Description of the fox: appearance, nutrition, habits

Fox refers to animals that adapt very well to a variety of climatic conditions. Therefore, in Africa, and in America, Europe and Asia - everywhere you can meet this predator. Only in Europe there are up to 15 subspecies of foxes, inhabiting practically all geographical zones and differing in size and color.

Description of the fox

This is one of the most beautiful animals. The most common red fox. It differs from other representatives of the genus with larger sizes and a bright color. Animals living in the northern regions have wool very saturated, almost red. In foxes living to the south, the color is much more modest. Fluffy tail with a white tip reaches 60 cm in length. On the flexible and refined body of the fox is a neat head with a sharp muzzle and always watchful big ears. The description of the fox can not be complete without characterizing its hunting abilities. A great role here is played by feet. Appearing a little short in relation to the torso, they are very strong and muscular. Thanks to such paws and strong tail, the fox can make quite large jumps in pursuit of its prey. This feature of the fox allows it not to yield to other predators in viability. The way a fox looks looks, and explains her famous hunting talents.

Where does the fox live

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

The burrows dig themselves, usually on the slopes of gullies with sandy soil, but sometimes use dwellings belonging to other animals - marmots, badgers, arctic foxes. Nora necessarily has several inlets through which through the underground tunnels you can get into the nest. The old fox has, as a rule, several holes, where it can always hide in case of danger.

What does the fox feed on?

The description of the fox characterizes her as a very clever and magnificent hunter. The main prey of this predator are small animals - mice, hares, and sometimes reptiles. With pleasure he catches a fox and a fish, crayfish, and at times digs out earthworms. The diet includes berries, fruits and other vegetable feeds. In the summer, the fox can also eat insects, especially its young like to eat various bugs, in large numbers destroying the pests of agricultural plants.

In winter, the main food is the mouse-shaped rodents, which can be heard by the fox for 100 m. A photo of a predator that digs out mice can be found quite often. It is very interesting to hunt foxes for birds. They usually do this in pairs - one fox conducts distracting maneuvers, rolling on the ground, while the other is catching the feathered birds. No wonder the fox in all folk tales personifies cunning and dexterity. Often in the snow you can see fox traces that are difficult to confuse with someone else's. The hind legs put the hind legs exactly in a trace from the forelegs, forming an even chain. The site where the fox hunts has its borders and is carefully guarded from outsiders.

Fox

In the spring in the fox hole, from 3 to 12 young cubs appear. Like wolves, puppies are born once a year. Newborns are very similar to wolf cubs, if you do not pay attention to the main difference, which is necessarily included in the description of the fox - the white tip of the tail. For a month and a half the foxes are sitting in a burrow, feeding on their mother's milk, then they slowly begin to leave the shelter and even search their prey together with their parents, accustoming themselves to ordinary food. Both parents participate in the upbringing process. The male is an exemplary family man, carefully cares for his female and offspring. Finally, the fox from the burrows is selected at the age of 6 months, and the next spring some of them have their own cubs. But usually sexual maturity they reach the second year of life. Live foxes in stable pairs. If it happens that the breadwinner dies, the care of the family is taken over by the other male.

Great value as a furry beast is a fox. Description of the animal always mentions luxurious fur, which can be not only red, but also silvery, and even black. But most importantly - the fox is a fighter of harmful rodents, insects, which brings invaluable benefits to agriculture.