Habitat: the bat eared fox is most at home in the arid plains and savannas of eastern and southern Africa. Although it prefers open country, where the grass is short, it also inhabits brush and scrublands. For protection from the elements and its many enemies, the bat eared fox finds shelter in a deep den. It either digs this den itself or takes it over from other burrowing animals. The den is often several feet deep and contains more than one underground chamber with a number of entrances. When patrolling its territory or searching for food, the bat eared fox turns, twists, and doubles back on itself to confuse the hounds, jackals, and birds of prey that pursue it. Like many other members of the dog family, the bat eared fox is very sociable.

Food and Hunting: The bat eared fox is the only member of the dog family that feeds almost entirely on insects. Insects can make up 80 percent of its diet. Termites, especially harvester termites, are such an important part of its diet that the fox’s range closely mirrors that of the termite. Dung beetles are another popular food. The fox digs them up from the ground, where the larvae are buried in balls of manure. The bat eared fox’s small teeth are suited to its insect diet. It has as many as eight molars – teeth that are better for crushing than chewing. In addition to insects, the bat eared fox feeds on small mammals, the eggs and young of ground nesting birds, fruit, and tubers. With its ears pointing forward, a bat eared fox listens for the sound of grubs moving under the ground. Bat eared foxes rest outside their burrows before hunting.

Breeding: The breeding habits of the bat eared fox vary throughout its range. In the north it establishes territories during the breeding season and marks them with the scent of urine. But in the south the territories of several adults often overlap. The bat eared fox mates for life, and pairs form very strong bonds. Two months after mating, the female gives birth to two to six cubs. They nurse for up to 15 weeks, but they may be weaned in four weeks. The cubs first leave the den at about two and a half weeks. If danger threatens, the adults grab them by the scruff of the neck and carry them to safety. Fully grown by six months, the cubs remain with their parents until the next year. In spite of the mother’s continual presence, less than half of the litter survives through the first year.

Bat eared Fox and Man: After the leopard, humans are the greatest enemy of the bat eared fox. People hunt the fox for its soft, dense fur, particularly during the colder months from April to July, when the fox’s coat is at its best. The fox is also hunted by farmers who do not realize that its small teeth are no threat to livestock. In some areas, however, the bat eared fox is actually extending its range, helped by the conversion of wood and scrublands into open pastures for cattle.

Key Facts:
Sizes:
Length: Head and body, 1 ½ -2 ft. Tail, 9-13 in. Females slightly larger
Ears: 4-5 in.
Height at shoulder: 12-16 in.
Weight: 6-12 lb.

Breeding:
Sexual maturity: 1-2 years
Gestation: 9-10 weeks
No. of young: 2-6

Lifestyle:
Habit: Lives in burrows
Diet: Mainly termites, beetles, small mammals, reptiles, birds’ eggs, fruit, and vegetable tubers
Lifespan: Longest in captivity, 13 years 9 months

Related Species: Although Visibly similar to the fennec fox, this unusual member of the dog family more closely resembles the raccoon dog and the gray foxes.
Distribution: Two distinct ranges: southern Sudan to southwestern Tanzania in the north; Angola to central South Africa in the south.
Conservation: The bat eared fox has decreased in areas where human activity is greatest, particularly in South Africa. But it seems to be expanding its range into Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Botswana.

Features of the Bat Eared Fox:
Feeding: While searching for food, the fox constantly moves its head and ears from side to side to pinpoint any sounds it might hear.
Head: The muzzle is short and pointed. The ears are very large and oval shaped.
Coat: General coloring is grayish yellow with dark brown edge around ears, feet, and tip of tail. Underparts are a dull grayish yellow.
Body: Short and compact, with a long, bushy tail and short legs.

Did You Know: 
The bat eared fox eats scorpions, swallowing the stinger and the poison sac without ill effects.
The bat eared fox has such sharp hearing that it can detect prey even underground. But its eyesight is not very good, and it is frequently unable to spot small mammals or reptiles unless they move.
The bat eared fox is also known as the long eared fox, the big eared fox, and the black eared fox.

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