In the previous post I mentioned that I was concerned that the nicked-ear vixen might be suffering from mange. I'm less sure now. She came by tonight and I managed to get a few photos of both flanks, and although they are slightly darkened there's nothing too alarming to report. She is limping quite heavily though, so it's possible that her scruffy state is to do with an injury. And her brush has a slightly tatty appearance, but not as severe as I'd feared. 
I'll keep an eye out for her, and see how things progress. The photographs are a huge advantage in trying to monitor her condition. It's very difficult to see much detail at night, and since (unlike the dog fox) she won't come too close I'm always 20 feet or more away from her.
Meanwhile the old dog fox is still calling by, and still posing like a professional. This shot was from the early hours of Sunday night/Monday morning. He's in fine shape.
Finally, on a different note, I ventured out to the second local dew pond at lunchtime today. It's about a 20 minute walk to get up there which is why I don't go too often (the one I usually photograph is less than 5 minutes walk), but it's nicely hidden away in a wooded clearing. It's also much larger, and is – I'm told -occasionally visited by deer in the early morning.
Camera note: Foxes all taken with the EF 24-105 F4L IS USM lens. The pond was photographed with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS.
Vulpes vulpes
20 Feb 2008An injury looks to be a more accurate prognosis, poor thing. You have some great amenities at your doorstep where you work! Great to be able to get out and about.
SittingFox
20 Feb 2008Beats working in Kingston, as I used to! :whistle:
Good to hear that the vixen isn't looking so bad. Sounds like there's been some fighting going on. I've heard a lot of angry chattering recently.
Words
21 Feb 2008Vulpes, the limp was a bit of a giveaway 😉 And means all the foxes have now suffered some sort of leg/foot injury over the past few months. I wonder if there's a fox out there that hasn't injured itself.
Words
21 Feb 2008Adele, fighting is a possibility or just the general rough and tumble of digging, jumping, running. Will keep an eye out for her though and see how she gets on.