David Element
Wildlife
Photography and Digital Video Images
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Mammals
44 – Red Foxes
RED FOX Vulpes vulpes
(m, f)
RED FOX Vulpes vulpes
(m, f)
RED FOXES Vulpes vulpes
(m, f)
RED FOXES Vulpes vulpes
(m, f)
RED FOX Vulpes vulpes
(m)
RED FOX Vulpes vulpes
(f)
RED FOXES Vulpes vulpes
(m)
RED FOXES Vulpes vulpes
(m)
RED FOX Vulpes vulpes
(m)
RED FOXES Vulpes vulpes
(f, m)
RED FOX Vulpes vulpes
(m)
RED FOX Vulpes vulpes
(m)
RED FOXES Vulpes vulpes
(f, m)
RED FOX Vulpes vulpes
(m)
RED FOXES Vulpes vulpes
(m, f)
RED FOX Vulpes vulpes
(m)
RED FOX Vulpes vulpes
(m)
RED FOXES Vulpes vulpes (m) RED FOXES Vulpes vulpes (m)
RED FOXES Vulpes vulpes
(m)
RED FOXES Vulpes vulpes
(m) RED FOXES Vulpes
vulpes (m)
·
These photographs illustrate a Red Fox Vulpes vulpes vixen and two of her cubs, aged
about 7 weeks at the beginning of the sequence and 8-9 weeks by the end. At
this stage of their development they were entirely nocturnal in their habits. These
were two males, at the time the survivors from a litter of at least four. A
third cub was seen only twice and then only very briefly, so it is presumed to
have been abandoned or died. The family had been moved to the author’s garden by
their mother (a regular visitor for more than a year beforehand) in early April
2020 (so during ‘lockdown’) and sadly attention was drawn to their presence by
the discovery of another abandoned male cub that died on the same day despite
efforts to save him. It is not known if the move had been stimulated by
disturbance elsewhere or if any additional members of the family had been lost
prior to their arrival but the abandonment of the cub would have been a
deliberate action by his mother as she could not have afforded to waste her
energy looking after a sickly baby with little chance of survival. Vixens are
excellent, extremely put upon and tolerant mothers, and they can lose a
significant amount of their body weight when caring for their families – but
sentimentality is a human trait, not transferrable and foxes cannot afford to
display it. The vixen knew and trusted the author and remained with her cubs
behind a garden shed until they had grown sufficiently for her to be able to
leave them behind in safety during her hunting forays. Competition between cubs
is a serious affair and only the strongest are likely to survive. In the case
of this family the smaller of these cubs, the one with an obvious white tip to
his tail, was presumed to have been injured internally during highly
competitive play-fights and despite the availability of food and water he
eventually succumbed at the age of sixteen weeks, by which time he was
approximately half the weight of his sibling. The dominant cub has survived, having
honed his hunting skills in the skirmishes with his unfortunate brother (a
willing and enthusiastic competitor), and he is extremely healthy and very well
equipped to look after himself. It is a sad fact of life that most Red Foxes
lead short lives (averaging perhaps 14-15 months in urban habitats). This is
contributed to by high cub mortality and the author’s personal observations
revealed that play-fighting may perhaps contribute significantly to the loss of
weaker cubs as they will be treated like prey if unable to defend themselves. Vixens
can breed during their first year at the age of about ten months (although not
all will do so, particularly if they form part of a family group as only the
dominant female will normally produce cubs). If each pregnancy produces 4-5
cubs, then high mortality is to be expected if the population balance (where
two parents will replace themselves) is to be maintained. Many vixens will only
live for long enough to reproduce once but there are exceptions. The vixen
shown in these photographed had produced an unseen family during the previous
year and at the time of writing she is at least two and a half years old and in
much better condition than she was when nursing her family. Another vixen
visiting regularly has lived to at least five and a half and the cubs’ father
may be of a similar age.
·
David’s films of Red Foxes in action may be seen here, with further
material waiting to be edited: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4AirIEc0Noe0MUItMCsgolXpQ0sr_Vx9 .
- David has published three books illustrating
the development of the dominant Red Fox cub from the age of 6-7 weeks until 10 months,
shortly before he departed to establish a territory of his own. Two are
large scale, lay flat publications printed on high quality photographic
paper and the third is a small softcover (and more affordable) selection
of photographs covering the earlier stages of their development. These
books may be previewed in full on-line by using this link: https://www.bobbooks.co.uk/bookshop/search/1/15/45089 .
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