Tag: animals

Brown Bears

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The brown bear is a large bear native to Eurasia and North America. Of the land carnivorans, it is rivalled in size only by its closest relative, the polar bear, which is much less variable in size and slightly bigger on average.

Grizzly bears and brown bears are the same species, although currently grizzly bears are considered to be a separate subspecies.

Brown bears are omnivorous, eating a mixed diet of plants, berries, fish, and small mammals, with almost 80 percent of their diet being tree bark, leaves, roots, mushrooms, nuts, fruit and berries. They are not averse to meat and will eat small rodents, birds, frogs or snakes, fish and carrion.

Unlike black bears, brown bears have long, strong claws that they use to dig for food, pick fruits, and catch prey.

The average life span for a wild brown bear is about 20 years, although many bears typically live longer than this. The oldest wild brown bears known lived for about 35 years.

Bear cubs are born after a gestation period of around 180-270 days. The newborn bears are naked, blind and toothless and are completely dependent on the mother. A litter usually consists of one to three cubs that weigh only 300 to 400 grammes at birth and are around 30 centimetres long.

The cubs typically stay with their mother for 2 to 3 years, learning essential survival skills. This period allows them to grow strong, learn to find food, and navigate their environment under their mother’s guidance. In some regions, like Katmai, cubs might stay with their mothers for around 2.5 years. 

Cubs are born in dens and rely on their mother’s milk for nourishment and protection. 

During their time with their mother, cubs learn crucial skills like foraging for food, recognizing and avoiding predators, and navigating different terrains. 

While some cubs might become more independent in their second year, they often continue to den with their mother for at least one more winter. 

Mothers are very protective of their cubs and may chase away or threaten other bears, including males, to keep their young safe. 

By the time they are around 2 to 3 years old, cubs are generally ready to venture out on their own and start their independent lives. 

They can climb trees, although their ability to do so diminishes as they grow older and larger. While young brown bears are excellent climbers, their size and weight can make it more challenging as they mature. However, they are still capable of climbing trees, even as adults. 

Why do they climb trees, well for various reasons, including escaping predators, accessing food (like fruit), or even just for fun or exploration.

They have an exceptionally acute sense of smell, exceeding that of dogs. Contrary to popular belief, bears are not nearsighted. Their eyesight and hearing are comparable to humans. They can run in short bursts up to 40 mph (64 kph) and are excellent swimmers

They use rocks as a tool to scratch an itchy spot and they know when they are being hunted.

Brown bear attacks on humans are relatively rare, with an average of about 40 attacks per year globally. While most encounters with bears do not result in attacks, and the vast majority of bears are not interested in attacking humans, defensive reactions can occur if a bear feels threatened or surprised, especially if it has cubs.

Rhinoceros

~ joannerambling ~ 10 Comments

This week’s hooved animal is the rhinoceros or rhino the word rhinoceros is a combination of two Greek words – rhino (nose) and ceros (horn).

There are five living species of rhinoceros – white, black, greater one-horned, Javan and Sumatran. In addition, a number of other animals have rhinoceros as part of their names, including the rhinoceros auklet, rhinoceros beetle, rhinoceros chameleon, rhinoceros cockroach, rhinoceros fish, rhinoceros hornbill, rhinoceros iguana, rhinoceros rat snake, rhino shrimp, and rhinoceros viper. All of them have horn-like appendages on their noses.

They can be found in several countries across both Africa and Asia. In Africa, you can find them in Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. In Asia, they can be found in India, Indonesia, Nepal, and Vietnam. 

The two main species of rhino in Africa are the black rhino and the white rhino. Black rhinos are found in 12 African countries, with the largest populations in Namibia, South Africa, Kenya, and Zimbabwe. White rhinos are found in 11 African countries. 

Asia is home to the greater one-horned rhino, Javan rhino, and Sumatran rhino. You can find them in India, Indonesia, Nepal, and Vietnam. 

A rhino’s horn is not attached to its skull. It is actually a compacted mass of hairs that continues to grow throughout the animal’s lifetime, just like our own hair and nails. The longest horn on record belonged to a white rhino and measured just under 152cm or 60 inches, which is five feet, and I am only four foot eleven inches tall.

The rhinoceros’s closest living relative is the tapir. Horses and zebras are also related, but less closely than tapirs. All three belong to the group of odd-toed ungulates, known as Perissodactyla. Really horses and zebras that sounds weird.

The white rhino’s name comes from the Afrikaans word “wyd,” which means “wide” and describes its mouth. Early English settlers in South Africa misinterpreted the “wyd” for “white”. Black rhinos may have received their name from the dark wet mud in their wallows that made them appear black in colour. Both species are gray in colour, the famous Blue Rhino, corporate logo for the well-known propane tank company, is entirely a figment of its founder’s imagination.

After mating, adult male and female rhinos typically go their separate ways. After the calf is born, it will spend a couple of years or more in the company of its mother, and perhaps associate with other females and their calves, but the father rhino is not part of the standard social group.

They are not generally considered friendly to humans, although they are not inherently aggressive. They prefer to be just left alone and will only charge if they feel threatened or are protecting their young. Female rhinos, especially those with calves, can be particularly dangerous in the wild. While they may not intentionally seek to harm humans, their size and power make them a serious threat if they do charge. 

The live anywhere between 35 and 50yrs depending on the breed.

All five species of rhinos are herbivores, eating mainly vegetation. They spend most of their time browsing and grazing through their natural habitat in search of plants and grasses to eat.

Bat-Eared Fox

~ joannerambling ~ 7 Comments

This week we are look at the bat-eared fox, another fox I hadn’t heard of.

The bat-eared fox is a species of fox found on the African savanna. It is the only extant species of the genus Otocyon and a basal species of canid. Fossil records indicate this canid first appeared during the middle Pleistocene.

As the name indicates, this fox has unusually enormous ears in proportion to its head, like those of many bats. Their bodies are generally yellow-brown with a pale throat and under parts. The outsides of the ears, the racoon-like “face-mask,” lower legs, feet, and tail tip are all black. 

They can be found living in groups of mating pairs and their young. They are a very social species and spend lots of time grooming each other, as well as playing and sleeping together.

Their hearing is remarkable, but bat-eared foxes are also known for their social nature. They often live in family groups of up to 15 animals. They do not mark or defend territories aggressively against other packs.

They seldom drink water as they obtain most of the moisture they need from their food; 3. Unlike other canids, the male undertakes most parental care duties, while the female forages for food that maintains her milk production

Termites and dung beetles make up about 80 percent of their diets. In addition to termites and dung beetles, they also eat other insects and arthropods, small rodents, lizards, the eggs and chicks of other birds, and plant matter. They obtain much of their water from the body fluid of the insects they consume.

Predators include cheetahs, jackals, spotted hyenas, rock pythons, African wild dogs, and leopards. Bat-eared foxes are named for their large ears, which are also used for thermoregulation. To escape from predators, bat-eared foxes rely on speed and their incredible dodging ability.

They typically live for 6 years in the wild but can be up to 13 years in captivity. 

They reach sexual maturity at 8–9 months old, both male and female. They usually leave their family groups at 5–6 months old. 

They breed annually, producing litters of 3–6 pups, with a gestation period of 60–75 days. 

Grey Fox

~ joannerambling ~ 5 Comments

The gray fox, or grey fox, is an omnivorous mammal of the family Canidae, widespread throughout North America and Central America.

They live in a wide variety of places. They prefer to live in places they can blend in, like canyons and ridges. Though they will also live in wooded areas, open desert and grasslands. They can be found from Quebec to Northern Columbia and Venezuela.

They are common, but very elusive and rare to spot in the wild. They are primarily nocturnal but may forage during the day.

They are smaller than red foxes. They weigh between 7 and 13 pounds and average 3 to 4 feet in length including the tail. They are stockier and have shorter legs than the red fox. Their color is grizzled gray with a distinctive black streak along the top to the black tip of the tail.

They have a white throat and belly. Their chest and lower sides of the body, undersurface of the tail, backs of the ears, parts of the legs, feet and neck are reddish or yellowish brown. The claws are sharp, and on the forefeet recurved.

Due to their more aggressive behavior, they prefer to hunt thicker cover than the more timid red fox. The gray fox’s preference for thicker cover, aggressive behavior, and the ability to climb trees minimizes the effect that eastern coyotes have on their population.

It often lines the den with shredded bark or leaves and will return to the same one year after year. The gray fox is nocturnal and crepuscular, which means it is most active at dusk and dawn. During the day, it remains in the den.

The gray fox is a solitary hunter and eats a wide variety of foods. A large part of its diet is made up of small mammals like mice, voles and eastern cottontail rabbits. It also eats birds; insects; and plants like corn, apples, nuts, berries and grass.

The gray fox has few natural predators. Bobcats, coyotes, great horned owls, and golden eagles may occasionally prey upon young gray foxes.

Kit Fox

~ joannerambling ~ 11 Comments

Hello everyone, this week we are having a look at the Kit Fox, anyone heard of this fox before, I haven’t till now.

The kit fox is a fox species that inhabits arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States and northern and central Mexico. These foxes are the smallest of the four species of Vulpes occurring in North America and are among the smallest of the vulpines worldwide.

It has a narrow nose and a small, slim body. The foot pads of kit foxes are small by comparison with other canids. They weigh only about three to six pounds, making them about the size of a full-grown jackrabbit, and ​​the smallest fox in North America​.

It is specially adapted for its desert habitat. Its large, close-set ears help dissipate heat, keeping it cool in the hot desert.

​They closely resemble swift foxes found on the eastern plains of Colorado but have larger ears and a more angular appearance.

They live for up to seven years in the wild, while captive animals can live up to 12 years.

Their primary food is kangaroo rats, but it also actively hunts white-footed mice, pocket mice, ground squirrels, rabbits and ground-nesting birds. During certain times of the year, kit foxes will also eat insects. They are nocturnal animals finding shelter in dens to avoid the heat of the day and hunt at night.

They rarely drink water since they get all the water and electrolyte they need from their diet. They also have a digestive tract that is super-efficient at absorbing every last millilitre of water from the food they eat.

Coyotes are the biggest predatory threat to kit foxes. Some estimates suggest that three out of four kit fox deaths can be associated with coyote attacks.

In September and October, the female will prepare a natal den, where the male will meet the female. Pair bonds last at least one breeding season. After birth, parents bring food to the dens for the pups. The pups emerge from the dens when they are about five weeks old then forage alongside the parents once they reach four months, by seven months they are ready to leave their parents. They mate for life and have intricate family situations where kits from previous years often stay with the family and help with the new pups.

Fennec Fox

~ joannerambling ~ 4 Comments

First up there is a new post  over here:

http://jamfn.blogspot.com/2024/12/goodbye-2024.html

Hi everyone, how many of you have heard of the fennec fox?

I had noy heard of it till I was researching foxes for these posts. 

The fennec fox is a small fox native to the deserts of North Africa, ranging from Western Sahara and Mauritania to the Sinai Peninsula. Its most distinctive feature is its unusually large ears, which serve to dissipate heat and listen for underground prey.

The fennec is the smallest fox species, standing about 20cms or 8 inches tall and weighing up to 1.3kgs or 3 pounds.

In the wild, fennec foxes eat insects—particularly grasshoppers and locusts—as well as small rodents, lizards, birds and their eggs. They will also consume roots, fruits and leaves, which help them to hydrate.

In captivity should consist of a mix of meat and vegetables, and include supplements to ensure they get enough taurine, they should be eating 90% meat and insects, such as waxworms, morioworms, locusts and such. The meat should be low in retinol (vitamin A) and contain enough calcium and taurine. 

The other 10% should be vegetables and fruit, such as diced melons, berries, and leafy greens. Avoid fruits and vegetables that are high in carbohydrates or belong to the nightshade family, such as tomatoes and aubergines.

They can live up to 14 years in captivity and about 10 years in the wild. 

They typically give birth to one litter of pups per year, with between two and five young in a litter.

The female does not allow the male to interact with the kits until they are 5 to 6 weeks old. Parent-raised offspring are weaned by 8 to 10 weeks of age. Carrying, grooming, and nursing of the young continue until this time. Wild fennec foxes stay with their family until they are at least 1 year old.

In general, male fennec foxes tend to be slightly larger and heavier than females.

The primary threat to fennec foxes is human interference. They are commonly trapped for exhibition or sale to tourists, and there have been limited instances of human settlements encroaching on fennec populations. Native populations in the Sahara region also hunt fennec foxes. They are preyed upon by the Pharaoh eagle-owl; both adults and pups may possibly fall prey to jackals and striped hyenas.

They are currently listed as a species of least concern, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. While there are no major threats to the desert-dwelling wild populations, habitat loss still occurs in their native range.

Red Fox

~ joannerambling ~ 4 Comments

Ok let’s have a look at the red fox which I think may be the most well know of foxes it is in my opinion a handsome looking creature.

It is the largest of the true foxes and one of the most widely distributed members of the order Carnivora, being present across the entire Northern Hemisphere including most of North America, Europe and Asia, plus parts of North Africa. 

They have long snouts and red fur across the face, back, sides, and tail. Their throat, chin, and belly are grayish white. Red foxes have black feet and black-tipped ears that are large and pointy. One of the most noticeable characteristics of the red fox is the fluffy, white-tipped tail.

They have been called bold, cunning, and deceitful, particularly in children’s stories. In fact, they are shy, secretive, and nervous by disposition, and they appear to be very intelligent.

They are extraordinarily opportunistic, omnivorous predators. Nonetheless, most studies agree that they feed predominantly on small mammals, particularly rodents (rats, mice, voles and the occasional squirrel) and lagomorphs (rabbits and hares); in rural areas these groups together typically account for about 50% of the diet.

Red foxes are the most widespread wild canid and have the largest natural distribution of any non-human land mammal.

Red foxes can be found in many countries, including, most of Europe, Russia, Kazakhstan, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, northern India, China, and Thailand. They can be found in the northern and eastern United States, north through Canada and Alaska to Baffin Island. In parts of North Africa as well as here in Australia they were introduced to Australia in the 1800s and have spread throughout much of the country. However, it wasn’t till the late 1990’s that they were introduced to Tasmania.

They are hunted for sport and for their pelts. Red foxes are also the primary carrier of rabies in much of their range

Both the male and female red fox, care for their pups, or kits. The mother, or vixen, spends a lot of time grooming and cleaning the cubs. The father brings food to the mother during the first few weeks. The parents take turns hunting and bringing food back to the kits. 

The vixen gives birth to 1–10 or more pups in a den, which is often a burrow abandoned by another animal. The pups are born brown or gray, but usually grow a new red coat by the end of the first month. 

Their dens are usually located on the edges of forests, near fields, or under porches. 

The pups start playing outside the den when they are about a month old. The mother feeds them regurgitated food at first, but eventually brings them live prey to play with and eat. 

The young remain with their parents at least until the fall of the year they were born in. They disperse in the fall once they are fully grown and independent. 

New Guinea Singing Dog

~ joannerambling ~ 10 Comments

This week are looking at the New Guinea Singing Dog, not an animal I have heard of before, how about of you?

The New Guinea singing dog or New Guinea Highland dog is an ancient lineage of dog found in the New Guinea Highlands, on the island of New Guinea. Once considered to be a separate species in its own right, under the name Canis hallstromi, it is closely related to the Australian dingo.

They are thought to be one of the oldest breeds of canine, with some evidence suggesting that they may have been present on the island of New Guinea for over 5,000 years. It was thought that they went extinct in the wild in the 1970s, but in 2018, DNA evidence confirmed the presence of a wild group in New Guinea.

Does it really sing? Well, when it comes to sounds, they really have their own voice! Most of the singing dog’s vocalizations are like that of the wolf, dingo, and domestic dog, but their howl is incredibly unique. By using Sonograms, it is believed that their howl is like the song of the humpback whale.

They are a small to medium size dog species. They have a wedge-shaped head and triangular, upright ears. These dogs have a soft, thick coat and a bushy tail. The eyes of the singing dog are reflective and glow bright green in low light conditions.

They have a distinctive appearance, which includes a dense, long coat that ranges in colour from red to black and brown. These dogs have a small, compact body and a wedge-shaped head with pointed ears. They have a high metabolism and require a diet rich in protein to maintain their energy levels. Their legs, joints, and spine are highly flexible making them skilled climbers.

They are known to live up to 15 years in captivity, but it is unknown how long they live in the wild.

They prey on small mammals, small reptiles, and birds; they even try to hunt 3.5-foot-tall (1-meter-tall) dwarf cassowaries! New Guinea singing dogs have a strong hunting drive and fearless nature, and they are highly curious.

They are not pack animals but are solitary animals but may forage in pairs. They are known to be shy and elusive and live in mountains and thick forests of New Guinea and Indonesia. They are also excellent climbers and can jump high like cats.

You can have a New Guinea Singing Dog as a pet, but they can be challenging to fully domesticate and may not be the best fit for most families.

They are intelligent, lively, and affectionate, but they can be difficult to housetrain and are not very socially active. They can also be fearful and unreliable off-leash. They do best with experienced pet parents who are familiar with the breed. 

It is estimated that only 200-300 of these animals are in existence today. 

Coyote

~ joannerambling ~ 5 Comments

This week we are looking at the coyote, also known as the American jackal, prairie wolf, or brush wolf, is a species of canine native to North America. It is smaller than its close relative, the gray wolf, and slightly smaller than the closely related eastern wolf and red wolf.

An animal that many of my American friends would be familiar with.

Some people think that they are wolfs and in places where their range overlaps, it may be hard to tell the difference between a coyote and a wolf because of their somewhat similar appearances. But while they do look similar and are closely related, there are several ways to tell them apart. For starters, their size. Wolves are much bigger than coyotes.

In captivity, coyotes can live 13 to 15 years but in the wild, most die before they reach three years of age. The oldest confirmed wild coyote so far in this research was an eleven-year-old alpha female, Coyote.

Although coyotes have been known to attack humans (and pets) and as such are a potential danger to people, especially children, risks are minimal, and we feel that the majority of attack incidents could be reduced or prevented through modification of human behaviour.

Great horned owls, bald and golden eagles, wolves, and bears all have been known to prey on coyotes. Coyotes are quick to respond to increases or decreases in prey.

Coyotes are social animals that often live in family groups called packs. A pack is usually led by an alpha male and female pair and includes other coyotes such as young from the previous year, or coyotes that have been accepted into the pack. A pack usually consist of between 3 and 7 coyotes.

Coyotes are very vocal and use a variety of calls to communicate, including howls, barks, yips, growls, whines, and whimpers.

They have fewer pups when food is scarce, or they can have large litters when hares are abundant.

However, coyotes can also live alone or in loose pairs. Solitary coyotes are usually young coyotes (six months to two years old) or older individuals who have left packs. Coyotes also sometimes hunt cooperatively with other species, such as badgers or crows.

Red Wolf

~ joannerambling ~ 5 Comments

This week we are looking at the red wolf this is a canine native to the southeastern United States. Its size is intermediate between the coyote and gray wolf.

They have wide heads with broad muzzles, tall, pointed ears and long, slender legs with large feet. Red wolves stand about 26 inches at their shoulder and are about 4 feet long from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail. Adult red wolves range in weight from about 45 to 80 pounds.

American red wolves are critically endangered and the most endangered wolf in the world due to poaching, trapping and habitat loss. According to the USFWS, there are less than 20 American red wolves living in the wild in North Carolina. 

They are shy and elusive, however, they top predators. Potential danger lies in their becoming habituated to humans, particularly if people provide them with food.

Their home territory can stretch about 200 miles in diameter.

They live in packs which are family groups that typically have five to eight members, including a breeding pair and their offspring. 

The young stay with the pack until they reach adulthood, when they leave to form their own packs. They are highly social animals that mate for life. They are also great parents and will sometimes care for other wolves’ pups.

The packs travel up to 20 miles per day to hunt for small mammals like rabbits and raccoons, and sometimes deer. Although pack animals the do not hunt in packs.

Wolves howl for many reasons, including to assemble the pack, find a mate, protect their pups, and identify each other. 

As they are considered a top predator, also called an apex predator, and has no known predators except humans. Some competition between coyotes and gray wolves can lead to killing of the red wolf but it is not due to predation.