Mammal ecologist and author, Adele Brand, shares her delight in catching sight of fox cubs in spring, along with some fascinating fox cub facts.
When is fox cub season?
The fox in springtime: it exists as a purposeful trot that rustles bluebells in their nascent glory, a flame and-white elegance passing quietly under the birdsong. But it is busy with something that looks so utterly unfoxlike, it’s not uncommon for people to mistake it for a dog.
I’ve met four of those somethings on a quiet rural lane. Their bodies are dumpy, their fur is dark chocolate and their eyes are wide and blue – and their tiny teeth are clamped onto rabbit carrion in a relentless tug-of-war.
At four weeks old, these foxes have never pounced on a vole, scent-marked a territory or dug a den. I cannot see their earth, but they would have been born somewhere under the woodland floor, possibly in a hole begun by a rabbit or badger.
It is likely that within a few miles are other cubs whose ceiling is rather different – shed floors and garden decking – but regardless, they are all deaf and blind at the beginning, weighing about the same as a couple of mince pies.
What do fox cubs eat?
Cubs grow fast on the vixen’s fatty milk, and in a few weeks will be unmistakably vulpine. They will chase each other through meadows and gardens, perhaps exploring trampolines or stealing shoes.
Their hunger will then be for earthworms - so important is this slimy package of protein, iron and zinc that earthworm availability in early summer appears to affect the cub’s final body size as an adult.
Come late summer, when ‘teenage' cubs are lean and lanky with smooth coats and big ears, the glut of blackberries and wild cherries also catches their eye. There is hardly a habitat that foxes will not explore, and gardens are no exception.
What to do if you find a fox cub
Each summer social media lights up with photographs of cubs, but being a good host for foxes means letting the youngsters keep their distance. It may be tempting to handfeed or ‘tame’ a cub, but it’s not in their interest to teach them to trust.
Any apparent orphans should be referred to a reputable wildlife rescue; it’s essential to raise young foxes in groups to give them the skills they need to survive.
Spying cubs in the wider countryside takes a bit of luck. But look out the window next time you’re on a suburban line. It’s not uncommon for railway banks to be the playground of cubs who wrestle fearlessly as the train rattles by.
What is a fox cub called?
Young foxes are called pups, cubs, or kits.
What noise does a fox cub make?
New born cubs emit a "whelping" sound, evolving into a more rhythmic "yelping" by approximately three weeks old, which they use if they want attention or find themselves alone.
What is a pack of foxes called?
A skulk of foxes.
Want to read more about foxes?
Our expert features include a comprehensive guide to foxes, a walk in search of Fantastic Mr Fox and all you need to know about fox hunting in the UK. Adele Brand has also written The Hidden World of the Fox
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