I just wanted to share with you a special moment we recently experienced at our home. We happen to have a fox den on the grounds and just the other day, a mother fox decided to come out & reveal herself along with her kits. It was so heartwarming to see the playful cubs in action and their mother keeping a close, watchful eye on them. Enjoy this little album of their afternoon on our lawn.
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A baby being cleaned by mother.
The triplets being rambunctious.
The mother was biting them on the neck from time to time; essentially a lesson on how to hunt.
This little kit also wanted to be cleaned.
He rolled onto his back while she nibbled.
More nibbling behind the ear. In a few months,
the kits will be much bigger & their coats will turn
a brighter red. They reach their adult size by
six to seven months.
The cub in the foreground was crouching and ready
to pounce. The kits are roughly one to two months old.
This American red fox is such a beautiful mother
and very protective of her litter. We often see
her hunting very early in the morning.
The home of this little family is on a hill that is heavily covered with shrubs and trees. Red foxes are omnivores and can adapt to their surroundings quite easily. They are known for eating a variety of birds, game, rodents and even fruits & plant material; early morning or late in the evening is when they typically hunt for food. Foxes will live up to 4 years in the wild and can weigh up to 24 pounds. Although they are considered pests by many, here at our house they are respected and left alone.
These pictures are awesome! You're so lucky to live where you can be so close to nature!
ReplyDeleteThank you Ashley! We are very fortunate to live here. I think it's made me a better person & has given me perspective. Standing not more than 20 feet from the fox & her cubs was quite moving for me.
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