Science Snippet: Fox Facts

Foxes are both cunning and smart, and biologists have observed them using novel hunting practices. A fox’s repertoire includes playing dead: lying on its side with its tongue hanging out to make it look like a corpse. When a curious crow or other small animal stops by to grab a bite, it ends up in the jaws of the suddenly-alive fox. The tables are turned as the meal seeker becomes the meal. Lies and deception are very much a part of the animal world, and in many cases, they help to ensure an animal’s survival.

Source: Wohlleben, P., 2016, “The Inner Life of Animals,” Ludwig Verlag, Munich.