We're sunsetting PodQuest on 2025-07-28. Thank you for your support!
Export Podcast Subscriptions
cover of episode Urocyonology (LITTLE GRAY FOXES) with Bill Leikam

Urocyonology (LITTLE GRAY FOXES) with Bill Leikam

2025/5/28
logo of podcast Ologies with Alie Ward

Ologies with Alie Ward

AI Deep Dive AI Chapters Transcript
People
B
Bill Leikam
Topics
Bill Leikam: 我专精于研究灰狐,它们是所有犬科动物的基底,在基因上比狼和豺等更古老。灰狐的行为特点更像猫,例如它们的坐姿、爬树方式和使用耳朵的方式。虽然外表像狗,但它们应该生活在野外,而不是被圈养。灰狐通过粪便标记领地,如果有其他狐狸侵入,它们会驱逐入侵者。我给狐狸起名字,因为一旦了解它们,就不能用数字来称呼它们。作为一名动物行为学家,我对红狐狸与灰狐狸的不同之处很感兴趣,需要有耐心和观察细节的能力。灰狐通常生活在灌木丛中,而红狐则生活在田野里。人们更多地想到红狐,是因为我们不常看到灰狐。灰狐通常是一夫一妻制,但雌性狐狸是多配偶的,这增加了它们的生存能力。我认为狐狸只是按照它们的生活模式生活,就像我们按照我们的生活模式生活一样。灰狐是杂食动物,它们通过捕食啮齿动物来平衡生态系统。我看到一只名叫可爱的年轻雌性狐狸爬到树上捕猎松鼠,但她失手掉进了荆棘丛中。可爱和她的伴侣倾向于忽略它们的幼崽,只是提供足够的食物,让它们能够自己捕猎。在每年的特定时间,他会把所有的雄性赶出该地区,因为他知道可爱要生幼崽了。我观察了从灰色毛球到准备分散的整个过程。 Bill Leikam: 我是第一个被叫去查看Facebook灰狐的人,我建议Facebook不要试图摆脱这些狐狸,而是让它们成为一种资产。人们开始拍摄在校园里活动的狐狸,并逐渐习惯了它们。我亲眼见过狐狸爬梯子。红狐会挖洞,而灰狐则会寻找密集的灌木丛作为它们的巢穴。我花了多年时间观察一只名叫Mama Bold的狐狸妈妈,她出生在一个世代相传的巢穴里。Mama Bold与她的父亲Squat对峙,然后她与另一只雄性狐狸一起跑了。Squat的女儿接管了他曾经拥有的所有领土。狐狸的狡猾和狡猾的属性可以追溯到伊索寓言。灰狐的毛皮很柔软,与我之间的距离极限是五到七英尺。我有一只安装好的狐狸,名叫Rusty,我会在公开讲座和演示时把它拿出来。灰狐不是严格的夜行动物,它们会小睡,而不是像我们一样睡觉,你可能会在白天看到一只灰狐从一个睡觉的地方走到另一个地方。

Deep Dive

Chapters
The gray fox is the most unique fox species, being the basal canid, older than wolves and jackals. Unlike other foxes, they are more cat-like in behavior, climbing trees and displaying feline-like mannerisms. The episode also explores the debate on how island foxes populated the Channel Islands.
  • Gray foxes are basal canids, genetically older than other canids.
  • Gray foxes exhibit behaviors similar to both cats and dogs.
  • Island foxes' presence on the Channel Islands is debated, with theories of human transport or landmass separation being raised.

Shownotes Transcript

Bushy tails! Stinky butts! Faces so cute you weep! Let’s talk foxes – specifically the little gray ones you never knew you loved. Fox behavioral expert, researcher, conservationist, author of “The Road to Fox Hollow” and Urocyonologist Bill Leikam chats about fuzzy foxes, baby names, parental strategies, where they live, what they eat, advice for potential pet owners, how to observe foxes, how tiny foxes wound up on islands, which foxes need conservation, Silicon Valley foxes, and why a fox on the couch is worth 1000 in the bush. Also: what do they smell like? And what do they say? 

Buy Bill’s book: The Road to Fox Hollow)

A donation went to the Urban Wildlife Research Project). 

Watch the documentary: The Foxes, my Professors: Bill Leikam and the Gray Foxes of Silicon Valley)

More episode sources and links)

Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes)

Other episodes you may enjoy: Ethnocynology (HUMANS & DOGS THROUGH TIME)), Lupinology (WOLVES)), Felinology (CATS)), Procyonology (RACCOONS)), Lutrinology (OTTERS)), Sciuridology (SQUIRRELS)), Castorology (BEAVERS)), Chickenology (HENS & ROOSTERS)), Indigenous Fire Ecology (GOOD FIRE)), Nassology (TAXIDERMY)), Cynology (DOGS))

Sponsors of Ologies)

Transcripts and bleeped episodes)

Become a patron of Ologies) for as little as a buck a month

OlogiesMerch.com) has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes!

Follow Ologies on Instagram) and Bluesky)

Follow Alie Ward on Instagram) and TikTok)

Editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions) and Jake Chaffee)

Managing Director: Susan Hale

Scheduling Producer: Noel Dilworth

Transcripts by Aveline Malek 

Website by Kelly R. Dwyer)

Theme song by Nick Thorburn