Scent-rolling Behaviour of Japanese Red Foxes at the Winter Den Site of Japanese Raccoon Dogs #2

A Japanese red fox (Vulpes vulpes japonica, family Canidae) repeatedly visiting the winter den site of Japanese raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes viverrinus, family Canidae) at the fallow field. The fox sniffed at three burrow entrances one by one but it didn’t dare to intrude inside. Eventually, the fox performed the scent-rolling behaviour at the right bottom of angle of view. I imagined that the Japanese raccoon dogs often left pee-marking there (at the edge of a secondary forest). And the fox seemed to be so fond of the smell of neighbours’ urine/faeces, it tried to wear the perfume on its own fur. I wonder if it could be a smart foxy strategy of chemical (odorous) camouflage before a surprise attack or violent take-over of the den. Captured with my new trailcam at night of early- and mid-December 2024 in Japan. For a full story (text in Japanese); https://sigma-nature-vlog.blogspot.com/2026/02/blog-post_25.html 0:00 5 Dec 0:03 10 Dec 1:37 11 Dec