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Nature Journal
Introduction
Wildlife is always deemed to be of great significance economically, ecologically,
environmentally as well as culturally. It includes a wide range of species from
amphibians, insects, birds to mammals. Thus, there is no doubt that there are some
organisms that are native while others were introduced or re-introduced to their current
habitant (Day, Klingler & Bloomberg 283). The essay is an in-depth examination of five
wild animals that exist in the United States of America. These animals are Red Fox
(Vulpes vulpes), Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus), Black and Yellow Garden Spider
(Argiope aurantia), Northern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen) and
American Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana).
To be able to cover these species adequately, the following will be established:
– Are the species, being studied, native or introduced in that environment?
– Describe their physical characteristics in terms of color as well as specific
differences between the sexes.
Additionally, the issues regarding the species’ habitats are adequately tackled.
This is attained by establishing their local habitat as well as their habitat range, their
ecological role, the types of food they eat and other relevant relationships such as
parasitism, mutualism are brought to light. The species’ category under IUCN is also
brought to light. At the same time, discover life cycle of these species and life span as
well as how they coexist with people.
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Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)
According to Rue (72), Red fox is the largest of animals that is considered as true
foxes. This species is in the family of Canidae which is comprised of wolves, dogs and
coyotes. These animals are characterized by an orange or red fur. Red foxes have
white fur on their chest as well as beneath their neck. The tail is usually fluffy and white
at the tip. The ears are black and pointed. Their legs are colored black. The animal is
about three feet long and weighs 10 pounds.
As suggested by Clapham (122), Red fox inhabits a greater part of the United
States as well as Canada, but there is no record to show that they ever existed in
Alaska and Texas. According to IUCN, it is categorized as Least Concern for extinction
and named as world’s worst alien invasive species. They have a wide range covering
approximately 70 million square kms including wood lands, farmland as well as prairies.
Historically, red foxes were being preyed by lynx, wolves, and bobcats but due
to the reduced number of these predators, people became the major predator hunting
these animals for various reasons, such as sport hunting, as well as for their fur or by
farmers in protecting their crops and livestock (Rue 121). It is thus no doubt that red fox
has a long association with mankind. This can be depicted in human folklore as well as
in myths. Red foxes are opportunistic feeders whose feeding pattern varies with season
as they eat everything available during some period. Generally speaking, this species is
omnivorous eating fruits, grasses and berries. They also feed on birds, insects, small
mammals. They can investigate over five miles looking for food despite the fact that
they are not hungry. Surplus food stuffs are hidden to be consumed later (Clapham 54).
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With regards to reproduction, red foxes reproduce only once a year during
spring. Female estrus lasts for 21 days during which the male mates with her for a
number of days in burrows during which there is at least an hour of copulation tie. The
gestation period is approximately two months. Prior to littering, the female/vixen will get
two den ready. The litter size ranges between 4 and 8. As the female is nursing the
litter, males look for food. Within a period of about 2 weeks, the kits open their eyes,
and 4 days after, lower teeth start emerging. The juvenile takes a period of six to seven
months, and then, the adulthood comes. It has been established that in their natural
habitat, the red foxes attain a maximum of five years and fourteen while under captivity
(Rue 65).
These mammals are nocturnal and can hear voices in lower frequencies. They
