Fox cubs question.

[nick100]

Over the last few nights I’ve shot 7 cubs all within 100 yards of each other.
Two of these were markedly smaller than the others.
Would two litters run together like this, or are they more likely to be the runts ?
Seems a fair size litter if they’re all one lot.

 

[Mossy]

Could be either or.
I have come across litters that size a few times over the years, vickies will even look after other cubs local if the parent has died.

 

[Mr Tree]

I had a vixen & daughter(s)? from previous years litter share the same earth. 13 cubs running around on the bank outside. Unusual, yes, but it happens.
I believe Old Keeper has observed similar.

 

[finnbear270]

Seen it on the back of the Sealand ranges, and a few other times over the years.

 

[2Ll’s]

Over the last few nights I’ve shot 7 cubs all within 100 yards of each other.
Two of these were markedly smaller than the others.
Would two litters run together like this, or are they more likely to be the runts ?
Seems a fair size litter if they’re all one lot.

I just got some new land a couple of months ago, found a family with 5 cubs, two were prominently smaller then the others once lay beside each other, watched them for a while before controlling them, the bigger ones were mooching with the parents and the smaller ones were by the earth together.

 

[Smellydog]

Yes, last summer I shot two litters working together. Two different sizes, four each.

 

[old keeper]

I had a vixen & daughter(s)? from previous years litter share the same earth. 13 cubs running around on the bank outside. Unusual, yes, but it happens.
I believe Old Keeper has observed similar.

Yes, indeed! I've seen two litters being brought up in the same earth a couple of times. Once one dog fox seemed to be working with two vixens to raise a double litter of nine!

 

[old keeper]

Incidentally, there can be a considerable difference in cub sizes even in small litters. I remember knowing of a vixen who had a litter of four, two of which were extremely small and two that were almost twice the other's size. Eventually, one of the two small cubs almost caught up, in size with the other two. The other eventually perished.

 

[old 30-06]

My best guess would be two litters.

 

[AGR]

I once shot a vixen with 7 cubs inside her.

 

[remi22-250]

I wouldn’t think seeing smaller cubs within a litter as uncommon

 

[Jelen]

I once shot a vixen with 7 cubs inside her.

We've just had a cub in the snare and shot 5 all in the same area within a 100m on the same day. The Vixen was too quick for us.
There was a variety in sizes.
Having read the above explains a bit.

 

[Sandyb]

I once shot a vixen with 7 cubs inside her.

Dare I ask how you know?

 

[finnbear270]

Dare I ask how you know?

Probably used a .270

 

[old keeper]

I have a feeling that the highest number of developing foetuses on record was fourteen1 Vixens have the capability of producing very large litters, but seldom do.

 

[AGR]

Dare I ask how you know?

It was so big, I just had to check.
Shot with a .22, I cage trapped it.