Foxes have a unique superpower to help them find food. Photo: Rylee Isitt/Flicker
Using Earth’s Magnetic Field To Navigate
A sea turtle uses the earth’s magnetic field to navigate. Photo: Laszlo Ileyes/Flicker
So think about sea turtles using a compass to find their way thousands of miles to lay eggs on the same beach where they were born. Of course, they can’t read compasses but they sense the earth’s magnetism or pull. It is a mind-boggling feat.
What Other Animals Use Magnetism
Foxes are the only animal known to use the earth’s magnetic field to find food.Photo: Karen Laubenstein/USFWS
But have you ever heard of magnetism being used to pinpoint food? So far only one animal appears to use the earth’s pull to locate and capture their prey. They use it to judge distance, depth and direction. But how can that be? They can’t read a compass.
So what animal possesses this superpower? The fox, and only the fox! To learn more about foxes, read our Explore & Learn “Red Fox”.
The Fox’s Superpowers
First, you might think the fox smells it’s prey. Well yes. How about listening? Also yes. But how does the fox find the exact location of a small mouse or animal under a pile of snow or leaves?
Ah, here comes the superpowers. They use the earth’s magnetic force. Wow.
Foxes can find prey under 3 feet of snow with their super power. Photo: Rylee Isitt/Flicker
One, Two, Three
When they align to the north, they successfully pounce on their prey 74% of the time. If they align in any other direction, they are only successful 18% of the time.
So while other animals use the earth’s magnetic field to judge distance, foxes use it to judge distance, depth and direction. Pretty darn cool. A true superpower.
The fox listens
It calculates how far & deep to jump
Plunging into the snow, a mouse is caught
Now watch the fox dive in slow motion.
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