Foxes are divisive. They can be viewed as dangerous, or vermin and apparently you can often smell them before you see them - although I have yet to experience this particular pleasure!
Personally, when I think of foxes, I think of Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr Fox outsmarting the farmer and rescuing his friends. Or the courageous ‘Fox’ from The Animals of Farthing Wood, who helped guide his friends to safety. I challenge anyone who read that book as a child, not to empathise with Fox, Badger and friends as they undertake the treacherous journey to find sanctuary, as their lifelong home is destroyed by humans. That story, and the subsequent books following Fox and his offspring, hold a special place in my heart to this day.
“Sometimes, the smallest of creatures can have the biggest impact.”
The Animals of Farthing Wood
In my opinion foxes are magical, majestic creatures. The kind of creature that makes my heart stop for a moment as they appear on the footpath ahead, then disappear like a mirage. One that, as you will know if you have read The Fox Part One, I will go to great lengths to see.
Now I have photographic proof of a resident fox in my garden, it’s only natural that I should find myself down the internet rabbit hole (or should that be fox hole?) of fox research.
Did you know that foxes might use the earth’s magnetic field to judge the distance and direction of their prey? Thanks to special proteins in their eyes called cryptochromes? Or that they have excellent hearing that can detect rodents digging miles underground? They can hear a mouse squeak from one hundred feet away. (Ok now I’m back to being concerned for that mouse.) Foxes have vertical pupils, like cats, which help them to see better at night, and as a member of the dog family, they are the only type of dog who can retract its claws. It seems to me that the fox is a bit of a wildlife superhero!
I wasn’t surprised to discover that foxes are members of the dog family. Watching my fox on camera, there were many traits that I recognised as being akin to those of Maverick, my fox red Labrador. The way she raised a paw whilst considering what to do next, and the way she snuck the apple away to a quieter place to eat it. The fact that a male fox is known as a ‘dog fox’ is clearly not a coincidence.
However, I’m happy that is where the similarities end. As foxes can also make over 40 different sounds, including screaming like howls. If you have ever heard a fox screaming at night, it’s an eerie experience, and can sometimes even sound human. Mostly it’s somewhere between a bark and a scream.
So, back to my garden fox. What was her surprise for me? As I watched the misty camera footage, with my fox in the foreground, in the undergrowth behind her, two bright pinpricks of light flashed momentarily and disappeared. Could it be? My heart leapt. Surely not.
I kept watching the footage closely, as she devoured the remaining nuts. But why was she suddenly camera shy? I looked closer. Wait, this fox was bigger, more thickset and when the camera captured its face, it was broader. This wasn’t the same fox – it was a male!
I did a little dance. Two foxes!!! You know what that means…..
Filled with excitement, I researched some more. Foxes are usually monogamous, having the same mate throughout their life. That was a good sign. My dog fox wasn’t about to run off with another vixen.
Further camera footage revealed the two of them chasing each other playfully around the wildlife garden. Which was a joy to watch, but then I discovered that they mate just once a year and the mating season begins in.… wait for it… JANUARY!
The female will usually be pregnant by February, when she will begin clearing out potential den sites. This is good to know, as I can expect to see less of her for a while. Cubs first emerge above ground in late April and stay close to the den, being fed by their parents until June. By July, exhausted from caring for their cubs, the parents will stop feeding them and often drive them off, forcing them to explore.
So, I’ll be getting my camera ready and waiting from June onwards, in the hope that I might get to witness some fox cubs. This would be a dream come true, and my readers will be the first to know about it!
I read that foxes have been known to employ ‘nannies.’ Female foxes who are no longer breeding, may assist a vixen with providing food, grooming and playing with the cubs. They are also known to show great caring when raising their young. This bodes well for me and my dream of seeing fox cubs. It’s also reassuring to know that even wild creatures sometimes need a little help in the child rearing department!
For those of you that read my article The Heron, you will know that I like to investigate the spiritual meaning of animals appearing in my life. It adds a layer of depth to the experience that I find incredibly powerful.
As a spirit animal, the fox can help you find your bearings and make choices, and help you develop your ability to react and be flexible. The spiritual medicine of the fox urges us to trust our instincts, to seek knowledge and understanding, and to see beyond the surface of situations.
You can find out more about the spiritual meaning of the fox here.
In many cultures foxes are considered good luck. I don’t need a book to tell me this, as far as I’m concerned, I’m incredibly lucky, and I hope to see a lot more of my foxes in the months ahead.
The Wildlife Aid Foundation estimates that there are 350,000 foxes living in the UK, and the mortality rate is high, with many dying before they reach the age of two. I feel honoured to host this budding fox family in my garden, and hope that they will stay healthy for many years to come.
How do you feel about foxes?
Thank you to all my subscribers for making this publication a success. If you would like to witness more of the foxes’ antics and support Notes from Nature, you may wish to consider becoming a paid subscriber. Proceeds will go towards wildlife food, creating habitats and installing live feed wildlife cameras.
thank you! more to come as soon as i have the time to go out!
Photographers love them, I can tell you that!