Fox Den Building

[Roebuck9]

During harvesting the farmer phoned me and asked me to despose of a family of foxes he had found living under a large osk tree in one of his fields. so over a couple of nights I shot 5. He had already filled in the den/hole under the tree. When I returned a couple of weeks later as I approached I could see fresh soil, it was open again. Later that evening I could see 3 bagers leaving it so I informed the farmer and he said I will tell the people dealing with the badger cull. On my next visit it was empty. There are still foxes and badgers about.

My question is as the weather is so bad if badgers have not occupied it again when will foxes try? Does the vixen have to be well pregnant and soon to give birth or will she go and live in a den when the weather is bad? Your opinions please.

 

[jall55]

During harvesting the farmer phoned me and asked me to despose of a family of foxes he had found living under a large osk tree in one of his fields. so over a couple of nights I shot 5. He had already filled in the den/hole under the tree. When I returned a couple of weeks later as I approached I could see fresh soil, it was open again. Later that evening I could see 3 bagers leaving it so I informed the farmer and he said I will tell the people dealing with the badger cull. On my next visit it was empty. There are still foxes and badgers about.

My question is as the weather is so bad if badgers have not occupied it again when will foxes try? Does the vixen have to be well pregnant and soon to give birth or will she go and live in a den when the weather is bad? Your opinions please.

In and out of them at various times in the year

Like birds in bird boxes really - dont just nest in them

 

[old keeper]

Vixens start looking for an earth to have their cubs in not too long after mating, usually around mid to late March. often they will use a site that they've used before. Two or three locations are chosen if she has to shift the litter.
I have known of several cases where a vixen will drop her cubs in the outskirts of a large badger earth, in fact, there is one within a couple of hundred yards of my house.
In decent weather, foxes will generally lay up above ground but will use shelters like earths or under sheds and the like in bad weather or when threatened.
In your case, if the badgers have gone, that earth could well be chosen as a birthing site, only time will tell!

 

[Mr Tree]

Vixens start looking for an earth to have their cubs in not too long after mating, usually around mid to late March. often they will use a site that they've used before. Two or three locations are chosen if she has to shift the litter.
I have known of several cases where a vixen will drop her cubs in the outskirts of a large badger earth, in fact, there is one within a couple of hundred yards of my house.
In decent weather, foxes will generally lay up above ground but will use shelters like earths or under sheds and the like in bad weather or when threatened.
In your case, if the badgers have gone, that earth could well be chosen as a birthing site, only time will tell!

A question for you, do dog foxes use earths much. I have never recovered a dog from an earth, I understand that vixens will try to keep them away from cubs, I found that dogs usually prefer to lay in the open, in a sunny spot near an earth, would be interested to hear your take on this. Thanks.

 

[old keeper]

Years ago when I was working with terriers on foxes as far as I can remember we would get both dogs and vixens, but this was a fairly unnatural situation, as more than likely the fox, irrespective of sex would go underground as we worked through cover.
As far as when cubs are born, I've seen many dog foxes bringing food to both the vixen and the cubs. Personally. from what I've seen myself over the years there is little to choose between the behaviour of either sex once the mating season is over.
Fox society is fairly complex and as they tend to look alike it's all too easy to assume things, the classic example of this is when people say " I saw a big old dog fox" or "I saw a little vixen". As I've seen over the years, you can get very large vixens and quite small dog foxes.

 

[Roebuck9]

Many thanks guys for your comments it is as I thought really I will have t go back and check on the earth to see if it is now occupied as it is a little out of the way for me to do it and I did not want to waste my time. I will keep you posted and let you know what I find.
I know that vixens will move their cubs and have several earths in mind if threatened so there may well be a cub or parent left to recolonise it.

 

[Fair Hill]

We have dug out dog foxes on dozens of occasions without working any cover beforehand, have dug out pairs of foxes and know a couple of really old rangy burrows that foxes and badgers share.

 

[Trickyd66]

On my folks old smallholding we had a large active badger sett. The foxs seemed to share it , or part of it.

 

[The Singing Stalker]

Can you put a camera there. Makes life easier to check.

 

[Roebuck9]

Can you put a camera there. Makes life easier to check.

Yes as my old one is not working to well so about to buy a new LM11 ?

 

[the prowler]

A question for you, do dog foxes use earths much. I have never recovered a dog from an earth, I understand that vixens will try to keep them away from cubs, I found that dogs usually prefer to lay in the open, in a sunny spot near an earth, would be interested to hear your take on this. Thanks.

I shot a fox in a large field. Curled up in the snow. It were a vixen.

 

[Roebuck9]

Yes I arrived at a stalking field and went to look around a lake at about June time. The metal gate was locked so i decided to climb over, put my shotgun down, then picked it up again after I got to the other side. I walked about 20feet and there was this dog fox curled up "dead" in the sun, I thought at first so put a shot into its forehead. It was not dead beforhand but was now as it unwond its self then dropped dead.

 

[kevtherev]

They will use earths at various times throughout the year quite common to see rabbit burrows scrat out by vixens in the spring.
Dog foxes tend to be more nomadic covering big ranges at night they will as mentioned bring food to a den with cubs.
Not uncommon to see foxes and badgers sharing a big sett even though some folk reckon it doesn’t happen.
I’ve seen cubs reared in a very large badger sett near here.
Foxes do also sleep out in the open in sun and in thick cover like gorse and bracken.