Foxes use the Earth's magnetic field like a targeting system to hunt prey hidden under deep snow.

A groundbreaking study published in 2011 by researcher Jaroslav Červený and his team at the Czech University of Life Sciences first documented this phenomenon. After observing 84 red foxes over two years and recording nearly 600 pounces, they discovered a striking directional bias. The researchers found that foxes were significantly more successful when pouncing in a north-northeasterly direction, regardless of the time of day or weather conditions.Scientists believe foxes possess magnetoreception, possibly through a protein called cryptochrome in their eyes. This protein allows them to 'see' the Earth's magnetic field as a ring of shadow or light superimposed on their vision. By aligning the sound of a rustling rodent with this magnetic shadow, the fox can determine the exact distance to the target. This creates a consistent 'rangefinder' effect that tells the fox exactly when to leap.This behavior is most critical during winter when prey like voles are buried under deep snow. Without the ability to see the target, the fox relies on its ears to find the horizontal angle and its magnetic sense to calculate the vertical distance. The 75% success rate in the magnetic north-east direction is nearly four times higher than the 18% success rate observed in other orientations. This discovery makes the red fox the first large carnivore known to use the Earth's magnetic field for hunting rather than just navigation.