David Element
Wildlife
Photography and Digital Video Images
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Mammals
46 – Red Foxes
RED FOX Vulpes vulpes
(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
(f, m)
RED FOXES Vulpes vulpes
(f, m)
RED FOXES Vulpes vulpes
(f, m)
RED FOXES Vulpes vulpes
(f, m)
RED FOXES Vulpes vulpes
(f, m)
RED FOXES Vulpes vulpes
(f, m)
RED FOXES Vulpes vulpes
(f, m)
RED FOXES Vulpes vulpes
(f, m)
RED FOXES Vulpes vulpes
(f, m)
RED FOXES Vulpes vulpes (f, m)
RED FOXES Vulpes vulpes
(m)
RED FOX Vulpes vulpes
(m)
RED FOX Vulpes vulpes
(m)
- These photographs illustrate a Red Fox Vulpes
vulpes vixen and two dog fox cubs, aged about 9 weeks
when these photographs were taken. At this stage of their development they
were entirely nocturnal in their habits. Most of this collection
illustrates the vixen feeding her cubs, something that the author had
always wanted to see, and an observation hugely enhanced by the fact that
this behaviour took place with the vixen being well aware that she was
being watched from a short distance away and illustrating her trust. Dominant
cubs will usually demand the best and most productive feeding positions
and their long-suffering mothers are remarkably tolerant of their
pin-sharp little milk teeth! The tennis ball was a favourite toy – it
would be chased but never retrieved! The family had been deliberately moved
to the author’s garden by their mother (a regular visitor for more than a
year beforehand) in early April 2020 when they were about 6-7 weeks old
and during ‘lockdown’ for Covid-19. A marvellous distraction indeed! The competition
between cubs is a serious affair and only the strongest are likely to
survive. In the case of this family the smaller and paler 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 this very pretty little animal 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 mother of
these cubs 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.
- 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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