Inhalt anspringen

Haus der Natur

Sharp-witted omnivores

Have you ever discovered a burrow in the forest and asked yourself if a fox lives there? Remains of bones around the entrance betray where they live.

A fox's den consists of a main corridor, a living space and several escape corridors. Foxes seldom dig their burrows themselves, but take over existing dens from badgers or rabbits, which they then extend. They mainly live in their dens during the mating season and they are also used for rearing the 5 to 6 cubs. After approximately 4 weeks, the cubs leave the den for the first time. They become independent after 4 months.

Foxes have outstanding eyesight, hearing and smell. These characteristics help them when hunting. They are mostly out and about in the twilight or at night, and sleep during the day.
They mainly eat mice, but also frogs, beetles, worms, fruit and berries.

Foxes have learned that humans pose hardly any danger. Today they can even be spotted in towns and cities, for example in the Südfriedhof cemetery in Bonn. They find optimal living conditions in gardens, parks and cemeteries. They profit from the numerous mice and rats in the city and find plenty of food in garbage cans and on compost heaps. If necessary, they can even use an old water pipe as a den.