Adventures In Fox Watching

[theurbanfoxwatcher]

Mostly focused on red foxes but will also cover other species

Sorry I’m not super active here but I do have a new fox-themed sideblog if you want more fox content!

[theurbanfoxwatcher]

Shadow on babysitting duty back in May last year.

Shadow was an amazing dad and spent lots of time with the cubs, bringing them food and toys, playing with them and teaching them the skills they’d need to survive. It was once thought that male foxes played little to no role in rearing cubs, but Shadow proves that foxes can be very dedicated dads!

[theurbanfoxwatcher]

Rowan’s transformation from tiny, skinny runt to beautiful young adult!

She was the smallest cub in the litter of five and got bullied terribly by her siblings. At times they would get very aggressive and even injure her. She was so much smaller and weaker than the other cubs that I didn’t think she’d survive, but she’s very tough and came through it all!

[theurbanfoxwatcher]

Three foxes shot with crossbow bolts in South London

The attacks all happened in the last few days

Police were contacted on Thursday, November 5 after a member of the public spotted a fox with a bolt/arrow sticking out of its back in Parkgate.

Volunteers from the Fox Project charity were also called and were able to provide treatment to the fox. The animal was taken to the charity’s base in Kent, but sadly it couldn’t be saved.

Another fox had previously been found dead in the same area and a third is reported to have been seen at the same location with a bolt/arrow in its body.

Wtf is wrong with people. This is why I hate the demonization of foxes (and other predators) cause it leads to stuff like this. There’s a LOT of hate for foxes in this country, especially urban foxes. I see people ranting about how much they’d like to see them killed or even wiped out entirely.

This is very obviously a targeted attack on foxes, and either the shooter is a very poor shot or they’re deliberately making bad hits so the foxes suffer was much as possible. Honestly wouldn’t surprise me with some of the horrific stuff I’ve seen people do to foxes in this country. It’s also 100% illegal to shoot an animal with any kind of bow in the UK. Hopefully whoever is doing this gets caught before anymore foxes have to suffer.

[theurbanfoxwatcher]

Just a few of my favourite photos taken of Rosie and her cubs this spring. After years of sitting in bushes and bramble patches for hours on end hoping for a glimpse of a fox cub, it was amazing to get such intimate views of this family from my own back garden.

[theurbanfoxwatcher]

Watchdog and his great grandson

The Grandson was not very happy when Watchdog first came back. As the dominant male he initially tried to drive Watchdog out but Watchdog wasn’t going anywhere now that he’d returned to his old home. After acting very submissivly to show that he wasn’t looking to take over (bottom image) The Grandson eventually accepted him back into the family. It’s quite unusual for a second, outside male to be accepted into an existing family (Watchdog wasn’t around when any of the current generation were born so to them he’s a stranger).

The Grandson looks a lot like his parents (Rusty and Blue) but I can definitely also see a hint of Watchdog when he was younger.

[theurbanfoxwatcher]

Here’s something I made recently, Watchdog’s family tree!

Watchdog, The Great Grandson, The Granddaughter and her three cubs are all still around. It’s pretty amazing to have seen so many generations of the same family, and shows how territories often get passed down through the female side of the family line.

[wildlifeaid]

After several hours’ observation yielded no signs of mum, this pale-coated fox cub was brought into the centre. Although bright and feisty, sadly, he would not survive in the wild on his own.

He was quite hungry and slightly dehydrated, but did not have any physical injuries. He has now been moved into our rapidly-filling orphan unit and will stay with us until he is old enough to be released :)

[wildlifeaid]

This young fox cub was brought into the centre by the RSPCA, having been found alone in a puddle.

The cub was not injured, but seemed very lethargic and cold. He was moved into one of our incubators to warm up. After a feed and a full veterinary examination, he was taken away by one of our orphan feeder volunteers for round-the-clock care.

He will stay with us until he is old enough for release :)

[wildlifeaid]

Fox cubs!

These five tiny youngsters were just brought back to the centre after being dug up by building work. Sadly, despite efforts earlier today, they could not be reunited with their mother.

They are currently warming up at the centre before a feed, but we hope to try and reunite them with their mother tomorrow. Please wish us luck!

[theurbanfoxwatcher]

Meath Chronicle - WATCH: Video captures moment hunt hounds run loose on the M3

Four dogs were killed after running loose on the motorway between Navan and Skryne yesterday.

Yet MORE hunt chaos, this time in Ireland where fox hunting is sadly still legal.

Hunting hounds are frequently allowed to run loose on busy roads, putting motorists at risk as well as the dogs. Thankfully no people were hurt during this incident but four hounds were hit and killed. Again, why are the hunts allowed to get away with such dangerous and disruptive behaviour?

[wildlifeaid]

This beautiful fox was brought into the centre after being hit by a car. Luckily, the kind staff at Ark Veterinary Centre did an amazing job of taking care of her until we could arrive to collect her. She was rushes back to see our vet, Maru, who found a small wound under the chin and general unsteadiness on the feet. Amazingly, she had no broken bones and, after a short treatment schedule, she was quickly back to her old self! With a clean bill of health, she was send back to where she was found an is now happily back in the wild :) Thanks to all the staff at Ark Veterinary Centre who helped her return to where she belongs!

[wildlifeaid]

The new year is well underway and, for foxes, that can only mean one thing… Every year we get numerous calls to help rescue foxes that end up being caught ‘stuck together’. Rest assured that they are perfectly ok and, with luck, you may even see the patter of tiny paws coming very soon!

[theurbanfoxwatcher]

Quick fox I drew this afternoon 

[theurbanfoxwatcher]

Fox hitches free ride on London sightseeing bus

The animal got a prime view when it managed to sneak onto the top of a double-decker London tour bus.

Look at this fox casually riding the bus!

[theurbanfoxwatcher]

Government votes that "animals can’t feel pain or emotions"

Prominent wildlife photographer Richard Bowler says the government's vote to reject the inclusion of animal sentience in the European Union Withdrawal Bill is a vote to say animals can no longer feel pain or emotions.

“Science is showing more and more animal intelligence and emotions and yet our government has yet again ignored it. There can only be one reason to deny animal sentient status, and that is to exploit them.”

[theurbanfoxwatcher]

Not all red foxes are the classic orange colour. Last night I was visited by this unusually dark or smokey grey coloured fox who I’ve not seen before. This is my favourite colour morph in wild foxes so I hope he visits again!

[ears-like-eyes]

He looks like a cross between a red and grey fox to me. Can they cross breed?

[theurbanfoxwatcher]

No, they can’t. Their name is misleading as grey foxes actually aren’t foxes at all, but a very primitive branch of the canid family.