Why it’s not easy for a fox to live in winter: 10 features of the red predator (11 photos)

The red-haired trickster has learned to adapt to harsh conditions, but even for a good adapter, winter is a real test. Difficulties await our heroine at every turn. The higher the frost temperature, the more difficult it is for a fox to live.





Trash can

During the cold season, our heroine’s usual provisions are hidden. Wood grouse “jump” from trees into the snow, and rodents crawl into cozy apartments underground. Finding them is not so difficult, but it takes time, which the fox does not have. The redhead hurriedly goes to the sides of the highways. Bipeds have never been known for their cleanliness: not only wrappers fly out of the cars, but also the remains of quite edible provisions.



On the verge!

The fox does not try to accumulate fat reserves. The only life hack that Patrikeevna uses is growing a warmer fur coat. The undercoat grows, and with it the sebaceous glands are “activated.” They will develop a layer of fat that will be systematically distributed throughout the body and at least somehow prevent the penetration of cold. When severe frosts arrive, the fox will begin to tremble in small ripples, due to which the hair follicles will push out all the fat reserves.





Red object detected

Fat helps the fox warm up, but over time it begins to smell. This is not to say that the stench in the area is overwhelming, but let’s remember that our heroine is not the only predator in the forest. There are plenty of fanged adversaries here. Thanks to the odorous “thermal insulation”, the fox risks becoming an easy target for larger predators. Finding the direction of her movements is not so difficult, especially since she really doesn’t know how to loop and confuse her tracks.



Fluffy cocoon

The fox knows how to keep warm. In addition to its dense undercoat, it often hides in a cocoon of its own tail. The main goal is to protect your sensitive nose from frost. But the moment the redhead settles down to lie down, she greatly reduces her level of observation. To ensure safety, the fox relies on all its senses. She has to keep vigil, straining both her hearing and her sense of smell.



Treacherous crunch

As long as the snow around is loose and not too deep, fox hunting ends in success in 90-95% of cases. But after the slightest thaw, the snow becomes covered with an insidious crust. The predator has no time for jokes. Her famous mouse-mousing ability suffers in quality. At the moment when the fox dives into a snowdrift, the crust collapses and crunches. And even those fractions of a second that are required to overcome a tricky obstacle, the rodent successfully spends on escaping. The share of luck decreases.



Hungry and desperate

When the fox's diet becomes so thin that it is close to fainting from hunger, she despairs of taking a decisive step. Switches from fresh food to spoiled food. And this transition is fraught with unpleasant consequences. Against the background of poor health, it is easy to pick up midges and other pathogenic agents. In addition, the fox does not know why the provisions spoiled. Very often, this attitude towards food leads the fox to rage.



Take breath

The redhead, by the way, is considered a burrowing predator, but rarely digs a home. In winter, she has to hunt so often that only mothers and youngsters live in the burrows. The rest stop in secluded places for a short time before hitting the road again. The rookery must be built in the most remote and windless place, because gusts of wind carry away the accumulated heat. The redhead wanders for a long time in search of a hole, which does not make her life any easier.



Get directions

In winter, bristles appear on the fox's paws, allowing it to move smoothly through the snow. But the redhead understands that such actions require abundant energy expenditure. For this reason, foxes try to move along already trodden paths. Interestingly, such routes are often laid by people. Consequently, the risk of encountering a two-legged fisher increases significantly.



At the intersection of two roads

With the onset of cold weather, young individuals separate from their parents and go in search of personal territory. But over-aged foxes also expand their territory. And it’s not the housing issue that interests them at all! They would increase the area of ​​hunting grounds to increase the likelihood of success. For this reason, foxes often intersect with each other, which leads to a showdown. Reduced functionality after a fight does not contribute to a happy life.



Winter dream

When it gets too cold, the fox spends almost all daylight hours on the move. This way the body functions better and produces more heat. By the way, there are no problems with saving it. Only all this exhausts the fox so much that at the first thaw Patrikeevna will lie down on her bed and fall asleep soundly. She needs to regain her strength; at such moments she is most vulnerable. An exhausted fox often does not notice the approach of his adversary!