Each morning and evening, the fox pups come out to play under the watchful eyes of their wary parents.
There was a lot of scampering about in and around the bushes and twigs, making it hard to get much of a photograph of these little furry balls.
Play behavior of the fox pups is like a rehearsal for future hunting tactics, as they attack the leaf litter and pounce on imaginary prey.
Attacking each other is also a good game.
Taking a break from all that play to rest up for the next bout. Their fur coat is getting redder, and their legs and ears are a little blacker than when I first saw them last week.
One small yip from this watchful parent and the pups disappeared immediately back into the burrow.
Pups and parent were already out and active when I arrived, so I tried hiding behind a not very large tree trunk to take these shots from about 200 feet away. I’m still hoping for some closer shots with less obstruction from little branches before the family leaves this den area.
I love seeing these growing kits through your eyes and your images, Sue. One of the special blessings of the spring is all of the new babies that enter into the world. You’ve captured well the sense of playfulness of these two little bundles of energy.
Thanks, Mike. I hope to get a couple more opportunities with these guys before they leave, but their guardians do make it difficult.
Perhaps you will get lucky. Sure, it helps to be at the right place at the right time, but good fortune is often a huge factor in getting the kinds of images for which we hope.
What a treat! If I had foxes in my backyard I am fairly certain my family would have to file a missing persons report as they would never see me!
You would not believe the view the neighbors have of this scene from the comfort of their 4-season porch. I want to become their best friend and sit in that porch all day….oh well.
Fox kits were always my favorite! They keep down the rabbit population too…. Chris
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Hi Chris, good to hear from you. Paul G says the fox family didn’t use his den this year. So sad.
There’s not much cuter than that!
Absolutely, and their play behavior is so entertaining as they tumble around on each other. I love watching, but the parents don’t love me being there doing that.
Wow, those are just awesome shots. Will they hang around the neighborhood or move on? Just wondering what’s on the menu for this family … Squirrels, moles, etc?
There are still squirrels running around right where the parents sleep outside the den, so the foxes must be well fed on the local mouse population. This neighborhood is across the street from a very large open space and marshy area.