The season of fox weddings has begun on the Avachinsky pass of Kamchatka
An extensive “diaspora” of foxes has been living in the Avacha Pass area for many years, and encounters with red predators are not uncommon here, the Volcanoes of Kamchatka network of natural parks told Kamchatka.Today.
February is the month of fox weddings and battles for the right to procreate. Males fiercely fight for the attention of females, leaving behind traces of duels – patches of fur and drops of blood in the snow.
Red-haired predators, wise and prudent, choose the strongest. And even after the birth of offspring – from two to six puppies – the struggle does not stop, continuing for the right to raise and protect babies.
For the first month and a half, the puppies feed on mother’s milk, and both parents take care of them, so they stay together throughout the summer.
The basis of the fox menu is rodents, but these dexterous hunters are not averse to eating a hare or a bird, and on occasion they will not disdain carrion. In summer, their table becomes much richer due to insects and juicy berries.
Experts ask residents of Kamchatka not to feed foxes. These animals do an excellent job of foraging for themselves and their families.
Photo by Evgeny Karpov/the network of natural parks “Volcanoes of Kamchatka”.