female and the foxes and get food.

In times of famine, foxes living near human habitation look for food in garbage dumps, steal poultry and eggs. Cases have been recorded when it was possible to feed an adult fox and, although with caution, she took food from her hands.

What do foxes hunt and what do foxes eat?

Farmers and residents of surrounding villages often complain about foxes. Foxes are first-class nest robbers, they will not fail to climb into the barn and steal a well-fed chicken and duck, eating the eggs found along the way. Foxes often cause damage to crops by eating dairy wheat and oats. But this is nothing compared to the benefits they bring. Foxes, along with snakes, are excellent natural regulators of the number of rodents. Voles cause significant damage to crops every year. In those years when a great many rodents are bred, foxes come to the rescue of people.

In addition to the benefits that the fox brings to agriculture, it has valuable fur. The fur of this fur-bearing animal is of rare beauty and is highly valued by manufacturers of clothing and accessories. The fur of a wild fox is much more expensive than that of a captive-bred fox. And many poachers are hunting for the fiery beauty in the hope of snatching a big jackpot.

Hunter, fisherman and gourmet all rolled into one

The fox, first of all, is a hunter. The main diet of her diet is mice. However, she will definitely eat various bugs and berries. The whole family can hunt flocks of birds: one distracts, the other catches. She needs to eat 30-40 mice per day. And if there is a lot of prey, she makes a reserve. He digs a hole, tamps it with his nose, and then he certainly finds his cache.

The diet of the fox is varied:

• Mice and all kinds of rodents that live next to it;
• Beetles, larvae, bird eggs and their chicks;
• Birds: both wild and domestic;
• Hares: despite its dexterity, a fox will rarely be able to catch up with a nimble hare;
• Berries and plants: not as a main meal, but as a treat.

In times of famine, the fox does not shun carrion: it eats the corpses of hares during pestilence, as well as fish thrown ashore during spawning, and dozens of plant species.

Thus, we figured out what the fox eats, it turns out that the fox is an omnivore animal. Even in hunger, she will always find something to eat, in extreme cases, she will come to a person. Her hunting ear is the envy of any beast, and her resourcefulness, combined with quick reaction, provides her with food and shelter wherever she lives. And a large fiery northern beauty, and a small nimble fennec fox - both of them are masters of mouse catching and a model of family.

Video about the nutrition and life of foxes

In this video, zoologist Gennady Kuravlev will tell and show how foxes live and what they eat in the wild:

Titles: common fox (fox), red fox.

Area: The fox is quite widespread and lives almost throughout Europe, Asia, North America, and North Africa. Acclimatized in Australia. Some researchers believe that a special related species is found in America ( V. fulvus), others consider it only as a subspecies of the red fox.

Description: The red fox has a slender, elegant, slightly elongated body on low legs. The common fox is about the size of a small dog, and of its total length, about 40 percent is accounted for by a bushy tail. They have a slender muzzle, with white fur on the upper lip, and some individuals have black tear marks. The common fox is larger than other representatives of the genus, but the color and its size are distinguished by great geographical variability. In general, foxes become larger and brighter towards the north, smaller and duller colored towards the south. There are 14-15 subspecies in Europe, and over 25 subspecies are known for the rest of the range.
Adult foxes begin to molt in February - March (in the north - in March - April) and finally dress in summer fur in the middle of summer. Almost immediately, winter fur begins to develop, maturing during November - December. The fox's summer fur is sparse and short, in which it looks lean, large-headed and even long-legged.

Color: In most cases, the color of the back of the fox is bright red, with an indistinct dark pattern, the belly is white, but sometimes black. Her belly is white, gray or slightly brownish, her chest is light. The color of the back and sides varies in different places from bright red to gray.
In northern regions with severe climatic conditions, black-brown and other melanistic forms of coloration are more common. Sivodushki, krestovki, silver foxes are ordinary foxes with deviations from normal coloring. The most beautiful black-brown fur. Such foxes have long been bred on fur farms and are called silver-black.
In nature, there is another type of fox coloring - moth. She has red-orange fur with a fiery sheen. If you shake it, it seems that the flame is swaying. Moths are most often found in Kamchatka, less often in Yakutia and other northeastern regions of Siberia. And quite rarely - in the European part of Russia. And the quality of skins of European moths is much lower than that of the Yakut and Kamchatka ones, which at fur auctions often crowded out their best silver-black relatives. Sometimes pure white albino foxes are born.
The noted diversity of color and size of the fox is associated with the vastness of its range and the great differences in the conditions of existence in its individual parts.

The size: body length 60-90 cm, tail - 40-60 cm, shoulder height: 35-40 cm

The weight: from 6 to 10 kg.

Lifespan: In the wild, foxes rarely live more than seven years, while in captivity they live up to 20-25 years.

During the rut or in a state of excitement, the fox emits a rather loud, abrupt bark, like a yelp. Fighting or angry animals squeal piercingly. By voices, you can distinguish a male from a female: this is how the female makes a triple “leak” and ends it with a short howl, while the male does not have this howl, but he barks more and more, in the manner of a dog.

Habitat: The fox inhabits all landscape and geographical zones, from the tundra and forests to the steppes and deserts, including mountains. The common fox prefers open areas, as well as those areas where there are separate groves, copses, as well as hills and ravines, especially if in winter the snow cover there is not too deep and loose. She avoids only the deaf taiga, snowy regions and deserts, therefore, on the territory of our country, most of the foxes live in the forest-steppes, steppes and foothills of the European and Asian parts.
At the same time, the fox is found not only in the wild, but also in cultural landscapes, including the immediate vicinity of villages and cities, including large industrial centers. Moreover, sometimes in the area mastered by man, the fox finds a particularly favorable environment for himself. So, in some areas of England, they completely mastered vast agricultural lands along with settlements, and began to "populate" cities, living even in the center of huge London! They live in parks, feed near landfills, make holes under various buildings. Because of their uncleanliness in Birmingham, foxes began to bother people with unsanitary conditions, forcing the city's veterinary service with the help of hunters to catch more than a hundred foxes and take them to remote forests, but it turned out that after a while they began to return to the city in their chosen places.

Enemies: The natural enemies of foxes include wolves living in the same territory and some other large predators. Previously, hunters killed large numbers of foxes in order to prevent natural foci of fox rabies. However, the widespread use of the oral vaccine in both North America and Europe has eliminated the need for such drastic measures as mass shooting of foxes.

Food: The fox, although it belongs to typical predators, eats a wide variety of food. Among the food she eats, there are more than 300 species of animals alone, not counting several dozen species of plants. However, all the same, the basis of its nutrition is made up of small rodents, mainly mice and voles, which together make up about three-quarters of their diet. Larger mammals, in particular hares, play an incomparably smaller role, although in some cases foxes catch them. Sometimes foxes attack small cubs of roe deer. Birds in the diet of the fox are not as important as rodents, although the predator will never miss the opportunity to catch any of them on the ground (from the smallest to the largest - geese, capercaillie, etc.), and also destroy the masonry and chicks. In the southern regions of Europe, foxes often prey on reptiles; in the Far East, living near rivers, they feed on salmon fish that died after spawning; in shallow water they catch fish, crayfish, and near the seaside they pick up all kinds of sea emissions: from mollusks to large mammals. During the summer months, almost everywhere, foxes willingly eat a lot of beetles and other insects. After rains, it gathers earthworms in abundance. Finally, during the hare pestilence, their corpses and all kinds of carrion are eaten, and in times of famine, various garbage. Vegetable food - fruits, fruits, berries, less often vegetative parts of plants - are part of the food of almost all foxes. Finding an unharvested soybean field, it feeds on it.
In general, the nature of nutrition and the species composition of food vary greatly not only in different geographical areas, but also among individuals of adjacent populations inhabiting unequal habitats.

Behavior: Foxes usually hunt at dusk and at night, during the day they can be seen most often in winter and even in summer, when offspring are growing up. At this time, the fox uses burrows, while the rest prefers to rest in an open place - under the eversion, in a ravine, on a haystack. The behavior of old and young foxes is not much different, except that the young ones are more shy and less experienced in the extraction of large game. If there are a lot of mice, then they hunt most often at night and at dawn. Having eaten, at dawn they go to forests, densely overgrown ravines and other secluded places, where they rest all day.
If fields and meadows, rich in mouse-like rodents, are located several kilometers from the forest, then many foxes, especially young ones, lie down for a day in the meadows, choosing for this a small hillock near a lonely standing bush. Before lying down, the redhead dodges a lot, and sometimes makes jumps to the side, striving to jump into the grass or other place where you can’t immediately find her trail. Having reached the place of lying, the fox first sits like a statue, carefully examining the surrounding area. After making sure that there is no danger, and spinning in place, it will curl up and lie down with its nose to the trail, covering its abdomen, legs and even head with its tail. After a while, he will raise his head, listen and look around again. After repeating this operation several times, he finally falls asleep. In the forest, the fox lies down in a clearing, a hillock, and also in such a way that she has an overview.
Her usual manner of movement is a leisurely trot. A calmly walking fox follows a straight line, leaving a clear chain of tracks in the snow. Often the fox takes a step, stops, looking around. Despite the short legs, the fox runs very briskly and quickly leaves the pursuer with big jumps, a gallop, or literally sprawling above the ground and stretching its tail far, which not every dog ​​is able to catch up with it. As for dexterity, she successfully catches bugs flying over her. When hiding prey, it completely merges with the terrain and, as it were, crawls on its belly.

The common or red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is a widespread predatory mammal of the canine family.

The fox is familiar to everyone, at least from Russian folk tales, where she invariably takes the place of a cunning, quick-witted and far-sighted hero, where she is usually called respectfully - Lisa Patrikeevna. In fact, this animal the size of a small dog is indeed smart, but not as smart as our usual pets, dogs and cats, are smart. However, the fox is smart enough to successfully survive the Russian frosts and find food even in the most treeless areas.

Foxes, which have learned to adapt to a wide variety of climatic conditions, are extremely widespread. Their habitat is almost the entire territory of Europe and Asia, North America and North Africa. These animals successfully acclimatized in Australia, where they were brought in the middle of the 19th century.

The fox lives in a wide variety of regions - from mountains and southern steppes to taiga open spaces and tundra. These predators can be met both where no human has gone before, and near rural outskirts. Being an ecologically plastic animal, the fox adapts surprisingly well to a variety of habitat conditions, but prefers open landscapes: forest splits, hills, ravines, fields, forest-steppes. She does not really like the deaf taiga, snowy areas and the desert.

Description of the fox

The common fox is the largest species of the fox genus. The body length of the beast is 60-90 cm, weight - 6-10 kg.

The color and size of foxes vary from place to place. There is a pattern: the further north, the larger and brighter colored foxes are, the further south, the smaller the size of the animal, and the fur loses its brightness, fades. The most popular color of foxes is a bright red back with a blurry dark pattern, a white (rarely black) belly, and dark paws. In southern latitudes, the color of fox fur varies from light gray to sandy yellow.

The undoubted decoration of any fox is the tail: fluffy, with white underfur and a black tip. Sometimes in length it is almost equal to the length of the animal's body.

The body of the fox is light, dry and mobile: the animal is able, bending, to spread along the ground when hiding prey and stretch out when running fast at a gallop. The legs are thin and sinewy, flexible at the joints. Like most animals that can run fast, the fox runs on its toes. This explains the calloused, hard soles and short, blunt claws. The great length and strength of the hind legs contribute not only to rapid movement on even ground, but also to making unexpected jumps and turns, in which the long tail works like a steering wheel and helps maintain balance. The same tail, fluffy, like most of the body, serves as a blanket for the fox during sleep. Curling up in a ball and wrapping its tail in front, the fox uses it as a muff, plunging the most chilled parts of the body - legs and a muzzle covered with short hair - into long soft hair. If you look closely at the head of the animal, it is not difficult to catch the main features of the predator here. Relatively large and set straight ears indicate excellent hearing, a strongly protruding muzzle with a thin nose - about an equally perfect sense of smell, lively, yellow and slightly slanting eyes with a slit-shaped pupil (set vertically, like in cats, but slightly more rounded) - about vision adapted to the dark.

Fox lifestyle

Foxes, as a rule, are nocturnal, but there are also those who hunt in search of food in the morning and afternoon, and sleep at night.

Foxes can dig very long and multi-chamber burrows in the slopes of ravines or hills, but they are not used as a permanent home. Burrows serve for breeding and sometimes as a shelter from danger. Here the female whelps - brings 5-6 foxes. For safety, the fox hole has several exits - otnorkov. The cubs live in the main chamber underground, but they can escape from the enemy (for example, from the fox terrier, a breed of dog specially bred for hunting foxes) through emergency exits. Sometimes the fox uses other people's holes - badgers or marmots, driving out clean owners with its sharp and strong smell.

Foxes do not hibernate. Throughout the cold season, they wander around their territory, and they rarely use their burrow.

The fox is a cautious animal, but at the same time it does not hold curiosity. An empty tin can, a colored piece of paper - no matter what she meets on her way, she will definitely explore. What motivates a fox when she goes out to the noise of a car or train - simple curiosity or curiosity related to personal safety? The beast seems to be checking who appeared in the forest and from whom to expect trouble.

Each animal has its own plot on which it lives and earns its own food, and if the "boundaries" were violated by another fox, the integrity of the territory is restored through a brawl.

What do foxes eat?

The fox is a typical predator. Its main and most constant prey are mice, for grasping which both thin incisors and narrow muzzle are excellently adapted.

In winter, you can watch the fox mouse. If the snow is shallow, then the animal senses a mouse under it, and from above “follows” with the help of smell the movement of prey under the snow cover. The fox stands on its hind legs, waits, and then abruptly, in a jump, rushes with its front paws to the place where the victim hid under the snow layer. Only the difficulty of getting mice in the snow or in the number necessary for feeding puppies usually forces us to turn to catching birds and large rodents.

In general, the fox is an omnivore. Everything that falls alive under her paw goes to food: from snails and beetles to hares and black grouse sleeping under the snow. It happens that Patrikeevna visits chicken coops, as well as city dumps, where there is always something to profit from. She does not disdain and vegetable feed - berries and fruits. The animal gladly catches fish and crayfish, and sometimes even digs up earthworms.

The fox is of great economic importance as an exterminator of rodents and pests. At the same time, foxes are carriers of an acute infectious disease - rabies.

Family matters

"Wedding time" for foxes begins in February-March. Several males take care of one female at once, without leaving her a single step. Fights for the "beloved" between males are inevitable at this time. The strongest of the strongest becomes the father of a family, in which there are usually 4-6 puppies, sometimes more (up to 12-13). The duration of a fox's pregnancy is 52-56 days. Puppies are born blind and deaf, but covered with fluffy brown fur. Already by the twentieth day, the cubs begin to crawl out of the hole, but even up to a month and a half they continue to feed on mother's milk. It becomes more and more difficult to feed the rapidly growing young, and parents (and both mother and father take part in the upbringing of the younger generation) begin to teach them the wisdom of hunting. Now the puppies are already running away from the hole for a decent distance and begin to catch small animals - beetles, grasshoppers, etc. Usually, by August, the young growth grows so much that they can already live on their own. Foxes become sexually mature at the age of one year.

Under natural conditions, the life expectancy of a fox is rarely more than 7 years, but in captivity they can live up to 20 years. This difference is due to the fact that in nature this animal itself can become the prey of larger predators - bears, wolves, wolverines, and even birds - hawks, eagles, falcons and golden eagles, and for amateur hunters, the fox is a welcome hunting trophy. Some people keep foxes as pets, although the phrase "domestic fox" itself is rather controversial. Nevertheless, in captivity, foxes live much longer for obvious reasons - a person takes care of them, they live in peace, do not waste energy searching for food, etc.

In contact with

All of us in childhood listened to fairy tales about an unusually smart and cunning beast. The fox is indeed distinguished by resourcefulness and natural ingenuity, which allows her to quickly find prey and hide from her pursuers. Famous owners of a fluffy tail were able to settle in almost any natural area. The fox is an ordinary predator of forests, steppes, mountains and deserts. It would seem that everyone knows everything about this mammal. However, starting our story, we see that our description of the fox is quite stereotypical and based on a folklore image. Even this world-famous beast has its own secrets.

Fox classification

Fox is the common name of a genus from the wolf subfamily, which unites 11 species at once. Its structure is sometimes disputed, adding or eliminating some species. For example, this genus is attributed to the similarity in appearance of the fox. Until now, many zoologists cannot decide which family the polar fox belongs to. While this beast occupies a position outside a certain kind. The following species are considered true foxes:

• fox ordinary;
• afghan fox;
• bengal fox;
• american fox;
• american corsac;
• African fox;
• corsac;
• South African fox;
• sand fox;
• fenech;
• Tibetan fox.

The closest relatives of foxes are the following genera:

• Arctic foxes (Arctic fox);
• mikong (mikong or savannah fox);
• big-eared foxes (big-eared fox);
• gray foxes (island and gray foxes);
• small foxes (small fox);
• South American foxes (Securan, Paraguayan, Andean, Brazilian, Darwin and South American foxes);

Despite the stunning resemblance, the maned wolf does not belong to the fox. This unusual animal is a relic species that managed to survive the extinction of most of its former society.

Where does the fox live? Habitat

Nature has endowed foxes with the ability to adapt to a variety of environmental conditions. These mammals were able to confidently spread to almost all continents, with the exception of South America and harsh Antarctica. The habitat that different types of foxes have chosen includes:

• North America, as well as some islands near the mainland (American corsac, arctic fox, red, island, gray fox);
• South America (Maikong, Securan, Brazilian, Paraguayan, Darwin, South American, small and Andean foxes);
• the entire territory of Eurasia (arctic fox, corsac fox, common, Tibetan, sandy, Bengal (from India), Afghan (Bukhara) foxes);
• coasts of Africa and the Nile Valley (fennec fox, red, big-eared, South African, African sand fox);
• Southern Australia (red fox).

The wide coverage of territories explains the great variety of species of these mammals and the huge number of adaptations for survival.

Many mistakenly believe that all types of foxes live exclusively in European and Siberian forests. Only a few species of these animals settled there. Foxes are sedentary animals and try to choose a suitable place to live. They carefully inspect the corner they like, remembering the location of ravines, holes, rivers and hills in order to profitably use them for shelters. The red fox perfectly hides from enemies, confusing and covering its tracks, suddenly disappearing right in front of the nose of its enemy. For such an extraordinary ingenuity, a talented strategist received the title of a cunning and intelligent beast.

In the dry steppes of Asia, in hilly areas with low vegetation, you can find deep burrows left by badgers and other animals, which were chosen by a cunning predator. The steppe fox does not like when her peace is disturbed, therefore, she fiercely guards her temporary possessions. Due to the arid climate, these animals have to constantly migrate. The steppe fox, or corsac, travels from the Volga delta and the Caucasus to the mountains of Western Siberia. Very rarely they move away from their usual parking place. Sometimes these cunning animals also enter the forest-steppe, where the common fox competes with them, often repelling prey from a smaller relative.

mountain foxes

Mountain foxes are inhabitants of harsh rocks. Their diet and lifestyle depends on the height of their "living zone". So, for example, the Crimean mountain fox equips abandoned burrows, holes in rocks and stones, caves and even tree hollows. This diversity is due to the fact that the Taurus Mountains, covered with forests, are quite low with a warm climate. The Tibetan fox, on the other hand, lives on the high Tibetan plateau and is sometimes found in areas north of the Himalayas. These animals dig their own houses and lead an extremely secretive lifestyle. Scientists still do not know exactly how long they live and what they eat highland foxes.

In semi-deserts and deserts, conditions are truly extreme! All the inhabitants of this dry and hot area will need to collect all the devices that nature has endowed them with in order to survive. The sandy area without a single hint of vegetation and coolness does not allow the spread of large herbivores and rodents on it. That is why only a miniature eared fox, for example, can live here. These animals settle in small dry bushes or in a tiny clearing of rare grass, where they make holes for themselves. In their shelters they wait for the night. What the fennec fox eats lives right next to the mink. The animal pulls out roots from the sand, preys on small rodents, reptiles and insects.

In the far north, in the land of eternal snow, fluffy sly ones also live. The polar fox even inhabited the territory on the islands in the Arctic Ocean. The usual natural areas for arctic foxes are tundra and forest tundra. The polar fox settles in hilly areas where you can easily find housing and food. Arctic foxes are distributed from Alaska to Chukotka. These animals feel great both in icy Greenland and on other islands abandoned in cold waters. When it gets colder, Arctic foxes move south, temporarily settling in new places.

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.

All foxes have a fluffy long tail, which not only decorates the animal, 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. The length of the tail of an adult varies from 20 to 60 cm. And the weight is from 1.5 to 14 kg.

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 the harsh conditions of the wild.

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 of 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 molting, foxes put on 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).

All foxes are born hunters. These animals easily get food wherever they live. What a fox eats determines the area in which he lives, the time of year and the type of animal. It is also worth paying attention to the age of the predator: young animals are afraid to attack large prey.

A sandy little fox in deserts and semi-deserts can easily smell edible roots, hear the movements of lizards, tasty beetles and their larvae, scorpions under the ground, skillfully attack a gaping rodent. The animal extracts moisture directly from its meager diet.

There is not much suitable food in the north. However, the polar fox was able to adapt to the harsh nature. The diet of the beast includes more than a hundred species of animals and almost 30 species of plants: algae, blueberries, herbs and cloudberries! Everything that the fox can find, it will immediately eat or hide. The basis of the diet of the polar fox is made up of many species of small rodents (for example, lemmings) and birds common in the taiga. Sometimes arctic foxes catch or find fish on the shore, overwhelm deer calves that have lagged behind. Polar foxes are not against carrion, therefore they make up a retinue of a polar bear, which often shares a part of a seal carcass with a small predator.

What the common fox eats, almost everyone knows. The favorite delicacy of this predator is small mice, which in winter become the main source of food. The common fox also eats hares, but hunting them requires a lot of energy. The predator often raids the homes of these animals, eating the young. The cunning fox will not refuse to climb into the nest of some bird to feast on eggs and chicks. Also, the beast will gladly eat berries, fruits and herbs.

Contrary to popular belief, foxes rarely raid chickens and other poultry. An animal decides on such an act only in a critical situation, when it is difficult to get food in the forest. The predator often spoils cereal crops, which he eats in an unripe state.

Steppe foxes prey on a wide variety of lizards, snakes and turtles. They will not refuse to eat a toad or a frog. Korsak foxes perfectly catch rodents (their favorite dishes are ground squirrels, jerboas, voles), hares and birds. Sometimes this predator attacks a saiga calf. This happens extremely rarely: the corsac fox is a rather cowardly animal.

In the mountains, the stern Tibetan fox finds food difficult. Finding anything edible on the rocks is already a difficult task. The basis of the diet of a skilled predator is dexterous rodents, pikas. After them, the fox runs along the cliffs, driving them into traps, or waits at their shelters. But that's not all the fox eats. The beast catches mountain hares, birds, climbs into nests and destroys them, feasts on insects and reptiles. When a cunning animal finds berries suitable for food, it will eat them with pleasure. The Tibetan fox does not mind eating carrion.

What the fox eats also determines seasonality. So, for example, during salmon spawning, many predators stop hunting. Dying fish is enough for everyone for several months.

fox sounds

Everyone is interested in what sound foxes make when communicating. If you watch these animals, you can be pleasantly surprised at how rich their stock of signals is. Each sound of the fox is reserved for special occasions and situations. Different species have their own timbre of voice and language.

The common fox is unusually talkative. The mother is constantly in contact with her cubs with the help of a kind of sonorous purr, being interested in their well-being. If any fox goes too far or gets carried away by a dangerous occupation, the mother will shout the unlucky baby with a loud yelp. Sometimes these cunning animals talk to their buddies with a slight snort. A warning about the danger will be a heart-rending short cry, reminiscent of a loud "kar".

They live in families, they do not like to communicate with other brothers. In general, these mini predators have a rather nasty character, so the appearance of a stranger in their possessions is accompanied by nervous, offended chirping and hissing. With friends, little foxes can howl, whine and bark!

Large foxes living in harsh conditions, such as corsacs, "talk" in a very low voice. These predators live alone and occasionally exchange growls and uterine clatter.

fox breeding

Female foxes reach sexual maturity by two years. Smaller species - much earlier, by 9-12 months. On average, an animal can have offspring up to 6-7 years. In males, everything is arranged a little differently. They are already ripe for a year. It is young foxes who are especially willing to participate in courtship.

The time of mating games is distributed for each species of fox in its own way, depending on certain factors of the habitat (weather conditions, enemies, landscape, amount of food). Animals calculate the time so that the babies will appear by the warm period, when there will be plenty of food. As a rule, fox breeding occurs in the middle or end of winter.

Foxes are very smart animals. If the animals see and feel that their future family may be in danger (lack of food, emergencies, epidemic, cold snap), they postpone the breeding season for 2-3 months.

In the bitter cold, foxes begin their beautiful ritual of wooing. Males sing a long song, attracting a bride. Sometimes several boyfriends start fights for the lady they like, who stands aside for the whole fight and watches what is happening. After waiting for the winner, the female approaches her hero. A pair of foxes fold up. For a long time, these two will frolic: ride in the snow, play catch-up, “dance”, standing on their hind legs, jokingly bite each other’s ears and push each other cheerfully. Then the foxes go into one of the holes.

Monogamy is a common feature for many species of these predators. The fox often chooses a partner for life. It is very important for animals to stick together. In a difficult situation, such a life saves the family. Korsaks, fennies, Bengal and Indian foxes are faithful to their halves. They take turns hunting and cleaning burrows. But the red fox enters into temporary marriages (they last no more than a year and a half).

Pregnancy in these animals lasts 48-60 days, depending on the size of the animal and habitat. The number of cubs in a litter is directly related to the amount of food. In times of famine, the fox does not start a large family. Cubs are born one by one or two by two. Many brides never find suitors. And in prosperous years, each chanterelle is born from four to sixteen blind, deaf and toothless puppies.

fox species

Foxes are distributed throughout the world. The organisms of these animals are ideally adapted to various natural zones. Consider the most interesting types of foxes.

Arctic foxes rightfully bear the title of polar explorers. These snow-white chanterelles live both in the taiga and far beyond the Arctic Circle. Mischievous animals are able to withstand very low temperatures thanks to thick fur with a dense waterproof undercoat. In such suitable clothes you will not freeze, and you will disguise yourself well in the white snow! Snowshoe paws save the fox. The beast does not fall through when running in the snow.

Arctic foxes are perfectly adapted to the cold. They easily tolerate frost at -50 degrees. The rounded shape of the body minimizes heat loss. Scientists have found that the polar fox begins to tremble only when the temperature reaches -70 degrees!

The arctic fox is a typical predator of the tundra, subarctic and arctic natural zones. In summer, these animals live settled, occupying old burrows, and in winter they go wandering. Arctic foxes often accompany polar bears, who share part of their prey with them. During migration, northern animals go far beyond the Arctic Circle. Sometimes a polar fox travels 4,500 kilometers in a few months! It is amazing that animals easily find their way home.

There are two subspecies of the fox: white and blue. It all depends on the color of the coat. The coat of polar foxes is ideally suited for camouflage. In winter, these animals are white, and in summer they are black or brown.

In places where snow alternates with earth, there are polar foxes with a spotted color, ideally masking a predator.

Polar foxes feed on various small rodents (for example, lemmings), fish, birds, eggs, seal carcasses. Arctic foxes have the most developed, in comparison with other canines, hearing and vision. The animal can hear the movement of a lemming under the snow for several kilometers.

Arctic foxes live in families, which include a couple with small cubs and a previous litter.

The polar fox at home takes root well. If you bring them up from childhood, then in behavior they will resemble cats and dogs.

A cute mini predator is found in the dry desert. The fox is considered the smallest canine. Its dimensions are no more than 40 centimeters in length (with a tail - up to 80 centimeters).

The hardy animal got its unusual name from the colloquial Arabic word "fanak", which means fox. Fenki live in northern Africa in desert and semi-desert zones. The dwarf fox has adapted perfectly to these conditions. Thick wool grows on the pads of the paws of the fenki, allowing them to walk calmly on the burning sand. Large splayed ears are not only able to hear the slightest rustle of prey in the sand (small vertebrates and insects), but also increase blood circulation in the body, which allows you to cool.

They live in families in deep underground burrows that they build themselves. The number of one clan rarely exceeds 10 individuals. Males fiercely protect their territory from strangers.

Tibetan foxes are also medium-sized animals (body size without a tail is 60 centimeters, with a tail - up to 130 centimeters). They live on the hard-to-reach rocks of Tibet and the Himalayas, where they dig holes or find suitable cavities under stones.

Foxes hunt in pairs. Each spouse shares his booty. Tibetan foxes feed on pikas and other rodents, hares, birds, reptiles, insects and berries.

Tibetan foxes are not against neighbors. Many couples live and hunt in the same territory.

Big-eared foxes live on the southeast coast of Africa in the savannas. They thrive in hot climates. Outwardly, these small animals are like an ordinary fox, only with very large ears.

In search of food, predators rely on their keen hearing. The long-eared fox often accompanies herds of antelopes, where it finds scarabs and other tasty insects.

Animals are monogamous, but sometimes form triads (a male and two females). Each member of the family hunts alone. Animals settle in dug holes and devastated termite mounds.

The red-haired beauty familiar to everyone settled throughout Eurasia, North America, Australia and some areas of Africa. Such a wide distribution causes many options for the color and size of the predator. Among the fiery red brothers, there is even a black fox (silver fox).

The variability of the color of these animals is very much appreciated by people. The fox at home acquires a more saturated shade of wool.

Foxes hunt alone. Their prey are small and medium-sized rodents, hares, birds, lizards, frogs, snakes, turtles, fish and insects. In winter, food becomes much less. The common fox uses all his skills to catch nimble rodents under the snow. This method is called "mouse".

Fox enemies in the wild

Since ancient times, foxes have been known as cunning and cautious animals. Such qualities appeared in them for a reason. Foxes have many enemies from which you need to somehow escape.

Some animals purposefully attack tailed ones. Among the enemies of foxes:

Eagle owls, crows and hawks also attack cubs of red predators.

Recently, keeping a fox at home as a pet has become possible. Many people were able to fulfill a childhood dream and make an unusual friend.

The domestication of cunning animals began to be engaged in since 1959. Enterprising breeders have bred different breeds of foxes. However, wild instincts are not so easy to bring out. If you want to have a cute homemade fox, you need to be on the lookout. Without education, an animal can harm a person, other pets and interior items.

The fox at home is a fairly friendly animal. He will enjoy playing with you and other pets. This predator is very easy to train. You can teach him a funny trick.

When choosing an exotic pet, it is worth considering what lifestyle the animal is used to. So, for example, a popular decorative fox, the fennec fox is active at night. Sometimes such details can make life difficult for a person.

Do not forget that the fox at home needs some care. The animal can sleep in a spacious aviary or on a large bedding. The animal needs to be combed and bathed regularly. Taking chanterelles for walks is on a leash.

The Canadian marbled fox is considered one of the most popular pets. A beautiful black-gray-white fur coat attracts the eye and literally falls in love.

Decorative fox

- very active and nimble animal. His cute appearance is eye-catching: it's impossible not to fall in love with his big ears and beady black eyes!

The dimensions of the animal are very modest: with a body length of about 40 centimeters, the animal weighs 1.5-2 kilograms. Fenki are distinguished by their cunning and a little capricious character, although they perfectly find a common language with humans and cats. With their friends, they do not mind playing (for example, hide and seek or catch up).

Decorative chanterelles are very difficult to tolerate temperature changes (especially a sharp cold snap). Fenki feel comfortable in well-heated rooms.

Mini chanterelles need to be combed out regularly. Use soft bristle brushes or small combs with fine teeth for this procedure. Fenok himself really likes this kind of hair care.

A cat litter box can be used as a toilet for desert foxes. Fenks are very smart, so they quickly understand what this item is for.

What to feed a fox at home?

The fox is an exotic pet, so you won’t be able to buy special food in the store. It is worth trying to include in the animal's food what it eats in the wild.

These fluffy sly ones adapt well to the new diet, as they are almost omnivores. The basis of chanterelle nutrition should be processed meat (boiled or steamed). The diet of the animal can include fruits, vegetables, berries, insects, raw eggs. It is very important to supplement the animal's menu with meat offal: soft cartilage, trachea, bird spleen, offal, liver, beef tripe, heart. Do not give your chanterelle bones and raw unpeeled fish - this can lead to digestive problems.

These animals belong to canines, therefore, if it is not possible to feed them with natural food, you can switch to universal dog food. With this option, it is still necessary to occasionally reinforce the predator's body with vegetables, meat and protein.

How long does a fox live?

The lifespan of foxes is almost the same as that of wild dogs and wolves. The natural conditions in the habitat are quite severe, so not all animals manage to even reach adulthood.

In nature, how long a fox lives determines the amount of food, the presence of epidemics, the number of enemies in the territory. In the wild, the animal rarely reaches the age of six. The average lifespan of a predator is 2–5 years. The animal constantly spends energy in search of prey and survival.

However, a fox at home or in a zoo maintains excellent health for twenty years! Even at a respectful age, these animals remained cheerful and playful.

How long foxes live in captivity is also determined by the fact that any disease can be cured. Wild predators often die from various ailments.

• All foxes are great parents. Unlike many predators, both the father and mother are equally involved in raising, protecting and feeding the cubs. Foxes tend to their pregnant wives by biting fleas, licking them and bringing food to the shelter. Parents together teach their kids to hunt small prey: lizards, insects, birds.
• The amazing tail of foxes was popularly called a pipe for its interesting shape. Many people were touched by how these little predators proudly raised their useful tool. It was from the playful name that the expression "tail pipe" came from.
• All of you probably know about the fearless hero Zorro. The defender of the weak, the noble robber, whose face is hidden by a black mask, has become the idol of many people. Zorro means "fox" in Spanish. Perhaps it was for the dexterity and ingenuity of red predators that this hero received such a name.
• The fox is a frequent guest of mythologies and folklore of different peoples. In Japan, this beast, because of its cunning, is considered the personification of confusion and pranks. A sudden downpour in the middle of a sunny day, the inhabitants of the eastern country called "fox rain." The Japanese often identify strange phenomena with the tricks of fluffy tails. Wandering lights in the swamps are also called "foxes". It is believed that the beast makes fun of travelers, trying to scare them.
• An ordinary fox is the owner of a chic tail, the main decoration of which is a bright white tip. And he appears immediately. In newborn puppies that do not yet have teeth, their eyes are not open, a light triangle already flaunts. There is a legend that once the tails of foxes were completely red, and when running they did not rise, but dragged along the ground. Over time, the color on the tip faded. The common fox, in order not to spoil the fur coat, began to raise its tail. Now the white tip is inherited by all foxes.

The polar fox occupies houses that have belonged to many generations of animals. The age of such holes can exceed 150 years, the number of passages - more than a hundred, and the area of ​​underground labyrinths - several square kilometers!

Fox: description, structure, characteristics. What does a fox look like?

The fox is a predatory mammal, belongs to the canine family, that is, it is a distant relative of both the wolf and the domestic dog.

The size of the fox depends on its species and varies from 18 cm (the smallest fox has a fennec fox) to 90 cm. The weight of the fox also changes - from 0.7 to 10 kg. All foxes are distinguished by a special generic feature - an elongated muzzle, an elongated body, but with short limbs.

And every decent fox has a fluffy tail. This most fluffy tail of a fox was not only created by nature for beauty, but also serves practical purposes, it acts as a stabilizer while running, and in winter colds it can additionally warm its mistress. The length of the tail of a fox depends on its species, on average it is 40-60 cm.

The hearing of the fox, as well as the sense of smell, are well developed, it is on them that these animals primarily rely during the hunt. As for vision, it is also well developed, moreover, it is adapted for a nocturnal lifestyle and allows you to see well in the dark. That's just the only drawback of the vision of the fox is the moment that it is not able to recognize colors. The fox has 42 teeth in its mouth, with the exception of the big-eared fox, which has as many as 48 teeth.

The body of the fox is covered with red hair, the density of this hairline depends on the type of fox and its habitat, and may also vary depending on the time of year. So, for example, in foxes living in harsh northern conditions, in winter, the fur becomes thick and lush, while in summer the pomp of the fox fur decreases.

Where does the fox live

Foxes live over a wide geographical range, they can be found in the forests of Europe, Asia, North America, North Africa and even Australia. Foxes also live in our Ukrainian forests. From human eyes, foxes often hide in burrows, which they either dig themselves, or do not disdain to take them from other animals. You can also meet them in caves and even large hollows of trees.

What does a fox eat in nature?

What does the fox eat in his forest? As we wrote above, the fox is a predatory animal and various smaller animals serve as food for it - various rodents (field mice, ground squirrels), hares, birds nesting on the ground. The fox does not disdain carrion, as well as leftovers from other predators (wolves, bears), especially if this happens in winter, when it is more problematic to catch fresh animals.

Foxes living in the steppe regions can also eat various large insects (beetles, termites, locusts), frogs. If there is a river nearby, then the fox will not miss the opportunity to eat fish. In the summer, the menu of foxes is diversified with various fruits, berries, fruits, since, like bears, foxes are omnivorous animals.

An interesting fact: during the hunt, the fox can reach speeds of up to 50 km per hour.

fox lifestyle

Foxes are usually nocturnal, hiding in their burrows during the day and going out to hunt at night. This is facilitated by the peculiarity of their vision, which allows them to see perfectly at night.

Foxes live, as a rule, singly, sometimes two or three, and have their own territory, which they mark with their excrement.

How long does a fox live

The life expectancy of a fox in natural conditions is on average from 3 to 10 years, although in a zoo a fox can live up to 25 years. This difference is due to the fact that older foxes cannot hunt as successfully in natural conditions.

fox enemies

In nature, the fox does not have so many enemies, some danger may come from the same wolves and bears, but only if the fox inadvertently encroaches on their prey. And so, the main enemy of the fox (like many other animals) is the most dangerous predator - man. Many foxes were exterminated by hunters and poachers for their fluffy fur, which later goes to coats.

Why is the fox sly

Why is the fox called cunning? Some believe that such a bad reputation was attached due to the habits of these animals during the hunt. The fact is that the fox always sneaks up to its prey very cunningly, can patiently wait for hours in ambush near the hare hole, and when potential prey appears in sight, it also grabs it very deftly and with lightning speed with its teeth.

In addition, foxes are excellent craftsmen to confuse traces and evade persecution, sharply changing the direction of movement, probably thanks to these skills and habits, the epithet “cunning” has been attached to the fox since ancient times.

Types of foxes, photos and names

In nature, there are several main types of foxes, and below we will describe each of them in more detail.

She is a red fox, is the most popular and at the same time the largest representative of the fox family. The weight of an ordinary fox reaches up to 10 kg, the body length with the tail is 150 cm. The color of the red fox, although it is red, can have many different shades depending on the place of residence of the fox; the end of the tail and the black color of the ears above. The common fox lives throughout Europe, Asia, northern Africa, North America, and Australia.

The American fox lives exclusively on the territory of the American continent in the southwestern states of the United States and in northern Mexico. It is of medium size: its body length is from 37 to 50 cm. The back of this type of fox is painted in yellowish-gray tones. A characteristic feature of the American fox is the presence of a black tip on the tail.

Also known as the Bukhara, the Balochistan fox is a relatively small representative of its species, its length does not exceed 0.5 meters, and its weight varies from 1.5 to 3 kg. Among other foxes, the Afghan fox stands out for its large ears, which are up to 9 cm high. The coat color of this fox has a rich brownish-gray color. It lives in Afghanistan and neighboring countries. Also found in Egypt, UAE, Turkmenistan.

The African fox in its appearance is very similar to the common fox, the only thing is that it is several times smaller in size. Its total length does not exceed 70-75 cm, and its weight is on average 3.5-3.6 kg. Another difference from the common fox is the presence of longer legs and ears. Lives in many African countries.

She is also an Indian fox, usually of medium size, the maximum length is 60 cm. The coat of the Bengal fox is short and smooth, has a red-brown or sandy-brown color. It lives in India, in the foothills of the Himalayas, Bangladesh, Nepal.

Steppe fox (korsak)

This fox is also very similar to the common fox, but unlike it, it has an even more pointed muzzle, longer legs and wider ears. But the sizes are smaller, the body length is 0.5-0.6 m, and the weight is 4-6 kg. It has a lighter coat color and a dark or dark brown tail tip. The steppe fox lives in many countries, starting from the southeast of Europe to Asia, including Iran, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Azerbaijan.

This type of fox can boast of wide ears and no less wide paws, which have special pads that protect the fox from hot sand with a thick fur cover. The pale brown color of the sand fox also serves as an excellent camouflage against the background of sand and stones where it lives. The size of this fox is average - the length is 89-90 cm, weight - 3.5-3.6 kg. The sand fox lives in the deserts of North Africa, from Morocco and Egypt to Somalia.

It has a brown or fiery red color on the back, turning into a light gray color on the sides. This fox lives on the territory of the Tibetan plateau, it is also found in India, Nepal and China. Its length is 60-70 cm, weight - up to 5 kg.

fenech

Fenech is notable for the fact that it is the smallest fox in the world, its body length is only 40 cm, and its weight is up to 1.5 kg. Despite the smallest size in the fox kingdom, fenech also has the largest ears among all foxes, their length reaches up to 15 cm. Fenechs live like sand foxes in the deserts of North Africa, and their paws also have special protective pads that protect their owners from hot on the sand there. I have a red color, the tip of their tail is black.

Despite the name, her ears are not as big as those of the fennec fox, however, the ears of this fox are disproportionately large and reach 13 cm. The big-eared fox has a gray-yellow color with white, yellow or brown spots. A characteristic difference of this species is the presence of as many as 48 teeth (all other foxes have only 42). This fox lives in South and East Africa.

fox breeding

How does the fox reproduce? Like their distant relatives, wolves, foxes are monogamous animals in which the mating season occurs at a certain period of the year. Its time depends on the type of fox, but, as a rule, it lasts from December to March. To create offspring and train them, the male and female foxes temporarily form a full-fledged pair.

The pregnancy of a female fox, depending on its appearance, lasts from 48 to 60 days, after which small foxes are born, in one litter there are from 4 to 16 babies, who, like kittens, are born blind and only later do their eyes erupt.

For a month and a half after birth, the babies are breastfed, only after that, when their first teeth begin to erupt, the mother fox gradually begins to tame them to meat food, and then to its prey. To do this, mother fox teaches them to hunt various small insects, beetles, frogs. After a few months, the cubs already sharply increase in size, and after a year they leave their parents completely ready for independent life in the forest.

Sexual maturity in foxes occurs in the second year of life.

Fox at home: maintenance and care

If you are looking for extravagances, then instead of the usual ones or a dog, you can get a fox at home, it is only important to remember that keeping these animals has a number of rules:

• The cage for the fox must be spacious so that it can make a den there.
• Also, there must be a drinking bowl in the cage so that the fox does not feel thirsty.
• With a fox, you can and should be trained, so she will not be bored and will be able to quickly become attached to her owners, like a dog, another distant relative.
• However, aggressive play with the fox is not recommended as it may bite.
• In the summer, foxes can emit a very strong and unpleasant smell, simply put, they stink, so they will need to be bathed at least once every two weeks.
• It is very important when keeping a fox at home to have a good veterinarian who will do regular checks on your unusual pet.

How to feed a fox at home

As for nutrition, foxes can be completely fed with dog food, though only the highest grade, chicken meat, beef or fish. In general, they are not very whimsical in nutrition.

• For some peoples in ancient times, it was fox skins that served as money.
• The fact that the fox is a frequent hero of many fairy tales is not news to anyone, but it is interesting that in ancient Mesopotamia it was revered as a sacred animal.
• In medieval Japan, the fox was sometimes considered a real werewolf.
• The hearing of the fox is so strong that it can hear the squeak of a field mouse at a distance of 100 meters.
• Perhaps you are reading this article using the Mozilla Firefox browser, the symbol of which is our today's heroine - the fox.

fox video

And in conclusion, an interesting documentary about foxes from the Animal planet channel.