A Year of Environmental Lunacy – By Paula Owens
Moon cycle: New Moon 30th December 2024
Full Moon 13th January 2025
New Moon 29th January 2025
Wolf Moon
The first lunar cycle of the year in the northern hemisphere has been traditionally known by some cultures as the Wolf Moon. During the long, dark winter months when food was scarce, wolves were likely to have been heard howling to each other more frequently. Additionally, this time of year also coincides with the start of the breeding season, so wolves were also heard calling out for a mate.
However, while wolves can still be found in the wild in parts of north America, and in mainland Europe, the entire wolf population of the British Isles was exterminated by about 1760 following centuries of persecution and hunting. It is unlikely then that we will hear the haunting cries of this iconic predator in our local area in the UK.
Fox Moon
However, there is a piercing scream that you might hear on a cold January night, whether you be a country or city dweller. I heard this sound myself close to the January full Moon last year and it sent a shiver through me: it is the sound of a fox, a vixen or female fox to be precise, as a dog fox makes more of a low, barking sound. While you might hear foxes screaming and barking throughout the year, you are far more likely to hear this sound during January as it is peak mating season for foxes. The vixen screams to let the dog fox know that she is about and looking for a mate.
So, I propose that the January full Moon is known as the Vixen or Fox Moon. The fox is related to the wolf and has become one of Britain’s most iconic species. The Red Fox has adapted to live in urban and rural environments and to eat a varied diet that includes birds and beetles, rabbits and rats, fruits and berries, as well as left over and scrap food, particularly in urban environments. It is a survivor despite continued persecution by some people.
Noticing Foxes
The cubs are born about March and emerge from their den (or earth) underground, in late spring. If you are lucky enough to have foxes near you, they might even wander into your garden with their young at this time. They are fully grown at about seven months and sadly only live for about three years, as many are killed in road traffic accidents.
While your best opportunity to see foxes might be in an urban environment, where they are more accustomed to people, you might notice signs of foxes in the countryside by looking out for their poo. A fox poo, known as scat, is often left on footpaths and close to molehills and rocks. The scat is dark or black with a twist at one end and will contain remains of the fox’s food, such as fur and bones. Although foxes hunt mainly at night, they can often be seen during the daytime too, particularly at dawn and dusk – the term for this behaviour is crepuscular.
I once stood silently watching a fox in winter as it patiently stood still above the ground and listened for several minutes for before pouncing and digging, perhaps seeking mice. There is even some research that suggests foxes align themselves with the Earth’s magnetic field when they hunt like this, it’s made me want to find and observe foxes even more! Only a few nights ago, returning home at dusk, I saw the tell -tale sign of a bushy tail disappear into shrub and thicket at the edge of our road. They are out there!
What’s happening where you are?
At this time of year, you are also likely to see bright yellow Aconites appear and notice Barn Owls hunting more during the day. Take time to look for and notice humble mosses, these flourish in damp conditions and are more visible in the winter months, while the tuneful notes of birds that sing all year round, such as the tiny Wren, or the Robin, may be more apparent at this relatively quiet time. What’s happening where you live?
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Activity Ideas related to Foxes
Foxy facts
Have any children seen a fox? Have they heard a fox scream? What do they know about them? Create a class fact file and spot any sightings on a map. Ask friends and family too.
Foxy Words
Children read ‘I am Fox’ from the book the Lost Spells by Rob Macfarlane and Jackie Morris, out of doors. Ask children to imagine that they can ‘conjure’ the animal to appear through the power of words.
Des Res
Children investigate and consider the attractiveness of their school grounds to foxes. Foxes are a top predator so one way to attract them would be to ensure a healthy and diverse wildlife population – what needs to be improved to make this happen? Messy spaces attract wildlife, so leaving piles of leaf litter for example, will encourage a healthy soil and attract earthworms which are a valuable part of a fox’s diet.
Rewilding debate
What do children think about Wolves being hunted to extinction? There is talk of trying to reintroduce some species – we call this ‘rewilding’ – and pupils could research more about this. Successful attempts to reintroduce Beaver, and White-Tailed Eagles in England have happened over the past few years. Now there is talk of reintroducing Lynx into the UK. Investigate the pros and cons and set up a debate.
General Activity Ideas
Camera Spy
Invest in a night wildlife trail camera and set it up in the school grounds overnight to see if you have any might time visitors. What other nighttime creatures visit? This could be a good way to document an unfolding year of wildlife around your school.
Colour Palette
Notice and record different colours you can find in your local area each month, either by using and matching colour swatches, sketching with crayons, or by collecting images digitally with a camera. Keep a colour palette for each lunar cycle and compare.
Wildlife audit
What other wildlife can you spot at this time of year? Look out for tracks and other evidence. Keep a daily diary and have a rota of paired observation – either outside during lunch break, or quietly watching from a classroom window. Pupils could even build an outdoor hide. Conduct a nature audit of your school grounds, photograph and map your favourite spots.
Sound Maps
What other natural sounds might you hear at different times of the day? Take a compass outside and orient yourself facing north. Listen carefully and ask pupils to map the sounds they hear and the direction they come from. Can they identify different birdsong? Download the Merlin App and record birdsong – it will tell you what bird you are listening to.
Moon Glossary [Link to file]
Useful websites
Disappearance of Wolves https://ukwct.org.uk/files/disappearance.pdf
Discover Fox Behaviour https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/mammals/understand-fox-behaviour
Foxes use the Earth’s Magnetic Field https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/foxes-use-the-earths-magnetic-field-as-a-targeting-system
Nature’s calendar January https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/natures-calendar/natures-calendar-january
Top ten wildlife to spot in January https://www.bbowt.org.uk/blog/pete-hughes/our-top-10-wildlife-sightings-january
Secret life of urban foxes https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/the-secret-life-of-urban-foxes.html
What do Foxes eat? https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2019/08/what-foxes-eat/
Reference
Macfarlane, R and Morris, J. (2020) The Lost Spells UK Hamish Hamilton. Penguin Random House
Geographical Lunacy: Moon Glossary
Apogee the point in an object’s orbit farthest away from the centre of Earth, or a planet.
Black Moon the second of two New Moons in the same calendar month
Blood Moon a total lunar eclipse is sometimes called a Blood Moon because when fully eclipsed, the Full Moon takes on a red tinge. The term is also frequently used to describe four total lunar eclipses that occur in a row. Find out more here.
Blue Moon a seasonal Blue Moon is the third Full Moon of an astronomical season that has four Full Moons. A monthly Blue Moon is the second Full Moon in a calendar month with two Full Moons.
Ebb tide the change from high to low tide
Eclipse a total lunar eclipse takes place when the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon and its shadow covers the Moon. The Moon appears to turn red when the eclipse reaches totality. A ‘Blood Moon’. [Next Total Lunar Eclipse: Fri, 14 Mar 2025 03:57:28]
Flood tide the change from low to high tide
Full Moon when the Sun and the Moon are aligned on opposite sides of Earth, and 100% of the Moon’s face is illuminated by the Sun
Gibbous Moon the oval-to-round shape of the Moon
Harvest Moon the Full Moon closest to the September equinox is called the Harvest Moon.
Lunar Day the time it takes Earth to reach the same position in relation to the Moon, on average, 24 hours and 50 minutes
Micromoon when a Full Moon or a New Moon coincides with apogee.
Moonbow similar to rainbows, they are created by moonlight instead of direct sunlight.
Neap Tide seven days after a spring tide—refers to a period of moderate tides when the sun and moon are at right angles to each other
New Moon when the Sun and Moon are aligned, with the Sun and Earth on opposite sides of the Moon.
Spring Tide also known as King Tide, these happen during Full Moon and New Moon phases, the Moon and the Sun’s gravitational forces combine to pull the ocean’s water in the same direction – the ‘springing forth’ of the tide. They happen twice a lunar month.
Tidal range technical term for the difference in water level between high tide and low tide
Supermoon when the Full Moon or New Moon occurs near the Moon’s closest approach to Earth, its perigee.
Waning Crescent Moon waning means shrinking and getting smaller, crescent refers to the curved sickle shape.
Waxing Crescent Moon waxing means growing larger.