Why Foxes Are Truly Clever - 7 Interesting Facts About Red Foxes!
Why are foxes intelligent? Discover 7 fascinating facts about the amazing abilities of the red fox – from hunting strategies to their mysterious magnetic sense!
Foxes are considered particularly intelligent, which is why we say, "You are a clever fox!" when someone does or says something smart. In reality, foxes are very curious and clever. They adapt quickly to new environments, can assess dangers, think strategically, learn through observation, and remember solutions.
When hunting, they sneak up quietly and carefully and think carefully before they strike. In the past, their intelligence frightened people, leading them to view their behavior as cunning or deceitful. This is why the fox often appears in fairy tales as a character who tricks and deceives others. Of course, that's nonsense. Hiding prey has nothing to do with deceit; it's simply a way to secure supplies for survival – just like other animals do.
Foxes are also very important for maintaining balance in nature. They help control the population of small rodents and ensure that plants and fields are less damaged. Additionally, they eat carrion and prevent the spread of diseases. In Germany, 400,000-500,000 foxes are hunted each year, even though it may not be necessary (more on this in our profile). What do you think: Should foxes be hunted?
1. Red Foxes Think Before They Act
Foxes are exceptional hunters. They quietly approach their prey, often moving in a crouched position and paying attention to sounds and movements. They carefully observe their surroundings: Where is the prey? Are there any obstacles or dangers? To choose the best strategy, they utilize all their senses: hearing, sight, smell, and magnetic sense. They don’t attack immediately; instead, they think and plan before striking. With a precise leap, they then catch their prey.
2. Red Foxes Possess a Magnetic Sense
Wow, do foxes really have a magnetic sense? Yes, indeed. They can detect the Earth's magnetic field. This ability helps them locate prey even in bad weather or snow. They use the north-south orientation of the Earth's magnetic field and align themselves at a 20° angle to the prey. Then they jump with precision, often landing right on target. How they perceive the magnetic field is still unclear – likely through iron particles in their bodies and/or specific proteins in their eyes (similar to birds).
3. Red Foxes Outsmart Other Animals
Foxes are experts at deceiving other animals! They often hide prey that they cannot eat right away – like mice. However, they are sometimes watched by crows, magpies, birds of prey, martens, or raccoons. When they notice this, they pretend to hide their food – and later secretly move it to another location when they are not being observed. Quite clever, isn’t it!
4. Red Foxes Have an Excellent Memory
When foxes cannot consume their prey on the spot, they hide it and return later. They remember the location very precisely and find it 94% of the time. Their strong memory aids them in surviving in the wild.
5. Red Foxes Even Live in Cities
Foxes are highly adaptable. They inhabit not only forests, fields, and deserts but also urban areas. They adjust their diet and behavior to fit their environment. In large cities, foxes are more active at night when most people are asleep. They quickly learn how to scavenge for food scraps or how to access pet food. Additionally, they become adept at assessing the risks posed by cars and household dogs - even though this doesn't always end well for them. Nevertheless, they remember the safe zones and those they prefer to avoid.
6. Foxes Can Open Doors and Trash Cans
Foxes observe other animals and humans, and they can mimic certain behaviors. For instance, they learn quickly how to open garden gates or trash bins. They watch, experiment, and remember the solution when they succeed.
7. Foxes Can "Read" Humans
With some training, foxes can follow our gazes and respond when we point something out with our hand or finger – quite similar to domestic dogs.
Are Foxes Smarter than Dogs?
Foxes are not inherently smarter than dogs. They have a different type of intelligence. While dogs are specialized in working with humans, foxes are independent and must survive on their own in the wild.
Foxes are particularly good at strategic thinking, problem-solving, and adapting. They learn quickly, closely observe their surroundings, and come up with their own solutions to find food or avoid dangers.
Dogs, on the other hand, possess a much stronger social intelligence. Although tame foxes can understand human gestures and commands, dogs excel at this because they have been kept and bred as pets for thousands of years.
Conclusion:
- In the wild, foxes often have the upper hand.
- When it comes to interacting with humans, dogs clearly have the advantage.
Sources:
- Directional preference may enhance hunting accuracy in foraging foxes (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
- Are there Metacognitivists in the Fox Hole? A Preliminary Test of Information Seeking in an Arctic Fox (Vulpes lagopus) (https://www.mdpi.com)
- Behavior of Red Foxes, Vulpes vulpes, Caching Eggs of Loggerhead Turtles, Caretta caretta (https://academic.oup.com)
- Revisiting the concept of behavior patterns in animal behavior with an example from food-caching sequences in Wolves (Canis lupus), Coyotes (Canis latrans), and Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) (https://www.sciencedirect.com)
- The Wily and Courageous Red Fox: Behavioural Analysis of a Mesopredator at Resource Points Shared by an Apex Predator (https://www.mdpi.com)
- Defining hippocampal area CA2 in the fox (Vulpes vulpes) brain (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
- Social cognitive evolution in captive foxes (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
- Food caching by red foxes (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
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