Limping foxes…

By Words | Published February 21, 2011

I mentioned recently that the young male fox was carrying a limp. This is par for the course where foxes are concerned, and I can barely remember more than a couple of months when one fox or another wasn't limping. Sometimes it seems to be a sprain, other times more obvious wounds, and – I suspect – an occasional broken bone. The current injury is a cut. You can see it in this shot of the fox by the garden pond.

Here's a closer crop (from a different shot).

Foxes really don't seem to worry too much about these minor (and sometimes major) wounds; even breaks tend to heal naturally and they are adept at moving around on three legs. He's putting weight on it, so I fully expect it to heal over the next week or so.

The other garden news is that the hedgehogs (well one hedgehog) have emerged from winter hibernation. This little one was caught by the trail cam last night.

Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 7D and EF 100mm f/2.8L macro IS USM lens.

This entry was posted in Foxes, hedgehog and tagged , .

11 Comments

  1. wellisteffi February 21, 2011 at 5:02 am #

    Oh, the poor fox.
    Can not do anything? :worried:

  2. anonymous February 21, 2011 at 10:02 am #

    Anonymous writes:

    Have just visited the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, currently showing in Bristol. Have you ever considered submitting any of your pictures? This year's closing date is 18th March.

  3. gdare February 21, 2011 at 8:02 pm #

    What he said. Maybe you should consider that :up:

  4. Words February 21, 2011 at 9:02 pm #

    Steffi, I'll try to keep an eye on it, but he seems healthy apart from that. If it gets infected then we might have to intervene (but I think that's unlikely).

  5. Words February 21, 2011 at 9:02 pm #

    Anon… considered, and then realized just how high the standard is! I may take a look again but the quality of images is usually unbelievably high… another league entirely.

  6. Words February 21, 2011 at 9:02 pm #

    Darko, well I may take a look this year and see what the categories are.

  7. wellisteffi February 22, 2011 at 6:02 am #

    O.k. I'm a little more confidence,Words. :up:

  8. cakkleberrylane February 23, 2011 at 6:02 pm #

    Sad about the fox, but they do seem to recover well. Hedgehogs are maybe a sign of springtine?

  9. Words February 23, 2011 at 7:02 pm #

    Lois, the hedgehogs are getting more active all the time. The fox seems fine, so I'm sure he'll be ok.

  10. SittingFox February 23, 2011 at 7:02 pm #

    That's an ugly-looking cut. But he'll probably be fine, as you say.

    A hedgehog! :eyes:

  11. Words February 23, 2011 at 8:02 pm #

    Adele, they are certainly tough little things!