Phil Davidson, age 8, of Annapolis, Md., for his question:
DOES THE FOX HAVE GOOD HEARING?
A member of the dog family is the bushy tailed, sharp snouted fox. True foxes include the arctic fox, the gray fox and the red fox.
The fox has exceptionally keen hearing and an excellent sense of smell. It depends especially on these two senses in locating prey. A red fox has such keen hearing that it can pick up the sound of a mouse squeak that is over 100 feet away.
In addition to the excellent hearing, a fox can quickly see moving objects at great distances but sometimes does not notice motionless objects or animals.
Most foxes carry their tails straight backward when running. The tail droops when the animal walks. A fox may sleep with its tail over its nose and front paws.
Many foxes have a scent gland on the tail. Scent from this gland gives foxes a very distinctive odor.
Five toes are on each front foot of a fox, but the first toe is not completely developed. This toe, called a dewclaw, does not reach the ground. Each hind foot has only four toes. When the animal walks or trots, its hind paws step into the tracks of the front paws.
Red foxes live in family groups. An adult male and female stay together after mating until their pups mature. The same pair may mate year after year.
The eyes of all fox pups do not open until about nine days after the animals are born.
Foxes live in family groups while the young are growing up. At other times, they live alone or in pairs. They do not form packs as wolves do.
A male and female mate in early winter. They play together and cooperate in hunting. If one of a pair of foxes is chased by an enemy, its mate may dash out of hiding to lead the pursuers away.
Foxes communicate with one another with growls, yelps and short yapping barks.
Red foxes have from four to nine pups at a time, and gray foxes have from three to five. Both the female, called a vixen, and the male, called a dog, bring their pups food and lead enemies away from them.
A newborn fox weighs about four ounces and has a short muzzle. Pups drink the mother's milk for about five weeks. Then they start to eat some solid food and leave their den for short periods.
Foxes settle in dens after mating. A fox den may be underground, in a cave, among rocks or in a hollow log or tree. Some red foxes dig their own dens, but most use burrows abandoned by such animals as woodchucks.
The foxes may enlarge a burrow if necessary. An underground den may be as long as 75 feet and have several entrances. A main tunnel leads to several chambers that the animals use for nests and storing food.
After the pups have grown old enough to hunt for themselves, the adults and the pups both sleep in the open most of the time.