Night Out Shooting Cubs...

[neil cooney 10,415]

You could be right Neil. Could the same vixen have had one litter straight after another and kept the lot together? Or is that a last years cub that has stayed with her throughout? I don't know.

The vixen is the pic on my avatar, like you say she was very bedraggled and knackered looking.

Just like FatMans example there I'd say it's two litters with a few weeks age difference.

If you're only seeing one adult at a time the other adults might just be leaving the food nearby and one vixen is bringing it to the cubs. It's taken a helluva lot of food to rear seven cubs to look as healthy as those in your pics.

I was always of the school of thought that if you found small cubs in late Summer that it was a second litter from a vixen but when I said it on here a few fellows disagreed with me and reckon it's just a late litter but still the only litter that vixen has that year.

In hindsight, they're probably right.

[Robbusher 1,560]

I've seen in one spot near me two very different aged litters but only one vixen comeing in to them u could defo tell it was same one as she had a bob tail I always thought it was same dog fox had fathered with two vixens

[mackem 23,733]

Loads of cubs round at the moment,seen one squashed last week and a couple on the edge of a playing field.Always see fox at the local allotments in daylight.

 

[neil cooney 10,415]

 

Oh, OK, well observed on your part.

I've never heard of 7 in a litter and am thinking of two litters.

In the photo of one chasing the other it looks like a larger cub chasing a young one.

I know someone said it's a vixen but that's no vixen that's reared 7 cubs IMO.

 

There's been a few litters up this way with 11 Cubs this season,generally it's 8/9 Cubs in a litter

 

11 in one litter ?

That's unreal and there has to be a serious food source to rear that lot.

[neil cooney 10,415]

I would have thought anything over 6 or 7 was impossible with the Red Fox when the average litter is 4 with 5 regarded as a large litter in most places.

Usually when a wild animal has large litters it's because infant mortality is high.

Tell me, have you ever dug a Vixen and she with a large litter that's only a few days old ?

[rob284 1,678]

Id say 3-5 is the norm local to me. 11 is impressive.

[dillydog 8,416]

I've opened a heavy vixen up that had 11 inside her, I've had a nine once to. Dug and shot , I was just curious what was inside them, I couldn't say they'd of all made it to adulthood.

[neil cooney 10,415]

Well this has opened my eyes and no need for photos. I'll always believe an honest lad.

I hope that not a trend that's spreading as this year it's been hard catching up with call outs.

 

I've done the same myself a few times DD, just out of curiosity.

[neil cooney 10,415]

While on the subject, there's a documentary on SKY 1 at 9 on the dog family and tonight it's covering the foxes and wolves of North America so they'll have to cover the Red Fox.

Last weeks show was very good.

[cragman 2,635]

Neil, we dug a vixen a few years ago in February and she had 7 inside her. They might not all have survived to birth or after but they were all there. We did a double take when the keeper told us ?

[howdeeposxxt 1,448]

Over the years Ive dug cubs with 6 and 7 maybe more in a litter. That's all I can say it has been done more than once also. It could be down to area or maybe just like bitches some have bigger litters than others. I don't know the science behind it but it sure has happened. I do think it would be a great achievement if the vixen reared all to adulthood. The weak will die and the stronger live that's how nature would have it.

[resistance 189]

Opened a vixen with 8. Not looking uncommon! Used to only see litters a 4 max as a nipper maself !

[Rabbit Hunter 6,608]

I assumed they'd be like a dog, where 6-8 would be commonplace.

[pablo esc 1,598]

Most I've ever seen is about 6 , that's in the ground and on the lamp

[foxdropper 17,092]

Cubs are well grown here .Be hard pushed to tell them apart at a glance ,only the sleek look and fresh coat .Ive never dug or seen litters bigger than 5 here . Its a sad fact that wherever we dig them they have to be dealt with not like days gone by when hunt would take them. I only dig cubs on call outs and has to be said me and the dogs are shit at it lol,it's only ever half hearted and dogs a bit on the big side for that crack.

Roll on the season ,can't wait.