Fox

Introduction:

The fox is a scavenger carnivorous dog, generally found in urban city areas in the northern hemisphere. The fox is a nocturnal mammal, meaning that the fox only goes out a night to hunt for prey. Wild foxes tend live for around 6-7 years, but some foxes have been known to be older than 13 years in captivity.

The wild fox hunts for the mouse and other small mammals and birds, but foxes appear to enjoy all species of insect. A fox is generally smaller than other members of the dog family like wolves, jackals and domestic dogs.

Foxes can be a pest in the cities as foxes are often seen tearing into rubbish. There are around 12 different species of fox found around the world, which include the urban fox or Red Fox, the beautifully White Arctic fox, the Sand Fox which is a light-colored fox found in desert regions and the tiny yet big eared Fennec Fox.

Foxes in Europe have been the victims of fox hunting, an extremely controversial and cruel sport that involves humans on horses hunting out the fox, led by a pack of hound dogs which would find the fox by following the scent of the fox.

Fox hunting in this manner is now illegal, although it is still allowed if the sport only contains humans on horseback, without the use of their clever but somewhat vicious dogs.

The fox is also found in the more rural areas of the northern hemisphere, although fox numbers in the countryside are outnumbered by fox numbers in cities, and due to the foxes scavenging nature, food is more readily available in the urban streets.

Keywords to learn

Controversial: Giving rise or likely to give rise to controversy or public disagreement.

Geneticist: An expert in or student of heredity and the variation of inherited characteristics.


About Me:

Hey Kids, my name is Finn the Fox and I am very happy to meet you. Learn more about me and my species @ www.kids.nationalgeographic.com

Key Fox Data:

  • Order:
    Carnivora.
  • Lifespan:
    3 – 11 years.
  • Class:
    Mammalia.
  • Scientific Name:
    Vulpes vulpes.
  • Mass:
    5kg – 11kg. (11lbs – 24lbs)
  • Length:
    40cm – 83cm. (16in – 33in)
  • Region found:
    Northern hemisphere.
  • Population Status:
    Least concern.
  • Current population trend:
    Stable.
  • Diet:
    Carnivorous.
  • Sexual maturity:
    9-10 months.

Foxes are quite cute looking, and while there are different types and species they look the same. Do not let the cuteness fool you, as foxes are scavengers and can be vicious, and dangerous to small kids.

Now that you know more about the fox by learning the key data above, be sure also to check out the fun facts. When you are finished learning the facts, try answering the questions in the Q&A corner on the bottom right side of the page.

 

Download questions about the fox here: Fox (answers are on this page)

 

Teachers. For more in depth work sheets on the fox. Click on Kidskonnect Worksheets

Fox Fun Facts for Kids:

  • # 1. Like the cat, the fox is most active after the sun goes down. In fact, it has vertically oriented pupils that allow it to see in dim light. The fox even hunts in a similar manner to a cat, by stalking and pouncing on its prey.
  • # 2. Like a guided missile, the fox harnesses the earth’s magnetic field to hunt. Other animals, like birds, sharks, and turtles, have this “magnetic sense,” but the fox is the first one we’ve discovered that uses it to catch prey.
  • # 3. In the 1960s, a Soviet geneticist named Dmitry Belyaev bred thousands of foxes before achieving a domesticated fox. Unlike a tame fox, which has learned to tolerate humans, a domesticated fox is docile toward people from birth. Today, you can buy a pet fox for $9000, according to Fast Company.
  • # 4. During his voyage on the Beagle, Charles Darwin collected a fox that today is unimaginatively called Darwin’s Fox. This small Gray Fox is critically endangered and lives in just two spots in the world.
  • # 5. Foxes make 40 different sounds and most of them do not appear in the song. So, what does the fox say? Well, actually he says a lot.

Q&A Corner

  • # 1. How many species of fox is there?
  • # 2. Is fox hunting with dogs still legal?
  • # 3. What is the length in cm of the fox?
  • # 4. How much is it to buy a fox as a pet?
  • # 5. How many noises does the fox make?

Comments

46 Replies to “Fox”

  42. Its like you read my mind! You seem to know so much about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you can do with some pics to drive the message home a bit, but instead of that, this is excellent blog. A great read. I will definitely be back.

    Reply

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