Fox - Tulkу
Fox— Vulpes vulpes Linn (in Kyrgyz: tulku)
In Kyrgyzstan, it is widespread, from areas cultivated for agriculture (Chui Valley, Pre-Fergana regions) to high-altitude ridges (3500—4000 m above sea level). It can be found in various types of habitats, including areas located near human dwellings. It particularly favors territories abundant in mouse-like rodents and where there are many ravines, thickets, and other suitable places for burrowing. In high-altitude meadows, it often uses the burrows of marmots as well as badger burrows.
The largest number of foxes has been observed at the Kubergenty Pass, located on the border between the Issyk-Kul and Tien Shan ridges in the border zone. This pass, represented by high-altitude plateaus, stretches about 20 km and is covered with burrows of narrow-skulled voles, whose colonies follow one another. Here, in this "kingdom of voles," the highest density of foxes is found.
Foxes can be active throughout the day, but they are more often seen in the early morning hours and in the evening while hunting for mice. They rest at noon and apparently at night.
The mating season for foxes occurs in late January to early February, in the mountains—15 to 20 days later. During this time, several males may stay near one female, finding her by her tracks or calling barks. Often, males courting a female can be seen with their tails held perpendicular. During the mating season, fierce fights occur between males. Generally, foxes are monogamous, but there are cases where males mate with several females. The gestation period lasts 49—56—58 days, after which the female gives birth to 4 to 12 kits in the burrow, which are born blind and open their eyes on the 13th—15th day. At about 3 weeks of age, the kits begin to emerge from the burrow, where they eat food brought by their parents. The male and female are very protective of their offspring and do not allow harm to come to them. The young begin to live independently by the end of July-August.
Sexual maturity occurs at 9—41 months.
The diet of foxes primarily consists of small mouse-like rodents and voles. Additionally, depending on their habitat, they eat hares, young marmots, ground squirrels; sand rats and other rodents. They significantly destroy both adult pheasants, partridges, and other birds, as well as their eggs and chicks. There are known cases of foxes eating locusts and other insects. For instance, in Susamyr, the stomachs of two foxes contained a food mass consisting of locusts, weighing 620 and 710 g. In summer and autumn, they may eat small amounts of berries, seeds, and plant stems. In captivity, they can live up to 25 years.
Molt occurs once a year: from February to March, winter fur falls out, and during the second half of summer, the growth of a new coat continues. The molting process ends in November.
Foxes have few enemies, except for wolves; however, cases of foxes being killed by wolves are extremely rare. As for competitors, there are quite a few. These are probably all representatives of the carnivorous order that feed on mouse-like rodents. Foxes can be carriers of diseases such as echinococcosis and alveococcosis, with the infection rate in certain habitats, as reported by M. M. Tokobaev, potentially being quite high.
One should not forget the benefits brought by foxes. They exterminate a large number of various rodents and, to some extent, reduce their population, which is significant in the epizootiology of certain natural focal diseases. At the same time, foxes sometimes cause considerable damage to agriculture and hunting, destroying both domestic and wild birds. In light of these considerations, in recent years, various opinions have emerged: some believe that foxes should be exterminated, while others consider this unjustified. We believe that in each specific case, this issue should be resolved under particular conditions.
Aimless extermination of foxes throughout the year is not warranted. Their population should only be regulated where they can cause harm: near poultry farms and in hunting areas.
Red Book
