There is a brief window of time, only six to eight weeks, when we are privy to the inner workings of red fox (Vulpes vulpes) families. This occurs from the time the pups first emerge above ground from their burrow through the following two months or so, when the kits tend to remain near the den.

Your chances of finding a den are increased if you look at banks of sandy soil that are often on the edge of a forest and clearing or field, near a body of water. The mound of sand at the den entrance is fairly obvious, and as the pups age and are eating solid food, the remnants of food, such as bird wings, skulls, and other bones that the parents bring back to them often lie outside the den.

Two red fox pups playing, one on top of the other:  For the second and third month of their lives, the daily routine of red fox pups can be summarized in three words:  eat, sleep, and play. Fed and protected by their parents, they will never again lead such a carefree life. (Photo by Mary Holland)

At approximately five weeks of age, the charcoal gray pups grow in a buff-colored coat and begin to explore the world outside their den. Because fox dens tend to be located in sandy banks, the pups are well camouflaged when they emerge, which is to their advantage if a hungry carnivore or raptor happens along. The time for play and exploration has arrived, and the pups immerse themselves in both. Remaining close to the den, they spend their days romping, chasing and mock-fighting with each other as well as chewing on everything in sight, from sticks and feathers to bones and bark. Games such as tag, leap frog, and hide and seek keep the pups in constant motion when they are not taking much needed naps. This is the time when, if you are lucky enough to have located a den and stealthy enough to remain unobserved by the parents, you can enjoy watching the antics of these frolicking young members of the dog family.

A red fox’s first summer is by far its easiest—it is both fed and protected by its parents. The adult foxes deliver mouthfuls of small rodents, birds, frogs, turtles, and snakes to their hungry pups and eventually introduce them to the art of hunting. Because the vixen begins to wean her pups at about the time when they first venture out of the den, the pups are motivated to find food for themselves. Each parent takes one or two offspring hunting, in an attempt to introduce their pups to the skills necessary for survival. As the summer progresses, the young foxes leave with their parents but often return on their own, having spent some time hunting for food by themselves. It is only a matter of time before the pups head out on their own. With fruits and insects plentiful, this is the perfect time of year for them to begin finding their own food.

The color of young foxes’ coats changes for a second time when they are about eight weeks old. Long reddish guard hairs grow out through the softer, sand-colored underfur, turning the young foxes the color for which they are named. They are now about two-thirds of their adult size and are referred to as kits. They rarely, if ever, return to their den to sleep (adult red foxes sleep out in the open year-round, curling up and using their tail as a muff in winter) and are well on their way to self-sufficiency. By September or October, the young males will disperse and establish their own territories, often nearby. By December, the young females will usually do the same. If there is an ample supply of food, some females may remain on the same territory and assist their mother raising the following year’s young. Look for signs of activity near the same den, or in one close by, in future years. Just as red foxes remain with the same mate year after year, they are faithful to the same denning area, if not the same den.

Daily natural history notes and photographs can be found on Mary Holland’s blog, http://naturallycuriouswithmaryholland.wordpress.com/