The two young foxes were back in the garden tonight, but unlike the previous two foxes post, they appeared together.

I have some difficulty working out their pecking order. Cheeky is much the bolder when I'm around, but Handsome gives her a hard time when there's some distance between us. Here's both of them, with Cheeky demonstrating submissive behaviour (ears back, brush curled). This was taken shortly after he'd chased Cheeky into the shrubs (resulting in a loud squeal from her).

You can also see the wound on Handsome's leg. It's impossible to say what caused it, but he may have snagged his leg on some wire. I doubt it's a bite, but you never know. Here's a close-up from another frame.

And to close, a portrait of him.

Nature Blog Network
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 40D and EF 100mm f/2.8L macro IS USM lens.

This Post Has 10 Comments

  1. They are so cute :yes:

    I often notice how footballers cry when *brushed* so slightly on the leg yet a Fox get a real injury and carries on as normal, i think we must be the species that complains when hurt the most i guess, funny isnt it 😛

    Although i do know that its a survival technique not to cry out in pain because that will attract predactors or the same species to attack the weaker member.

  2. Goodness, she has pulled an expression in the first picture!

    That looks like an unpleasant cut. Hopefully it will heal up quickly.

  3. They both look great. Do you know what happened to the rest of pack?

  4. Mark, cute is a good word for them. They do tend to make a noise when they get hurt, but they're brilliant at getting on with life immediately afterwards. I guess it's all about survival. Unlike footballers crying won't get the other fox sent off, so not much to gain from complaining. 🙂

  5. Darko, the young foxes always start to disperse in late summer so I imagine they've found their own territory. It's possible some won't have survived. The first year is always very tough for them.

  6. Erwin, thanks!

  7. Adele, Cheeky is prone to face pulling in all sorts of situations. I agree the cut looks unpleasant, but as long as it doesn't get infected I expect him to recover. One to keep an eye on though.

  8. CGP, I'm not great on naming the foxes, but he was easy. He has the reddest coat of all the foxes I've seen, with the whitest white areas, and a great face.

  9. Interesting Photos

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