Those of you who have followed my photography for any length of time know well my enjoyment of capturing images of our local foxes and their kits. While I have not had success every year, photographing the litters of new life remains one of my favorite spring and early summer subjects. Wild babies of any kind are always a treat to observe, but these tiny fluff balls were some of my own firsts, so they have always remained near and dear to my heart.

I write about them this week as we are in the midst of mating season for our red foxes. Not too long from now our soon-to-be mothers and their respective mates will be looking for ideal places to raise the little ones. Being their season of amour, one might hear them out on a brisk night screaming for a prospective partner. This sound might be a bit disturbing if one has never heard a fox scream, as it is often mistaken for the scream of a possible mountain lion (which is a wholly other frightening sound, especially if said cat is in heat). As with most animals in mating season, the sounds can be not only unnerving, but also haunting for prolonged periods.

Foxes do not have lifetime partner. However, when they do successfully mate the couple will remain together until the kits are reared and ready to leave the den. The father will assist in the rearing as well as helping on the near constant food runs for the many hungry mouths. A prospective mother will seek out an ideal den location, and she and the male will begin preparations for the birth.

Foxes commonly live near humans simply for the relative protection, as many predators tend to stay away from the human element. They don’t live in a den unless they are expecting, so when they are, they often choose a man-made structure to live under, such as a shed (as seen in this week’s image) or other outbuilding, and sometimes even under a home if one lives in a cabin without a foundation.

A fox den is admittedly an unpleasant thing to live on top of, if one is “lucky” enough to have one under one’s cabin. They tend to have a particularly rank odor and can be noisy once the kits arrive. Ideally one should close off any possible entrances under one’s home in the summer or fall, as once an expecting mother takes up residence, it is best to not disturb her and her mate until they move on. That said, it is not uncommon for a mother to move the entire litter to a new home once they are born and able to move about on their own. In the case of large litters, she may even split the group into two separate dens.

It should be noted that when a fox mother bears her litter, she will appear quite gaunt and one might think she is malnourished. Please know that this is completely normal, and she will be quite fine and back to a normal weight once the kits are raised and she can start to get back to feeding just herself. I say this as all too often I hear stories of people feeding them out of a sense of pity.

As with any wildlife, this should never be done, especially because human food is not good for them, and they may well also take it to the den, which is not good for the kits either. They do not need our assistance, and besides, they will do a great service in keeping the vole population down just in time for your own gardening season to begin. This will not occur if they become accustomed to human feeding and have no need to hunt on their own.

Once the kits are large enough and have been trained to hunt for themselves, typically around mid-summer, it will be time for them to leave the den and begin a life of their own. Once gone, mother and father part ways and continue their solitary lives. Sadly, fox mortality rates are as high as 75% in the first year (and remain at about 50% through adulthood), so most of the litter will likely not survive.

I say lucky above in the article in regards to having a den on one’s property, as regardless of the sensory inconveniences, it is truly a treat to have them around at such a young age simply to enjoy their adorable and playful antics while they are still with us.

For additional information about James DeWalt Photography, check out https://jamesdewaltphotography.com.