The fauna of the Urals is rich and varied. It is based on typical representatives of the forest of the Central Russian strip - hares, bears, wolves, foxes, wild boars. But also there are found their own, unique species.
Roe deer is the smallest deer
This adorable animal with large eyes and soft fur is only a meter in height. The roe deer lives both in the plains and in the mountainous regions of the Urals, feeding on grass, shrub shoots, leaves, and moss. Roe deer have long been the subject of hunting - they were killed for the sake of soft skin and meat. Roe deer were also let down by congenital poor eyesight - often they simply did not see the lurking person with a gun. Now the animal is listed in the Red Book. On the territory of the entire Sverdlovsk region, only about 2000 individuals live.
Hare
This long-eared member of the hare family is found everywhere in the Urals. The Rusak is one of the largest hares - it reaches more than half a meter in length and can weigh up to 6 kg. The name of this species of hares was given by its skin - light blond, ocher wool makes the animal invisible in the steppe. Rusaks live close to human dwellings and can cause considerable damage to the economy.
The brown hare can reach speeds of up to 60 km / h.
Korsak - Ural fox
The Ural fox, corsac, is very similar to the common fox, but has a lighter color. Also korsak is smaller - only half a meter in length. In winter, these animals are covered with thick long fur; in summer, the fur coat is replaced by a shorter one. Like all foxes, Corsacs are very curious. They are able to let a person very close to them, but at the first opportunity they pretend to be dead.
The Korsaks were heavily exterminated because of their luxurious winter hide. Now the species is listed in the Red Book.
Ungulate lemming is a funny rodent
Most of all, lemmings look like tiny, well-fed mice. Rodents reach a size of only 12-15 cm, and their weight is about 60 g. Lemmings are found in the very north of the mountains, in the region of the Polar Urals. Thanks to their dense fur, the animals withstand the lowest temperatures, and they live at an altitude of up to 900 m above sea level.
Lemmings have become famous for their unusual behavior - sometimes whole groups of these animals suddenly migrate to the sea, where they plunge into the water right from the rocks. Scientists have not yet found an explanation for this phenomenon.
Wolverine
The Ural wolverine is a relatively small predatory animal, a relative of the marten. The wolverine is the only member of its kind. In her appearance, you can see canine, feline, badger and even bearish features. The animal feeds on birds, rodents, and sometimes white hares. The wolverine does not hesitate to pick up the remains of the prey of other predators. Despite the outwardly awkward appearance, this animal is very agile and quickly catches prey.
