The fox is one of the animals that adapt very well to a wide variety of climatic conditions. Therefore, in Africa, and in America, in Europe and in Asia - everywhere you can meet this predator. Only in Europe there are up to 15 subspecies of foxes, inhabiting almost all geographical areas and differing in size and color.
Fox Description
This is one of the most beautiful animals. The red fox is the most common. It differs from the rest of the genus in its larger size and bright coloration.
In animals living in the northern regions, the coat is very rich, almost red. In foxes living to the south, the color is much more modest. The fluffy tail with a white tip reaches 60 cm in length. On the flexible and refined body of the fox, there is a neat head with a sharp muzzle and always alert big ears.
A description of a fox cannot be complete without a description of its hunting abilities. Paws play a big role here. Appearing a little short in relation to the body, they are very strong and muscular. Thanks to such paws and a strong tail, the fox can make enoughbig jumps in pursuit of their prey. This feature of the fox allows it to be as viable as other predators. The way a fox looks on the outside explains its known hunting talents.
Where the fox lives
It is believed that the fox lives in a hole. In fact, this dwelling is used only for breeding and in rare cases as a shelter from danger, and the rest of the time the foxes spend in a den located in an open area, in grass or snow.
They dig their own burrows, usually on the slopes of ravines with sandy soil, but sometimes they use dwellings that belonged to other animals - marmots, badgers, arctic foxes. The burrow necessarily has several inlets through which one can get into the nest through underground tunnels. The old fox, as a rule, has several holes, where he can always hide in case of danger.
What does a fox eat
The description of the fox characterizes it as a very dexterous and excellent hunter. The main prey of this predator are small animals - mice, hares, and sometimes reptiles. With pleasure he catches fox and fish, crayfish, and sometimes digs up earthworms. The diet necessarily includes berries, fruits and other plant foods. In summer, the fox can also eat insects, especially its cubs love to feast on various bugs, exterminating pests of agricultural plants in large numbers.
In winter, the main food is mouse-like rodents, the squeak of which a fox can hear from 100 m away. Photo of a predator engageddigging mice, can be found quite often. Foxes hunt birds very interestingly. They usually do this in pairs - one fox carries out distracting maneuvers, rolling on the ground, while the other catches gaping birds. No wonder the fox in all folk tales personifies cunning and dexterity. Often in the snow you can see fox tracks that are difficult to confuse with someone else's. The predator puts its hind legs exactly in the footprint of the front ones, forming an even chain. The area where the fox hunts has its own boundaries and is carefully protected from outsiders.
Foxes
In the spring, from 3 to 12 small cubs are born in the fox hole. Like wolves, puppies are born once a year. Newborns are very similar to cubs, if you do not pay attention to the main difference that is necessarily included in the description of the fox - the white tip of the tail. For a month and a half, the cubs sit in a hole, feeding on their mother's milk, then they begin to slowly leave the shelter and even look for prey together with their parents, getting used to ordinary food.
Both parents participate in the educational process. The male is an exemplary family man, carefully cares for his female and offspring. The cubs finally get out of their holes at the age of 6 months, and already next spring some of them have their cubs. But usually they reach puberty in the second year of life. Foxes live in stable pairs. If it happens that the breadwinner dies, another male takes care of the family.
The fox is of great value as a fur animal. The description of the animal must mentionluxurious fur, which can be not only red, but also silver, and even black. But the main thing is that the fox is an exterminator of harmful rodents and insects, which brings invaluable benefits to agriculture.
