Birds of the Kuban species and habitats. Animals of the Krasnodar region

Birds of Kuban include more than 300 species representing 18 orders. Although the nature of the presence of birds on the territory of the Kuban, unfortunately, is still little studied, nevertheless, it can presumably be said that 42 species are found only on migration, 113 are migratory-nesting, 99 are sedentary and 22 winter. 35 randomly vagrant species have been recorded: red-throated loon, common storm petrel, little cormorant, flamingo, golden-brown, etc. Thus, the local avifauna is represented by 212 species, including nesting, migratory and resident birds.

A unique habitat for birds is artificial forest plantations (forest belts, forest areas), 70-75% of the area of which is located in the steppe part of the Kuban.

The most common nesting bird in forest belts in the central part is the rook, sometimes forming entire colonies.

The fields of grain crops are inhabited mainly by passerines (larks, buntings, pipits), chickens, steppe birds of the Kuban - quail, and birds of prey - field, meadow and steppe harriers. In total, 18 species of birds nest on the flat fields.

A large number of birds are attracted to artificial and natural reservoirs located on the plain. Their main inhabitants are ducks and waders.

The Eastern Azov region is the kingdom of fish-eating birds. The first thing that catches the observer’s eye is the mass of gulls and terns circling over the estuaries. A large number of herons gather in shallow water near the reeds. Toadstools are abundant everywhere.

However, not all birds are absolutely healthy. Under certain conditions, some of their species cause harm to agriculture. At the beginning of autumn, field and house sparrows constantly visit fields, eating grains of grain crops and seeds of garden plants. Flocks of starlings, pecking at the fruits of cherries and cherries, can cause significant harm to gardening; rooks, gathering in freshly sown fields, dig wheat grains out of the ground, and after sprouting, pull them out along with the seeds. And in these cases, the birds of prey of the Kuban make a very large contribution to their benefit.

Nowadays, when human impact on nature has increased significantly, a particularly careful, conscious attitude towards birds is necessary on the part of people. This should include the inadmissibility of the pointless extermination of not only rare, but also common birds, the preservation of their habitats, the reasonable conduct of agricultural work, and the proper organization of hunting.

In the near future we plan to open a separate section of Kuban birds photos, keep an eye on our website.

Birds of Kuban

Litvinova Galina Yurievna geography teacher MBOU Secondary School No. 9

Features of birds

Birds are higher vertebrates that differ from other animals in that they have wings, feathers and the ability to fly.
Feathers play an important role in their life - they perform a protective function, retain heat, and when flying, minimize the friction that occurs upon contact with air masses.
Birds' skin does not have any glands and is therefore always very dry.
But there is still one gland that secretes fat and it is located under the tail, although it is well developed only in waterfowl.

Birds lubricate their plumage with this fat, as a result of which it does not allow water to pass through.
There are species of birds that instead of this gland have areas with constantly growing down, usually on the lower back or on the sides. These areas are called “powder fluff” because when this fluff breaks off, it forms a powder that resembles powder. And it is this powder that gives the plumage waterproof properties.
These birds include ostriches or bustards.
It turns out that birds have no teeth, and instead of them there is a goiter, passing through which the food is, as it were, ground. They have highly developed hearing and weak sense of smell .

In the Krasnodar Territory, a bird with an interesting name lives on reservoirs Great Grebe or as it is called differently - the great grebe. The great grebes usually live in thickets near water, and they earned this name because their meat smells very strongly of fish. In general, this is a very beautiful bird - its back, neck and top of its head are dark brown, its cheeks are gray, and on its head there is a beautiful crest of a mixture of black and red feathers. She swims and dives very well, and builds her own nests in the water from reeds and cattails. If a great grebe leaves her nest, then, like a caring mother, she always covers it with aquatic plants to protect it from unexpected guests and the sun's rays. When her chicks appear, she carries them on her back for two whole weeks, sometimes going down to the water. The great grebe feeds on various mollusks and fish.

Lesser grebes

But not only great grebes live here, there are also little grebes, which are in many ways similar to the great grebe both in lifestyle and in appearance.

Great cormorants are also found in these parts - very large birds that live on estuaries. This is not an ordinary bird species, as their appearance is quite unusual. has a long neck, black shiny plumage and wide wings. He eats about one and a half kilograms of fish per day. Cormorants are excellent swimmers and, like the great grebes, excellent diving

You can also find a bird on the estuaries of the Black Sea coast loaf. It usually lives in willow thickets.
The Karavaika is a very beautiful bird, with brown plumage and a peculiar long beak that is curved downwards.
These birds eat frogs and tadpoles, and fly to Africa for the winter.

Well, how can we not mention heron... Several species of this bird live here - white, gray, yellow, red, as well as night herons and bitterns, both large and small.
Herons are migratory birds; they feed on fish, frogs and small animals.

In these same places you can see mute swan, whose weight can reach up to 13 kilograms, and its wing length is around 70 centimeters.
Such swans practically do not make a sound, but simply hiss, hence the funny name.
They feed on plant roots and small aquatic invertebrates.

You can often find in this area black kite is a predator that is easy to recognize by the way it flies in circles and looks for prey.
The kite's tail is long and wide, with a notch in the middle,
His head is not large and his wings are quite wide.
The kite feeds on carrion, reptiles, small birds and rodents.

Birds live in the steppes and mountains gray or otherwise buzzard .
It’s interesting that he only builds nests in the forest,
but it hunts in large open spaces.
Also feeds on rodents, small birds and insects

Lives in thickets of various plants near water bodies Caucasian pheasant .
This important bird does not like to fly, but moves mainly on the ground.
This bird builds its nests mainly in impassable thickets of bushes.
It feeds on berries, insects, and does not even disdain the Colorado potato beetle.

Partridges

In the steppe of the Krasnodar region there are gray partridges .
These are small birds weighing up to 500 grams that move quickly on the ground, also fly quickly and can even take off vertically, while emitting a strong chirping sound.
Partridges make nests only on the ground.

In the reservoirs of the Kuban there lives a bird called coot ,
it weighs about 800 grams, has a black color and a gray belly.
This bird has a white spot on its forehead.
Coots behave very interestingly on the water - they swim slowly, shaking their heads and twitching their tails to the beat. It turns out to be a kind of duck dance.
They can run on water, using their wings to help them do so.
Coots are migratory birds.
In the fall, they begin to fatten and are hunted.

In the meadows and swamps you can see lapwings ,
they arrive in Kuban in March and fly away in December.
Lapwings are not much larger than pigeons, they weigh about 200 grams.
The upper part of their body is dark, the bottom is white, the head is black with a green tint, and on the head there is a crest that bends towards the top.

Birds also live on lakes and ponds avocet .
This is a very beautiful bird, black and white in color, with long legs that have a bluish tint.
It feeds on small invertebrates, which it obtains with the help of its long beak.

In forests and ravines you can find eagle owl .
This is an interesting large bird, with large round eyes and a red coloration.
The eagle owl weighs 3 kilograms, its body is up to 70 centimeters long,
but the wingspan of this bird is about two meters.
Eagle owls feed on rodents, fly silently and have very sharp eyesight.

Features of the eagle owl

The eagle owl is characterized by deep and measured flapping of its wide wings.
As a rule, the eagle owl flies leisurely over the ground, looking for prey, alternating flapping flight with short gliding.
Eagle owls that live in mountains and gorges can use rising air currents and soar for a long time, describing circles in the heights, but such flight is not typical for them. If necessary, an eagle owl can fly at a speed sufficient to easily catch up with a crow.
It also has the ability to reach full speed almost instantly, from the first swing.
When sitting down to rest on a tree or ground, he holds his body upright.

In our area there is also long-eared owl.
This is not a large bird weighing up to 300 grams.
The long-eared owl feeds on rodents.
She hunts endlessly, even when she does not need food.
Having had enough, she puts the spoils in different places and never uses them again. Interesting, isn't it? Probably cares about others...

In cities, black and white people live on the rooftops yellow-bellied swifts .
These are small birds weighing only 50 grams.
They build their nests on the roofs of buildings, as well as in rock crevices.
Swifts feed only on insects

Common in forests, city parks, groves and alleys spotted woodpecker .
On his head he has a peculiar black cap with a red spot on the back of his head, white cheeks, and black stripes under his eyes. The woodpecker's belly is white with a pink tint.
This bird builds nests exclusively in tree hollows, most often in old aspen trees.
It feeds on insect larvae, which it hollows out with its own beak, and it takes them out with its sticky tongue.
The knocking sound of a woodpecker can be heard throughout the entire area.

Another fairly common bird in the Krasnodar region is the killer whale, or simply martin.
It is slightly larger in size than a sparrow, its back is black, and its belly is white.
Swallows winter in Asia or Africa.
They feed on insects and make their nests exclusively from clay.
They are usually seen sitting on electrical wires.

Pelicans nest in remote places in colonies, on islands overgrown with reeds.
Nests are made from reed stems.
Like most large birds, there are few eggs in the nest, 2 - 3 white eggs.
Pelicans are protected by law; any hunting of them is prohibited.

Our help to pelicans

It is necessary to protect the nesting sites of pelicans and not disturb them during the most difficult time for them - when laying eggs, incubating and hatching chicks.
Ornithologists recommend setting up artificial rafts made of reeds for them before the birds arrive.

Birds have given people joy throughout the centuries. And they were useful.
We still have the opportunity to preserve this wonderful natural world.
But ornithologists alone cannot do this.
Helping to save birds is our common goal.

Help the birds

An intolerant attitude towards those who destroy nature.
Caring for the natural habitat of birds
Attracting and feeding birds
Nesting device
Organization of socially significant practical affairs

July 5, 2017

Kuban is a historical and cultural region in southwestern Russia. More than three hundred species of birds live on its territory, some of them are listed in the Red Book. What species are found in this region? What birds are called Kochet in Kuban? We will try to answer these questions in this article.

Kuban region

Kuban or Krasnodar Territory is located in the North Caucasus, covering the eastern coast of the Azov and Black Seas. This is a cultural and historical area in which unique everyday and cultural features have formed.

There are even unique names for some animals here. For example, do you know what birds in the Kuban are called Kochet? Petukhov. Most likely, the word appeared in Ancient Rus' from the word kdkot, and this latter, in turn, arose as an onomatopoeic word (ko-ko-ko).

There are many natural zones within the region - from steppes to subtropical forests and alpine meadows. This diversity attracts a variety of animals. More than 80 species of mammals, about 10 amphibians, 20 reptiles and 300 species of birds live in the Kuban. You will find detailed descriptions of some species of birds in Kuban with photos below.

There are many small rivers and lakes in the region, including Abrau - the largest lake in the North Caucasus. The weather in the region is variable and varies greatly throughout the year. In spring, rivers often overflow their banks, flooding their valleys.

The climate of the Krasnodar Territory is mainly temperate continental, and subtropical in coastal areas. Part of the region is occupied by coniferous and deciduous forests. In the area of Anapa and the Taman Peninsula, steppes with estuaries predominate. In the mountains, vegetation and conditions change with altitude. Thus, the zone with deciduous and coniferous forests gradually turns into an alpine meadow with low grasses and berry bushes.

Bird resettlement in Kuban

Steppes with estuary lakes and growing cereals, rivers, lakes, dense forests - all this attracts many birds. In the northern part of Kuban, birds are represented by the families of passerines and crows, eagles and larks.

Estuaries and floodplains are a favorite place for birds. There are more than 200 species of them here. Many arrive only during the nesting period or during migration, but about a hundred species remain for the winter. Pelicans, eagles, herons, cranes, laughing gulls, lapwings, geese and waders can be found in these areas.

Seagulls, sea plover, oystercatchers, diving ducks, cormorants and petrels live on the sea coasts. Their diet is more exotic than that of the inhabitants of the estuaries. The seabirds of the Kuban can catch not only fish, but also rapans, crabs, and shrimp.

Woodpeckers, blackbirds, wood pigeons, jays, orioles, goldfinches, owls and tits live in the forests. Among the birds there are also lovers of steep cliffs, for example, rock and rock pigeons. Sparrows, swallows, and blue rollers live in open forests, low groves and floodplains.

Video on the topic

Birds of the Red Book of Kuban

Despite the large number of birds in the region, some species are quite rare, while others are completely endangered. Birds of the Kuban listed in the Red Book: ibis, white stork, demoiselle, Dalmatian pelican, avdotka, black-headed gull, white-tailed eagle, ogre, little cormorant, raven sandpiper, etc. There are 57 species in total.

Vulnerable species, the number of which decreases every year, are the pallid mockingbird, the great lentil, the great curlew, the bustard, and the Caucasian snowcock. Endangered species include golden eagles, bearded vultures, white-eyed ducks, and rare species include golden plovers and Caucasian grouse.

Of the 2,000 individual golden eagles living in Russia, there are only four pairs in the Krasnodar Territory. There are up to 7 pairs of white storks in the region, although in some periods more than a hundred of them arrive. About 40 demoiselle cranes arrive from other places, leaving only 8 pairs to nest.

The number of birds is decreasing both for natural reasons and thanks to humans. Some species disappear due to lack of food, others die at birth due to long periods of bad weather. Poaching and sport hunting, the transformation of natural areas into agricultural land and recreational areas are also a serious factor.

Pied Rock Thrush

The rock thrush is a small bird that lives in high mountain areas, as well as in the area of Gelendzhik and Novorossiysk. Female Pied Thrushes have a modest appearance and grey-brown plumage. Males are bright, with blue feathers on their heads and orange breasts.

They settle near sea cliffs, in high mountain meadows covered with grass, and in woodlands. They build their nests in rocks or ground. They are a vulnerable species. There are approximately 60 individuals of these birds left in the Kuban.

Coot

The coot represents the waterfowl of the Kuban. It is similar in size to a duck and reaches a length of forty centimeters. The bird is found in steppe regions, in the upper reaches of the Kuban River. She prefers estuaries, river valleys and slightly salty or fresh lakes. It builds nests directly in the water, in areas with shallows or in reed thickets.

The body of the coot is matte black or dark gray, with a small white spot on the head (this is where the name comes from). The bird's beak is also white, slightly compressed laterally. The legs are yellow, and the toes are long and gray, with wide webs.

In addition to the Krasnodar Territory, the coot lives in Asia, Africa, Northern and Western Europe, Australia and the nearest islands, the Mediterranean and the Far East.

Dalmatian Pelican

One of the endangered birds of Kuban. In the region, the Dalmatian pelican settles in the area of the Taman Peninsula and the Eastern Azov region. Prefers areas with floodplains and estuaries. Currently, up to 70 pairs of pelicans live in the Krasnodar Territory. Their numbers are decreasing due to capture, extermination, and water pollution.

This is a large bird with a body length of up to 180 centimeters. Its wingspan reaches 3.5 meters. A characteristic feature of a pelican is its beak. It grows up to 50 centimeters in length. The Dalmatian pelican is white in color and has feathers that curl like curls on its head and neck.

Mostly birds stay in groups. They feed exclusively on fish, so they spend a lot of time on the water. They nest in reed thickets or on small overgrown islands.

Pygmy eagle

The pygmy eagle lives in the mixed forests of coastal areas. This is a fairly common bird in Kuban. The eagle can settle in forest-steppe and steppe, and sometimes in coniferous forests. In the Krasnodar Territory, it inhabits the environs of Novorossiysk, Gelendzhik, Mezbay and Psebay.

The bird is small in size. It resembles a buzzard, but has characteristic eagle-like features. The tail of the dwarf eagle is long, the wingspan is 1.3 meters. The beak is curved and short.

There are two colors of plumage of these eagles. One is dark, brown-brown, sometimes reddish or golden. The other is light brown with a darkish bottom. The peculiarity of the birds is their large head and shaggy strong legs.

Little Bustard

Little Bustard is a rare bird that lives only in the steppe. It belongs to the bustard family. The color of the bird on top is sandy or brown with black spots, the belly is white. During the mating season, the males' plumage changes - the neck becomes black with two white stripes.

The bird's flight is unique. It appears as if it is trembling or trembling, making a whistling sound. Little bustards live in pairs and gather in flocks only before flying to their wintering grounds.

In the Kuban, the bird nests in the Novopokrovsky district and on the Taman Peninsula, and during its migration it is found on the Black Sea coast. Due to hunting and the reduction in the area of unplowed steppes, the population is rapidly declining.

Night heron

The common night heron is also called the night heron. She bears little resemblance to members of her family. Unlike other herons, its beak, legs and neck are not so long. Young birds have brown plumage. As they grow, the color changes. The sides and belly become white, and a black stripe stretches from the beak along the entire back. Several long white feathers grow on the back of the head.

The night heron settles near bodies of water with dense vegetation and in forests. It lives on all continents except Antarctica and Australia. It is not active during the day and can sit motionless for many hours. With the arrival of dusk, she “comes to life” and begins hunting frogs and fish.

Birds have always looked like creatures of a higher order in human eyes. Free, beautiful, amazing. Scientists have long studied different species of birds, trying to understand the mechanism of flight that is inaccessible to other animals except bats. Millions of years ago, birds, according to some scientists, evolved from surviving small dinosaurs. However, among them there was a prehistoric predator capable of killing a horse: a predatory bird-lizard, up to 2 meters tall with a huge head. Yes, birds also have a formidable ancestor. Now birds of prey are, of course, much smaller, but they are still able to inspire awe and admiration with their appearance and behavior. Some of them are considered dangerous even to humans and require respect.

Predators of Kuban

The Krasnodar region is famous for its mild climate and many species of animals, birds and, of course, plants feel good here. The food chain evolved over millions of years until the advent of man made its own adjustments. Many species simply disappeared forever, others were forced to adapt to new living conditions. What birds of prey live in Kuban now?

The black kite is a beautiful, noble bird that is easy to recognize even to an ignorant person; it is enough to notice it in the sky, soaring, making large circles over the chosen place. Then, after waiting a moment, it falls down like a stone and, putting out its dangerous claws, pursues its prey. The kite has large wings and a wide, long tail. This helps the bird to soar, catching the slightest air movements and not waste extra energy for flight. The kite hunts small reptiles, mice or hamsters, and other birds, and does not disdain carrion if it finds it.
Sary, also called “buzzard”, is a small predator. He lives in the forest belt of the Kuban; it is more convenient for him to build nests there, far from prying eyes. But the hunting grounds of the sarog are the steppes, because the bird looks out for rodents, insects and peaceful birds.
The heron is also considered a predator, and quite a popular one at that. Its long legs and demeanor make the bird recognizable. With its keen eyesight, the heron looks out for frogs and their tadpoles. You can see white, gray and yellow ones, as well as night herons, great and little bitterns. Herons are not permanent residents of the Kuban; they migrate seasonally.
Large eagle owls, known for their large, intelligent eyes and quiet hoots, live in the thicket of forests and large ravines. There are individuals weighing 3 kg, most often red in color. The eagle owl hunts at night; it is convenient for him to look out for unwary rodents without competition, because kites sleep at night. The eagle owl flies silently and can move very quickly if it wants. A real night killer.
The long-eared owl is a small competitor to large eagle owls; it also feeds on rodents. Moreover, it is known for its greed - the bird hunts all the time, even if it is full. Having eaten, the owl hides the prey, but then does not use the “stash”. Scientists cannot really explain the mystery of this behavior. Greed? Forgetfulness? Or caring for other predators? After all, such “stashes” can theoretically be detected by smell by other birds of prey.

The Krasnodar region is known, first of all, for its huge amount of useful resources. There is oil, gas, marble, iodine water, mercury, gravel, etc. Most of this territory is occupied by the steppe, thanks to this, fauna of the Krasnodar region diverse. There are more than 80 species of mammals, a huge number of birds, insects, fish and wild animals.

This diversity is explained by the temperate continental climate and dense vegetation. Since most animals are herbivores, they willingly settle in steppe forests, where there is a lot of food for them.

Popular animal species of the Krasnodar region: mountain bison, forest cat, otter, marten, ferret, chamois, lynx, etc. But the local steppes are also home to rare, endangered species of animals and birds, for example, bustard, bear or osprey. Today we will talk about these and other representatives of the living world.

Brown bear

Without a doubt, this is the largest and most formidable predator living here. Under favorable conditions, the animal's body weight is about 350 kg. When the animal stands on its hind legs, its body stretches to almost 2 meters. In the photo this is an animal from the Krasnodar region looks focused and thoughtful.

Zoologists believe that bears are incredibly smart. Their ability to remember and process a large amount of information is amazing. But the intelligence of wild representatives of this species is significantly inferior to their “domesticated” counterparts, who can be trained.

The brown bear is a forest predator that prefers to settle only in those forests where a large number of bushes, trees and herbs grow. It does not unite with other individuals to create a group, as it prefers to lead a solitary life.

Zoologists classify the brown bear as an omnivorous animal, however, 70% of its diet is herbs, nuts and berries. When an animal gets hungry, it can feast on a ferret, chipmunk or gopher that comes out to meet it. It does not disdain ants either. However, the brown bear's favorite food is still fresh fish. Thanks to his tenacious paws, he easily takes her out of the pond.

Mountain bison

This is a typical representative of the animal world, living in mountain and steppe areas. Bison – animal of the Red Book of the Krasnodar Territory. It is considered one of the largest European mammals.

Zoologists note the amazing adaptive ability of this large animal. By the way, it can only be found in areas elevated above sea level by more than 1500 meters.

Its body length is from 1.5 to 2.2 meters. If environmental conditions are favorable, an individual can gain weight of more than 550 kg. This large animal has very dense fur, thanks to which it manages to retain heat even at low temperatures.

Fur color is dark brown or brown. An interesting feature: the higher the air temperature, the lighter the fur of the mountain bison. This inhabitant of these regions is distinguished from others by his very massive head. Due to the long fur along the center of the lower jaw, it appears that he has a beard.

At last count, there are no more than 3,500 mountain bison left on Earth. To increase their population, many zoological services have taken measures to create protected areas for bison.

Caucasian chamois

This animal living in the Krasnodar region, incredibly shy. It is not easy for a person to examine it, since with such contact it will instantly rush into the distance. When a chamois is frightened, it makes a specific sound that is very reminiscent of a human whistle.

Caution in behavior allowed the Caucasian chamois to reach a speed of about 60 km per hour. This is an amazingly fast animal. But he doesn’t have to contact people often, because people very rarely go high into the mountains. Namely, this is where the chamois lives.

In appearance, this animal resembles a goat. These animals have similar dimensions and horns. The Caucasian chamois has small horns turned toward its back. They are much thinner than those of a mountain goat. Its weight can reach 45 kg. An interesting feature of the animal: in winter, its fur grows 1.5 times. In addition, during the cold season, it changes color.

Massive large legs help the Caucasian chamois to develop fast speed. It should be noted that the body of this animal is very slender. Chamois is a herbivore. Its diet includes young grass, tree leaves and moss. The main enemy of this animal is the wild Krasnodar predator - the brown bear. But chamois often become prey for lynx or leopard.

Leopard

List wild animals of the Krasnodar region is replenished by the leopard, the fastest and neatest animal in nature. According to many zoologists, this representative of the fauna is one of the most beautiful. But everyone knows him as an excellent runner. However, fast running is not the only advantage of this beast, confirming its mobility.

Leopards are excellent at climbing trees, even very tall ones. And these animals can easily climb onto a rock. It is not often possible to see a leopard in the water, since it, like many felines, is afraid of getting wet. The animal comes to the reservoir only if it feels very thirsty.

It is very easy to distinguish a leopard from other “cats”. Its entire body is covered with short golden fur, on which there are black spots of different diameters. During the cold season, its fur becomes thicker.

The leopard lives in dense steppes, where a large number of bushes and deciduous trees grow. This is a predatory animal whose prey includes deer, chamois, wild boars, etc. Very rarely, the leopard eats lizards. In nature, this only happens if he hasn’t come across a large animal within 24 hours. Zoologists classify the leopard as endangered animals of the Krasnodar region.

Rat

The population of rats in the wild is huge, but they are also considered pets of the Krasnodar region, just like dogs and cats. The rat is an unusually intelligent animal. To be convinced of this, it is enough to observe her behavior.

This animal is distinguished by well-developed social interaction skills. Therefore, neither in the wild nor at home, they never live alone. When a person keeps a rat in a cage, it will periodically ask to be held, as it absolutely cannot stand being alone.

A feature of this animal, like many rodents, is the regular growth of teeth. Yes, rats' teeth grow throughout their lives. Therefore, they are forced to systematically grind them off on hard surfaces.

The rat is often called a “pest” because it chews through walls, doors, cabinets and even its own cage. But, in fact, she does this not out of harm, but by the will of her instinct, because if the animal does not grind down its teeth, they will grow significantly, which will cause the inability to eat food.

By the way, speaking about the diet of the rat, it should be noted that it is practically omnivorous. The animal will enjoy fresh carrots, a piece of meat, cereal or potatoes with great pleasure. But you need to be very careful when giving human food to a rat, as this can upset their digestion. The main diet of a domestic rat should be cereal food.

Caucasian lynx

Without a doubt, the lynx is the most beautiful and graceful representative of the Krasnodar fauna. This animal is distinguished from others by its proud and confident gait. Unfortunately, it is at the stage of extinction.

In terms of speed, the lynx is significantly inferior to the leopard, but it is also very fast. If this ferocious predator has chosen prey, then the chance of escaping from it is minimal. The lynx weighs from 7 to 13 kg. This rare animal of the Krasnodar region distinguished by elongated upward ears, similar to tassels.

The Caucasian lynx is also distinguished by dense, thick red fur. Another specific feature of this species is its short tail, up to 25 cm. Lynx very rarely attacks domestic cows and sheep, but, in severe hunger, it can enter the territory of livestock.

In the wild, this predator attacks rodents, small game and birds. The beast rarely eats the entire victim, preferring to make reserves. If during the day he fails to get more food, the animal will feast on the reserves of meat. By the way, in order to completely satisfy their hunger, the Caucasian lynx needs to eat 2 kg of fresh meat.

Dudak (bustard)

The favorite habitat of this bird is pastures. If you see a bustard for the first time, you may get the impression that it is an enlarged partridge. There are indeed many visual similarities between these two birds.

The front part of this bird is painted snow-white, just like its neck. But the dorsal part is pockmarked. Bustard is omnivorous. She can feast on both herbs and insects.

This bird is popular in hunting. Since the second half of the 19th century, the shooting of bustards has increased significantly, which has led to a reduction in its species. Therefore, it was decided to classify the bustard as an endangered bird.

She has a fairly massive build. To be convinced of this, it is enough to pay attention to the long and wide neck of the bustard, as well as its extensive sternum. The weight of such a bird ranges from 7 to 15 kg. Due to its impressive size, it moves rather slowly. By the way, dudak’s feet have 3 toes.

An interesting feature: unlike many birds, the bustard almost never makes any sounds. She is silent even if she is scared. However, zoologists claim that during the mating season, the male bustard, trying to attract a female, makes a whistling sound, but it can only be heard from a very close distance.

Golden eagle

This rare bird closely resembles a hawk. She has an almost similar build and similar feather color. However, the golden eagle is not a hawk at all, but an eagle. By the way, he is the largest representative of this species.

It is almost impossible to meet a golden eagle in open areas, since it prefers to settle in areas covered by mountains and trees. This bird always avoids people. The golden eagle is one of the few birds that prefers to mate for life. In nature, this phenomenon is called “monogamy.”

Since this bird is a carnivore, its prey, in most cases, is medium-sized rodents, such as rats. It is impossible for animals to get close to the golden eagle's nest, since they build it on a hard-to-reach rocky ledge.

This species of eagle is not only the largest, but also the strongest. The golden eagle soars very gracefully, spreading its beautiful wings wide. An interesting observation: the female golden eagle is 1.5 times larger than the male. Thanks to its excellent eyesight, this predator can hunt game not only during the day, but also at night.

Weasel

Not all are predatory animals of the Krasnodar region boast impressive dimensions. For example, the weasel is one of the smallest representatives of carnivorous mammals. In these parts it is the smallest predator.

This beautiful and cute, at first glance, animal has a long neck, thanks to which it has an excellent view from any terrain. In its size and coat color, the weasel is similar to an ermine, however, these are different animals.

Each of its short limbs has very sharp claws, which the predator digs deeply into its prey. When a weasel is frightened, it, by analogy with a skunk, emits a specific unpleasant odor. This happens thanks to the glands located behind the tail.

The fur of this animal has the same density at any time of the year. But its color still depends on the season. The colder it is outside, the lighter the color of the weasel. In winter, it almost completely merges with the snow, as its fur becomes snow-white.

The weasel is a solitary animal; it rarely contacts other representatives of its species, with the exception of the breeding season. This small animal avoids densely populated areas, preferring to lead a solitary lifestyle. However, there are known cases of the formation of colonies of weasels.

Despite its short legs, this animal moves very quickly, not only on land, but also in water and even on a tree. If he chose prey, he will certainly feast on it. By the way, weasels hunt at any time of the day.

forest cat

Another representative of “cat” animals. The forest cat is very similar to the domestic cat, but it is larger and stronger. It also differs from its tamed counterpart in its expanded emotional range. Due to the large number of emotions experienced, the forest cat often makes a variety of sounds, from snorting to purring. Yes, they are noisy animals.

Today, the forest cat is listed in the Red Book as an endangered species of animals. The body of such an animal can be about 1.5 meters long, which is significantly longer than that of a domestic cat. Female forest cats are much smaller than males (up to 90 cm).

The density and length of the animal's fur varies depending on the weather. In winter it becomes longer and denser than in summer. Thanks to this, the animal almost never freezes. Like many animals of the cat family, the forest cat is most active from late evening to early morning. During the day they almost always sleep.

This large cat also differs from the domestic one in that it feels more comfortable in the water. Yes, the animal is an excellent swimmer, but this does not mean that it visits water bodies every day. The forest cat is one of the most skilled Krasnodar predators, whose food is pheasants, lizards or birds.

Dalmatian Pelican

The pelican is a migratory bird, which means it rarely stays in one place, preferring to discover new horizons. A distinctive feature of this species is its large beak and wide orange throat sac. The feather color of this bird is white.

The Dalmatian Pelican is so named because of the slightly ruffled plumage on the top of its head. This bird has a very short tail. You can often see the beautiful flight of the Dalmatian Pelican. By the way, the full span of its beautiful wings is 3.5 meters. This bird loves water very much. In the local reservoirs you can often find Dalmatian Pelicans swimming alongside their fellows. To take off while swimming, it extends its legs and pushes off strongly from the water.

It is worth noting that this beautiful large bird has a very unpleasant voice, reminiscent of a dull human grumbling. It is considered one of the flocking birds that form small colonies. However, cases of paired life of Dalmatian pelicans have been recorded in nature. An interesting feature: monogamous pelicans work together to create a nest. The female lays out the reeds and leaves in one pile, and the male brings her the “raw materials” for the nest.

Ferret dressing

This small furry animal incorporates the visual features of an ermine and a weasel: an elongated body, short legs and an elongated neck. The second name for such an animal is “steppe ferret”. Its “calling card” is its long fluffy tail, thanks to which the animal easily maneuvers on any terrain. An important requirement of a ferret for a place of residence is a low level of moisture. They do not like to climb in bushes or tall grasses. The favorite food of the steppe ferret is rodents.

The color of the animal is very interesting. On its gray-red body there are black and yellow spots of different sizes. This little predator lives in burrows. Thanks to its tenacious paws, it easily digs into the ground, breaking through long tunnels, like a mole. The weight of a ferret-bandage barely reaches 700 grams.

Raccoon

This is one of the widely distributed animals in the Krasnodar region. The raccoon is a medium-sized animal whose fur is long and very dense. Thanks to him, he does not freeze at all, even at very low temperatures.

The fur of the striped raccoon is very valuable, but many people keep it as a pet. As a pet, the raccoon has proven itself controversial. On the one hand, it is an intelligent and trainable animal that easily and quickly becomes attached to its owner, but, on the other hand, it constantly strives to wet something, steal something, or sit down.

In size, a raccoon is similar to a large cat. However, due to its long and dense fur, it appears larger. The standard weight of the animal is 7-8 kg. The striped raccoon has developed forelimbs that are very similar in shape to human ones. With their help, he is able to tenaciously hold various things, as well as wash them in water.

There are many raccoons in the Krasnodar region. They live mainly in forest areas. But the lack of food pushes the animal to search for a new habitat. This happened with the raccoon, who, in search of expanding the territory of the settlement, went to the local mountains.

Dappled deer

This is a very beautiful deer mammal, the body of which is covered with white spots of different diameters. The color of the animal's fur is light brown. The color of the dorsal coat is richer. It becomes dimmer closer to winter.

Interesting fact! In medicine, the antlers of the sika deer are of great value. They are used to make medicines used in the treatment of many ailments.

The sika deer is a herbivore that feeds on leaves, hazelnuts and acorns. There is a lot of food for this animal in the Krasnodar forests. In winter, deer often dig through the snow for a long time to find edible nuts or acorns.

Very rarely they eat fish. Usually, a deer pays attention to it if it has been thrown ashore. They are also not averse to picking up seaweed or crabs washed up on the sand. Sika deer is a favorite food of wolves. In these areas they become victims of these ferocious predators almost every day.

Wolf

This beautiful and proud animal complements the list of Krasnodar predatory animals. In terms of size, a wolf is significantly larger than a domestic dog. In addition, he is much fiercer and more aggressive. Once a hungry wolf smells a prey, it will not hide from him. They almost never attack people, because they are afraid, knowing that the person who wandered into the forest probably has a weapon.

The wolf is a pack animal. There are from 4 to 12 individuals in one group. In each pack, social roles are clearly distributed. There is a leader, according to the hierarchy, he is the first. It becomes the largest and strongest male. As the leader ages, he may be challenged by other males in the pack. The leader has the right to choose the best female.

There are known cases of “intellectual attack” by wolves on the pens of hunting dogs. The female leader (or any other female wolf in the pack) lures the dogs into her lair, from where the rest of the wolves attack them. The action is bloodthirsty, but what else can you expect from these ferocious predators?

The wolf has very sharp teeth, which it sinks deep into the flesh of its prey. They rarely hunt alone. This steppe inhabitant is protected from severe Krasnodar frosts by long and very dense fur. Because of its presence, the wolf appears larger. An interesting feature is that wolf hair is waterproof.

Since the wolf is a pack animal, it has many different sounds that convey emotions. With a peculiar howl they can warn their fellows about the presence of food nearby or about approaching danger. As for the specific wolf war cry, only the leader can give it in the pack.

The wolf's communication skills are amazing. Interestingly, each individual clearly identifies itself as a member of a specific pack. Another interesting fact about these animals: thanks to its amazing ability to adapt to the external environment, a wolf can walk several hundred kilometers, leaving its pack, but then return back without losing its way home.

Otter

Yes, in the Krasnodar region there are a large number of predators, the list of which is supplemented by the otter, a small animal of a reddish-gray color. The otter loves the sea, so it prefers to settle near it.

If you go to one of the Krasnodar reservoirs, do not be surprised to meet an otter on its shore. They are very selective regarding the territory of the village. The otter prefers only clean shores.

It is definitely not suitable for dirty, unpleasant-smelling water. Thanks to its ability to swim and dive, the otter has earned the title of “Krasnodar river predator”. However, the love of water did not turn this animal into a fish. The otter lives in a hole. Some individuals have gotten used to building their homes so that they go straight into the pond.

This river predator has a very massive body, thanks to which it easily maneuvers in the water, even in the presence of a strong current. An interesting observation is that after mating, the male otter does not leave his female. They wait together for the birth of their children, after which they raise them. Unfortunately, the otter population in Krasnodar is declining every year, which forces the authorities to make decisions aimed at restoring their numbers.

Marten

Another small predator here. The height of an average-sized marten reaches 60 cm. Its muzzle is slightly flattened to the edge. The animal also has sharp claws, allowing it to easily hold its prey. Black and brown individuals are found in the local steppes.

Zoologists note an amazing feature of the marten - developed motor skills of the forelimbs. The animal operates them at the level of a small child. Despite the nature of a predator, the marten is a cheerful animal. When a female of this species gives birth to cubs, she can play with them for hours, feigning feigned aggression.

By the way, when a marten becomes a mother, the level of its natural aggression increases. In this situation, it can even attack a person. For a female marten that has recently given birth, the instinct of self-preservation fades into the background. Her main task is to care for her offspring.

The diet of this small predator consists of bird eggs, small rodents and birds. She is a fairly bloodthirsty animal, which, before killing her victim, breaks her back. The marten also often sucks blood from its prey that has not yet died.

Grebe duck

This bird is one of the water lovers. Why was she called a toadstool? It's not about her sabotage, aggressive behavior or excessive destructive curiosity. The duck was nicknamed “toadstool” because of its tasteless meat, which is completely uncharacteristic of birds. It rather resembles fish meat, not only in taste, but also in smell.

The classification of this bird species as a duck is only partially correct. Most zoologists agree that the grebe is a separate, independent species of bird. In addition, it is significantly smaller than a standard duck.

The bird's beak is straight and yellow. On the top of its head it has a small dark-colored tuft. Brown-black plumage predominates on the body of the grebe. The reddish-yellow feathers are barely visible on her neck. Another feature of the grebe duck is its large red eyes. This species prefers to nest only in closed and shallow lakes where there is no current.

Black-headed gull

This is one of the smallest seagulls, which is distinguished from others by its slender physique. The weight of her small body barely reaches 250 grams. The black-headed gull prefers to unite with other birds similar to itself, creating large colonies.

The “calling card” of this species is the presence of 2 black spots on the ocular and parietal zones. By the way, they disappear when it gets very cold. To a greater extent, the black-headed gull is attracted to swamps. Therefore, it is on them that she prefers to nest.

An interesting feature of the species is that the black-headed gull chick matures very quickly. He leaves his mother 2 weeks after birth. This bird's diet includes berries, invertebrate animals, midges and even small rodents.

Sparrow

And everyone knows this nimble and efficient bird. It is widespread throughout Russia. Despite its fairly strong body, the sparrow is a very fast bird. In a fight for bread crumbs, he will easily win even over a pigeon.

Zoologists classify the sparrow as a sedentary bird, which, despite its fast flight, often moves on short legs. Some representatives of this species cover long distances by jumping.

The small body of the sparrow barely reaches 15 cm. Their coloring is quite variegated. We all know this bird as a speckled one, but in nature there are yellow and even olive-colored individuals. An interesting feature: the lifestyle of these birds directly depends on the person, his diet, movement and life in general. In nature, this phenomenon is called “synanthropization.” Simply put, the sparrow is one of the constant human companions.

But such close contact with a person has not only a positive side. Sparrows are one of the main agricultural pests that destroy crops. In the second half of the 20th century, China even carried out an action to destroy them. However, this did not end well for farmers, as another problem appeared in the fields - locusts. Sparrows, eating part of the crop, completely destroyed this insect. Therefore, the Chinese had no choice but to purchase these birds from other countries.

Owl

The owl is one of the most famous forest hunters. Yes, it is a bird of prey, the prey of which is often even large animals. She hunts only at night, and prefers to sleep during the day.

The owl is considered a beautiful bird, whose entire body is densely covered with large feathers that resemble down. There are a large number of species of owls, but they all have one visual feature in common - large black eyes, with which a predator looks out for its prey. The owl has excellent eyesight, thanks to which it hunts game in the dark at night.

By the way, absolutely silent flight helps her to be one of the talented predators. When an owl flies, you are unlikely to hear any sound. The absence of variegated plumage helps it to camouflage well in the environment.

The hunting feature of this beautiful bird is not only its silent flight, but also its loud cry, which is emitted in order to scare the prey before grabbing it with its sharp claws.

Swan

One of the most beautiful birds in nature, widespread not only in the Krasnodar region, but throughout Russia. Two swans swimming towards each other have always symbolized love. The two necks of this bird, connected to each other, form a heart. And this is not just like that, because the swan is one of the few monogamous birds.

Swans feed on what lies at the bottom of the reservoirs where they live. They manage to easily search the bottom in search of food with the help of their long neck. By the way, swans dive very deep. Despite the fact that these birds, symbolizing love, spend most of their time floating on the surface of the water, they have excellent flight muscles. A medium-sized swan can have a wingspan of more than 1.5 meters.

There are many varieties of swans, they differ primarily in the color of their plumage. Most often, classic white swans with a yellow beak are found in nature. But there are other types of this bird, for example, black or black-necked. Their name speaks for itself. It should be noted that the male and female swan are excellent parents. Their children do not leave the family until they are 1.5-2 years old.

Heron

The heron, like the gull, is attracted to wetlands. She gives preference only to those bodies of water where there is no current (or it is slow). The heron never swims into deep water, preferring to stay close to the shore.

It differs from other birds by its elongated body and long pink legs. By the way, the heron walks on the ground rather clumsily. Her nostrils are through, her beak is long and has a yellow-pink tint.

The heron is a flocking bird. She teams up with other individuals not only for the purpose of mating. She is often attracted by the sound of other birds, so she willingly engages in conversation with them. A heron can sit on the surface of the water for a long time, looking for something to eat.

Interestingly, in the process of hatching eggs, herons resemble penguins. Not only the female, but also her male warms the future offspring. The heron has a fairly long neck, which it retracts into itself when flying.

Pigeon

Everyone knows this large, arrogant bird, which behaves shamelessly as soon as it notices a person eating anything. A pigeon flies in, sits next to you and begins to actively beg, and it is not a fact that what you share with it will be eaten.

The weight of such a bird ranges from 300-500 grams. The male pigeon is almost 2 times larger than the female. It's interesting to watch him as he tries to get her attention. The dove pushes its powerful chest forward and inflates as much as possible, fluffing out its beautiful feathers. This makes it visually appear larger.

How to distinguish a male pigeon from a female? Very simple. To do this, you should pay attention to the color of the individual’s feathers. The first one is brighter and more variegated. In addition, the male has large dimensions, while the medium-sized female has inconspicuous, dull plumage. The pigeon is one of the most numerous birds in the world. It is distributed on almost every continent.

Jay

There are many of these beautiful feathered creatures in the Krasnodar region. The jay is distinguished by its colorful feathers. It's hard not to notice her. The jay has brown, white, black, red and even blue feathers on its body. The tail of this bird is dark and slightly oblong. There is a version that the bird got its name “jay” due to its radiant appearance. By the way, in the old days she was called “soa”.

In cinema, this species is illuminated as if it were a songbird. However, this is not entirely true. The jay makes a not very pleasant sound, rather a repulsive one. In the wild, she, like a parrot, tries to reproduce the sound she hears, and she often succeeds.

Cormorant

This is one of the widespread seabirds that can often be found on the shores of a body of water. There is a species of cormorant that lives exclusively in the swamp, but its population is small.

This representative of the animal world feeds on fish. Cormorants very deftly take live fish out of a pond and quickly swallow it. They also feed on genitals and crustaceans. Less often, the cormorant feasts on insects or shellfish.

These birds create large colonies. Cormorants nest only in pairs. To create a nest, the bird uses grass, branches of trees and bushes. The cormorant is a friendly bird; it enjoys communicating with other birds, including penguins. They have a special nictitating membrane that allows them to see clearly even deep underwater. By the way, cormorants are excellent divers.

Martin

Everyone knows the swallow as a bird that eats midges. It is capable of developing high speed in flight, while eating a huge number of midges and other small insects.

Despite its small size, it is a slender bird with an elongated tail. The swallow's wings are slightly narrowed, due to which it accelerates significantly during straight flight.

Blue, black and white swallows are found in nature. The feather color of some individuals is mixed. The bird's breast may be pockmarked. Zoologists classify the swallow as a migratory bird.

Pheasant

In intelligence, the pheasant is very similar to the domestic chicken. But it was not the lack of a sharp mind that made the pheasant a popular game for hunters. There are many pheasants in the Krasnodar Territory, the number of which, unfortunately, is regularly declining due to increased shelling.

The weight of such a bird can reach 2 kg. Its entire body, with the exception of its muzzle, is densely covered with feathers. This gives the visual impression that the pheasant is larger than it actually is. In addition to its “meat” popularity, this bird attracts attention with its long tail of a rather interesting shape.

The color of the males of this species is brighter than that of the females. In addition, the first ones have more impressive dimensions. The pheasant settles only in areas where there is an abundance of bushes. It is attracted to bodies of water, so it does not fly deep from the water. This is known to hunters who wait for pheasants near rivers and lakes.

Bittern

This bird is distinguished from others by its unusual body shape. Her head almost completely merges with her neck, which gives the impression that she does not have any of these parts of her body. In addition, when flying, the bird retracts its head.

By the way, many people like to watch the bittern fly. During this period, she spreads her wings wide and stretches her legs along her body. The bittern's favorite food is fresh fish. The bird can eat pike, crucian carp or perch. Less often she eats worms and frogs. When the bittern has chicks, it selects tadpoles for food.

A wild boar

It has been proven that domestic pigs descended from wild boars. These two animals do have many visual similarities, such as the size and size of their limbs. Zoologists classify this massive animal as a mammal.

The female boar is very aggressive during pregnancy and nursing. If she senses a threat within 100 meters of her children, she will certainly attack. By the way, the female wild boar takes great care of her cubs, regularly protecting them from other steppe animals.

Several features distinguish the wild boar from the domestic pig. Firstly, its thick and spiky fur covering its entire body. Secondly, large size. Wild boar is much larger than domestic pig. But the size of their eyes and the shape of their coin are similar.

If environmental conditions are good, wild boar can grow up to 1 meter long. The weight of such an animal will be approximately 200 kg. By the way, their arsenal of sounds is the same as that of pigs: grunting and squealing.

Yellow-bellied snake

Despite the presence of “snake” in the name of the species, it is classified as a snake. Accordingly, the yellow-bellied snake is (not) poisonous. This is one of the largest species of snakes, whose body length can reach even 2.5 meters.

But more often in nature there are smaller individuals, up to 1.5 meters long. The animal received this name because of the yellow color of the front part of the body. But its “back” is painted gray.

This creeping animal lives exclusively in areas with a lot of grass and bushes. This kind of thing can be found in swamps. However, if he notices a person or a forest predator nearby, he will quickly disappear into the thickets.

Despite the fear that the yellow belly experiences in front of humans, it often crawls into the territory of his settlement. Typically, females do this to lay eggs. This animal behavior is called “instinctive.” The yellow-bellied snake understands that due to the sharp change in temperature in the steppe area, its offspring will not survive, so it leaves them in a warmer place.

Brown hare

This animal is widespread not only in the Krasnodar region, but also in other Russian forest zones. The animal is distinguished by its large dimensions and incredible mobility. Despite its great popularity among hunters, the brown hare population is not decreasing. The reason is the good fertility of females and rapid reproduction.

Based on the name of the species, it is clear that its fur is light brown in color. But in winter it becomes darker. The hare is often hunted by steppe predators, such as the wolf. Living in an open area makes it easier for the wolf to find and kill the hare.

Many farmers call this animal a pest, since if it comes to the field, it will destroy a significant smell of the crop. These animals do not travel long distances from their place of residence. They feed exclusively on plant foods.

Bat

The most famous vampire among animals is the bat. This winged animal cannot tolerate light at all, so it prefers to settle in dark, rocky or mountainous areas. The bat is a school animal. It teams up with other individuals, creating numerous groups.

Its diet is dominated by insects. Zoologists identify some species of bat that eat lizards and even fish. As for blood-sucking individuals, you can’t find them in the Krasnodar region.

They are found only in South America. Such bats attack small rodents and birds, drinking their blood. Also in nature there are exclusively herbivorous bats that eat berries, nuts and fruits.

The period of activity for these animals occurs at night. During the day, they almost always sleep, clinging to a rock ledge with their paws and hanging upside down. Less commonly, bats roost in tree hollows.

Common squirrel

The common squirrel is widespread throughout the entire territory of this region. This is one of the largest rodents in nature. The animal settles in trees, moving freely through them. By the way, the role of the steering wheel in the “wooden maneuvering” for the squirrel is played by its magnificent long tail.

The coat color of this species is gray-red. In the warm season, it becomes brighter. The squirrel is an amazingly prudent animal. In preparation for winter, she stocks up on food, knowing that it will be impossible to find it under the snow.

The squirrel collects nuts, cones, grains and some roots. There are known cases of squirrel suicide. Usually, an individual is driven to suicide by theft of winter supplies. The animal understands that it cannot survive the cold winter without food, so it prefers to die before it comes.

The squirrel is classified as a sedentary forest animal. She leads a solitary lifestyle, preferring to avoid not only her fellow creatures, but also other steppe inhabitants. However, the lack of food pushes the squirrel to search for new territories to live. In this case, she begins to wander.

Jackal

The jackal is one of the representatives of canine mammals. In size, it is slightly smaller than a wolf, but larger than a dog, that is, an intermediate animal between these two canines.

If you have never seen a jackal before, you can easily confuse it with a wolf. Its weight is approximately 8 kg. In terms of the shape of its muzzle, the animal resembles more a fox than a dog. It is elongated and slightly flattened. In the Krasnodar region there are gray, red and yellowish jackals.

It is interesting that in the cold season, the animal’s fur becomes thicker, moreover, it grows 2 times. The reason for this is insulation. The opinion that the jackal feeds exclusively on animal food is erroneous. This is an omnivorous animal whose diet includes waterfowl, berries, snails, etc.

The jackal is an intelligent animal that teams up with other individuals. He hunts with his flock. This is not only an intelligent, but also a very cunning animal. There are known cases when a jackal silently sneaked up to a bird and grabbed it by the tail before it was about to fly away.

Hedgehog

A small animal that eats insects and has long spines on its back is a hedgehog. On its dorsal part there is a tail, the average length of which is 15 cm. The shell of these animals is spiny.

The main feature of this animal is not the presence of needles on its back, but its sweat and sebaceous glands. The hedgehog is one of the few representatives of the animal world that can boast of them. However, its skin is very dense.

In the Krasnodar region, the hedgehog lives in the steppes. He is practically omnivorous. A hedgehog can eat lizards, bird eggs, insects and even carrion. In the wild they live up to 12 years. By the way, zoologists identify certain types of hedgehogs that not only move quickly on the ground, but also swim in rivers.

Fox

Today, foxes are rarely seen in the Krasnodar region. The reason is the increasing frequency of hunting for her. Poachers value, first of all, the fur of this beautiful animal. Fur coats, sheepskin coats and hats are made from fox hair. Such products cost a lot of money.

This animal, like the jackal, is classified by zoologists as canines. Almost the entire body of foxes is covered with red hair, but the chest part is white. On the top of the animal’s head there are 2 ears splayed out in different directions. The fox constantly moves them so as not to lose vigilance.

This animal has a long and very bushy red tail. Like all canids, the fox's body has an oblong shape. She is one of the local hunters. It is worth noting that in the Krasnodar region there are not only red foxes, but also grayish foxes.

Mole

This small animal, like the hedgehog, is an insectivore. The mole is known for his blindness. But is it? No, among moles there is only one species that really does not see anything, but, in most cases, these animals have vision. However, it is very bad. The reason is a fold of skin that protects the eyes from dirt getting into them.

To dig a hole, a mole uses its paws. They are small, but quite mobile. Under the ground, this agile animal digs entire tunnels. The mole's tactile sensitivity is the result of the presence of small tail hairs.

Few people know, but the mole is a predatory animal with sharp fangs in its mouth. By the way, he has 44 teeth. Despite poor eyesight and hearing, the mole has an excellent sense of smell, allowing it to easily track prey. The animal feeds on slugs, worms and frogs.

Muskrat

In appearance and size, the muskrat resembles a huge rat. However, what distinguishes it from this smart animal is its love for water. The animal's physique is perfectly adapted to a long stay in a body of water.

Muskrat fur is very coarse, even prickly. However, its undercoat, on the contrary, is very delicate. The animal is colored brown or black. In winter, the shade of the muskrat's fur becomes darker.

Thanks to its very dense fur, this rodent does not freeze at all even if it is in a cool pond for a long time. The muskrat is incredibly clean. She licks her fur several times a day, and sometimes even lubricates it with fat. She likes to swim in bodies of water with lots of algae, water lilies and other flora.

The muskrat is a “family” animal. She creates a couple, so she does not lead a solitary lifestyle. It’s interesting, but such animals have their own feeding areas, where they do not allow other individuals.