Advertisement

natureNature
clockPUBLISHED

Chernobyl Fox Makes A Bacon Sandwich

author

Stephen Luntz

Stephen has a science degree with a major in physics, an arts degree with majors in English Literature and History and Philosophy of Science and a Graduate Diploma in Science Communication.

Freelance Writer

28 Chernobyl Fox Makes A Bacon Sandwich
Radio Free Europe. A fox has achieved internet fame by constructing a super-sandwich

In science fiction exposure to radiation often gives characters superpowers. But that's ridiculous, right? All that too much radiation will give you is cancer or, for the really high exposures, acute radiation syndrome.

Someone had better tell this fox. Because growing up in the Chernobyl exclusion zone appears to have made it smart, even by the standards of the notoriously canny Vulpes vulpes.

Advertisement

 

 

Besides its capacity to pile bread and bacon together to make a seriously impressive sandwich, the fox shows little fear of humans. Most commentators have assumed that this is a consequence of living in the area humans have largely evacuated since the nuclear reactor exploded 29 years ago. It's also possible, however, that food in the zone is in such short supply that the fox was hungry enough to overcome its normal fear response.

On the surface animal life is thriving around Chernobyl, but species are experiencing contradictory and poorly understood effects on their health. With ecosystems failing the fox may be finding food in short supply.


ARTICLE POSTED IN

natureNature
FOLLOW ONNEWSGoogele News