This intimate film, the one thousandth posted on this channel, shows a Red Fox Vulpes vulpes vixen suckling and caring for her three young cubs, two males and a female, born on 18th February. These consecutively shot clips were compiled over two consecutive days. Two of the cubs survived, one of each sex (mortality of young cubs is high) and they have since moved on to seek territories of their own. This migration helps to reduce any risk of in-breeding, although some young females will remain in the territory of their birth. Females are able to mate after they are about 10 months old, usually producing their first litters (if they have them) a year after they were born, and after approximately 53 days' gestation. Subordinate females in a family group may not produce litters, instead sometimes assisting with caring for a dominant vixen's family.
22 окт 2023
