Nature Journal

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Nature Journal
Wildlife plays a vital role in economic, ecological, environmental as well as
cultural spheres. It can include a broad range of species, ranging from amphibians,
insects, and birds to mammals. As a rule, fauna includes some organisms that are
native and the ones that were introduced or re-introduced to their current habitat
(Day et al. 283). This report is an in-depth examination of five wild animals living 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).
The discussion of every species will answer the following questions:
- Is the species under consideration native or introduced to the environment?
- Are there any physical characteristics in terms of color as well as specific
differences between the sexes of respective species?
The issues regarding the species' habitats will be addressed. 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 and
mutualism. The species' category under IUCN will be also brought to light. At the
same time, the report will discover the life cycle of these species and their lifespan
as well as how they coexist with people.
Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)
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According to Rue (72), red fox is the largest of the animals 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 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 on the tip. The ears are black and pointed. Their legs are colored black. The
animal is about three feet long and weighs 10 pounds. Male species are usually
bigger than females with sexual dimorphism more evident in their skull structure.
Red fox inhabits the 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 (Clapham
122). According to IUCN, it is categorized as least concern for extinction and named
as world’s worst alien invasive species. They live on a broad range of territories,
covering approximately 70 million square km, including woodlands and farmlands as
well as prairies.
Historically, red foxes were being preyed by lynxes, wolves, and bobcats.
Later, 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). Due to
the value of its fur, the fox has a long history of being a victim of people. The
depiction of this relationship can be found in human folklore as well as in myths.
Red foxes are opportunistic feeders, whose feeding pattern varies with the
season, as they eat everything available during certain periods. This species eats
fruits, herbs, and berries. They also feed on birds, insects, and small mammals.
They can investigate over five miles looking for food despite the fact that they are not
hungry. Surplus foodstuffs are hidden to be consumed later (Clapham 54).
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Concerning the reproduction, red foxes reproduce only once a year during the
spring. Female estrus lasts for 21 days, during which the male mates with it for some
days in burrows to have at least an hour of copulation tie there. The gestation period
is approximately two months. Before littering, the female called vixen will get two
dens ready. The litter size ranges between four and eight. As the female is nursing
the litter, the male looks for food. Within a period of about two weeks, the kits open
their eyes, and four days after, lower teeth start emerging (Rue 65). The juvenile
takes a period of six to seven months, and then the adulthood comes. In their natural
habitat, red foxes live for a maximum of five years compared to fourteen years they
live in average in captivity.
These mammals are nocturnal and can hear sounds of low frequencies. They
stalk their prey just like cats do, pouncing and chasing it afterward. Foxes spend an
insignificant amount of time in dens. As a rule, these animals sleep in the open air,
using their tails to save warmth (Clapham 23).
Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus)
Also known as marsh hawk, the bird is between 17 and 24 inches with a
wingspan ranging from 3.5 to 4.5 feet and weight between 12 and 18 ounces. Males
are typically smaller than females. This bird inhabits North America along with Asia
and Europe. Their typical habitats include open areas, wetlands, cultivated areas,
meadows, grasslands, and tundra. New Jersey's coastal marsh