 
An inquisitive but shy female red fox.
|
|||||||
The Australia Zoo has three female red foxes: Kit, Kelly and Roxy. The trio takes part in a daily demonstration to help educate the public about the impact these and other feral animals have on Australian flora and fauna.
The red fox is not native to Australia but was deliberately introduced to the continent in 1845 for sporting purposes. An absence of natural predators and a bounty of native animals to eat allowed the red fox to infiltrate much of mainland Australia by the beginning of the 20th century.
Today it is considered a pest in Australia and is actively persecuted throughout much of the continent.
Red foxes hunt by sight, scent and sound, both day and night. They use their finely honed senses to detect and capture small prey, usually mammals like rabbits, hares and mice. Foxes can spot the slightest twitch of a rabbit's ear and hear a mouse's gentle footsteps on grass or snow.
They use a wide range of devices to stalk their prey, and each trick is customized to a specific animal and situation.
A fox on the prowl for mice will remain completely motionless as it watches and listens for the smallest movement. Having spotted a likely victim, the fox leaps high into the air and pounces on the tiny mammal, pinning it to the ground.
A red fox uses stealth and diligence when stalking rabbits and hares. It will slink closer and closer to its prey, readying itself for a sudden dash. A fox on the run can reach a speed of 30 mph and leap over obstacles as high as 6 and a half feet.
Sometimes red foxes prefer to "charm" their prey. Charming involves a lot of curious behavior, such as leaping, bucking and somersaulting, which seems playful and innocent at first. Rabbits, birds and other small animals are often drawn to the bizarre frolicking by a sense of curiosity.
The fox, cavorting all the while, will inch ever closer to one of the spectators, then, with a sudden movement, snatch the "charmed" animal in its jaws; the charade is over.
|
Name: Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)
Primary Classification: Canidae (Dogs and Relatives) Location: North America, Europe, Asia, Arctic, North Africa and Australia. Habitat: Areas with diverse vegetation (tundra, forest, prairie, farmland, etc.) Diet: Mostly small mammals. Also insects, fruit, birds, fish — basically anything edible. Size: Up to 3 ft in length and 24 lbs in weight. Description: Red, orange or gray fur. Bushy, black tail with white tip. Large, black ears. Black limbs. Yellow eyes. Sharp, pointed face. Light, agile build. Conservation Status: Common |
||
Change your media preferences
