Jackals - Facts for Kids

Black-backed jackals live mostly in open areas but use scattered bushes, rocks, or burrows for shelter.

Some jackals live near people (villages or farms) and eat rodents and pests, helping control them.

Side-striped jackals usually live in wetter places with more plants than other jackals. They like moist woodlands, bushlands, marshes, and even mountainous areas instead of the wide open dry plains.

Jackals often make and reuse trails through their territory, like little highways, so it’s easier for them to move around safely and quickly.

A jackal family usually has more than one den in their territory, and they will use different dens at different times (especially during the pup-raising season).

Jackals often dig or use burrows about 0.5 to 1 meter (roughly 1.5 to 3 feet) deep for shelter or dens.

In Hungary, golden jackals expanded their occupied area by about 85,000 km² from 1995 to 2021.

Jackals frequently trail bigger predators so they can eat bits left behind from their kills.

Jackals can survive without drinking water for periods by getting moisture from their food and other sources.

Jackals use different hunting techniques in different habitats!

Golden jackals have been known to cross large water bodies to reach new territories!

Life Cycle

Jackal pups are born blind and helpless, and weigh about 200–250 grams (roughly 7–9 ounces) at birth.

Mother jackals usually have 2 to 4 pups in a litter, but they can have up to 6 or even 9!

Jackal pups are born with their eyes closed and start to open them after about 8 to 11 days.

Jackal pups begin eating solid food at about three months of age. Before that, they are gradually introduced to meat that is regurgitated by their parents. The pups are usually fully weaned from their mother’s milk around 8 weeks old.

Jackal pups start joining their parents on food hunts when they’re about 3 to 4 months old, and by 6 months, they’re learning to hunt on their own!

Jackal pups stay in their den for the first three weeks of life, being cared for by their mom while dad and older siblings bring them food.

Both parent jackals take turns bringing food to their pups!

Young jackals reach adult size by about 6–8 months of age!

Female jackals typically have their first litter when they’re about 2 years old, even though they’re physically capable of reproducing earlier!

Jackal pups learn to howl when they’re about 2–3 months old!

Parent jackals teach their pups about territory boundaries through regular patrols!

Mother jackals can move their pups to a new den if the current one becomes unsafe!

Some jackals leave their parents at 11 months.

Jackal mothers can produce milk for up to 8–10 weeks after giving birth!

Young jackals help their parents defend territory boundaries before leaving to start their own families!

Diet & Feeding

Jackals eat from a menu of more than 100 different kinds of foods — small mammals, birds, insects, fruits, plants, fish, carrion, and lots of other things.

Jackals sometimes bury extra meat or leftovers to save for later — kind of like making a food stash for another day!

Golden jackals often hunt alone, but sometimes two jackals team up to catch bigger prey together.

Jackals help clean the environment by eating carrion (dead animals)!

Conservation & Population

Black-backed jackals are listed as “Least Concern” by conservation experts!

Side-striped jackals face threats from habitat loss and hunting!

Golden jackals are actually increasing their range in Europe!