Mednovskiy blue Fox

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At all times people loved to wear fur coats, vests and hats from the skins of animals. And blue Fox fur is still considered one of the most expensive. Because of this, the number of blue Fox on the verge of extinction. And this little creature is listed in the Red book. Hunt for the blue Fox has been prohibited since 1966. Habitat. Mednovskiy Fox is so named because the Copper island, which is located between the Pacific ocean and the Bering sea. On this island to be the commander's reserve, which covers the entire surface of the island. Thanks to this reserve and retained a small number of representatives of this species. In the reserve there are about hundreds of individuals of blue Fox. In a more satisfying year, in the summer of the younger generation of foxes. But inexperience in the hunt for food, the young foxes break away from the cliffs, and many of them perish. But the main culprit in the disappearance of this subspecies is the man.
Appearance. Mednovskiy Fox – a very tiny animal that relate to the family Canidae. Its weight is barely 3 kg, body length from 55 to 70 cm Has short but powerful legs. Even paws covered with thick fur. Claws neutragena that is a characteristic of canine. A small head with small nose and ears. Looks like our Fox, only smaller. Because this animal is often called the polar Fox. Blue Fox fur changes depending on the season. Summer is of short length and are brownish - reddish-gray color, and in winter the coat becomes longer, becomes more dense warm undercoat white with a blue tint. Thanks for such a warm fur coat, mednovskiy the Arctic Fox can withstand temperatures of up to 65 C. the Duration of life from 6 to 11 years.

Fox white & blue Fox

Structure of Arctic Fox fur is soft, fluffy and silky to the touch, and only in the summer, the coat becomes rough and tough. Unlike foxes, which have a distinct, high guard hairs, awn Fox is much softer and practically does not differ from the undercoat.

Unlike most members of the family of canids, only the white Fox inherent pronounced seasonal dimorphism in colouring of the fur. Winter white Arctic Fox wearing a fur coat is snow-white, and in summer the fur becomes unsightly, dirty-brown color.

Color blue Fox fur is the dominant form, and whatever season has the consistency of colors. "Blue" Fox can be considered only conditionally, this term referred to individuals, painted in light brown, ash-gray with a blue tint color and also dark brown, iridescent silver.

Moulting foxes is highly extended in time and depends on the climatic conditions of a particular habitat, health of animals, their fat reserves and age. Spring camp fur starts with the onset of spring and can last until mid-summer. The winter molt occurs in September, with the arrival of cold weather and some animals lasts till December. The best quality of fur foxes are in the most severe frosts in January and February.
Where does the Arctic Fox?

The Arctic Fox is considered to be the owner of the tundra is the only predator, fully mastered the North pole, including drifting ice. Arctic foxes inhabit the tundra and forest-tundra zones that encircle the Arctic circle and adjacent areas of Asia, America, Europe and most of the Islands of the Northern seas. White foxes live mainly on the continents, the blue Fox is a typical inhabitant of the Islands and on the mainland is extremely rare.

The annual migration of Arctic foxes due to hunger and the relentless search for food, during which the animals are moved to the depths of the Arctic, and winter dispersal lead the Arctic Fox to the South of Finland and in the lower reaches of the Amur river.

Modern classification has 10 subspecies of Fox, with minor external differences, and although the constant mixing of populations makes it difficult to identify animals, 3 subspecies of Arctic foxes deserve special attention:

Alopex lagopus fuliginosus — the inhabitants of the island of Iceland, a unique subspecies, which is the only mammal able to survive among glaciers, volcanoes and sparse vegetation;
Alopex lagopus beringensis — Arctic Fox live on Bering island. The subspecies is characterized by its large body size and most with a dark fur color among all members of the species;
mednovskiy Fox (Alopex lagopus semenovi) — a typical inhabitant of the island Copper, located in the Bering sea, which is part of the commander nature reserve. Rare subspecies, a population which today has no more than 100 individuals. Mednovskiy Fox is under protection of the Russian state, as endangered subspecies.

Food and hunting. Blue Fox is very mobile animal. The most active period is summer, as during this season most the great abundance of food. Foxes eat everything: small rodents, fish, birds, eggs, berries and plants. To survive sometimes even eat carrion. These animals live mostly families, but there are loners. Sleep everywhere anywhere, as the hunt can move long distances from their homes. Winter in severe cold, when sleeping on the snow is cold, pull holes, and hiding there from the cold. Communicate by different sounds: barking, howling and screeching.

Reproduction. In early spring, the Arctic Fox comes the mating season. Blue Fox creates a family, which consists of a male adult females and 2 young females. After the breeding season, sometime in early summer, the Mature female offspring appears. This is mainly from 3 to 5 individuals. The whole family protects the mother with the puppies, and in turn repel enemies and bring food. About two weeks, the mother never leaves her babies. When puppies reach 3-4 weeks of age, they gradually withdraw from the hole and the whole family teaches children to hunt and to defend themselves in adult life. After 1.5 months from birth, puppies foxes leave the parental home. But because of the inexperience of almost half of the litter dies.