Classroom lesson · Wildlife · 🇸🇲 San Marino

Red Fox

A clever and adaptable wild animal found across San Marino

Photo · Wikimedia Commons

What is it?

The red fox is one of the most adaptable wild animals in the world. With its bright orange-red coat, white chest, and bushy tail tipped with white, it is easy to recognise. Red foxes live across San Marino's countryside and hillsides, coming out mainly at dawn and dusk to explore.

Tell me more

Red foxes are related to dogs and wolves, but they are much more independent. Unlike dogs, foxes live and hunt mostly on their own rather than in packs. They are omnivores — meaning they eat almost anything — from berries and earthworms to mice and birds' eggs.

Foxes are famous for being clever. They use their large, swivelling ears to pinpoint sounds underground, then pounce on a mouse or vole hidden beneath leaves or snow. Their sense of smell is also very strong, helping them find food even when it is buried.

A fox family is called a 'earth' — they dig burrows called earths to sleep in and raise their young. Baby foxes are called cubs, and they are born in spring. The cubs spend their first few months learning everything they need to know from their parents before setting off on their own.

In the classroom

Walk your class through this in 15 minutes.

Talk together

Discussion prompts

  1. 01Foxes are described as 'clever' animals. What animal behaviour have you seen that seems really clever to you?
  2. 02Foxes are omnivores. What does it mean to be an omnivore, and how does it help an animal survive in many different places?
  3. 03Fox cubs learn from their parents. What is the most important thing you have learned from someone in your family?
Try this

Classroom activity

Food chain diagram: draw a simple food chain that includes a red fox. Start with the sun, then a plant, then a small animal, then the fox. Add arrows to show the direction energy moves. Can you extend the chain in any direction?