All fox-watchers must know them. It’s the season when territory lines vaporise, and dogfoxes scatter to the four winds seeking mates. It’s a reasonable strategy in deserts and conifer forests, where fox densities are low and home ranges big. In the rich pickings of the English greenbelt, fox neighbours are never far away to begin with, and the mating season brings trespassing and anarchy.
There are male foxes everywhere.
The resident vixen has hidden herself, very likely because of her suitors. Even if they will be her mates later on, for now they are her competitors for food and shelter. They are also in bad temper, fighting quite fiercely amongst themselves.
Out in the meadows, another male was strolling alone this morning.
He held his ear on one side, like a dog with canker. It’s probably an ear infection, but it might be a nip from a rival.
The skies seem very peaceful in comparison.
Foxes Crossing 
A great post Adele do have a nice day
Thanks Erwin, you too! 🙂
Really interesting and really great post! Red foxes are incredible creatures and really beautiful as well! I thoroughly enjoyed reading your blog! Thanks for sharing! Look forward to more!
Thank you! I’ve been watching my local foxes for years, but they’re still full of surprises 🙂
They look kind of sneaky, do they? And the way they look you in the eye 😀 How do local cats relate to a fox invasion like that?
They probably look sneaky because they’re trying to avoid each other :p Yes, they will look me in the eye, which is an interesting behaviour – it’s more like a domestic animal action than a wild canid.
The cats around here sometimes loiter with the foxes, sitting on walls with them. But most cats are too arrogant to take much notice of an average fox…
The winter territorial games are always interesting to watch and I see your garden is regarded as a prime location 🙂
I can imagine what it must be like radio-tracking foxes in this season. My local ones seem to abandon the idea of ‘territory’ altogether. Oddly the males seem to outnumber the vixens six to one, unless they’re simply more visible at the moment.
I enjoyed the photos, especially that top one of the dogfox peeking around the shrubbery. And it was interesting to read about the foxes jostling for territory and mates.
Thanks Deb! This time of year is confusing from the perspective of a watching human.
You have the most amazing talent for finding photogenic foxes, Adele.
😀
Lovely sunset, too.
🙂
😀 I think it’s more the case that they follow me around everywhere!
Found ya, My Opera has died, and bookedmarked this page 🙂
Thanks Andy! 🙂 Glad to see you here. I’m still shocked at Opera’s demise, but I’m more or less moved into this blog now.
Oh those lovely foxes. I’ve got to save this one for Mia to see. She’s obsessed with foxes now.
I laughed when Darko said they looked sneaky. I wonder if that’s where the old saying “sly like a fox” comes from.
I think they look just a little mischievous.
Hi Pam, I’m glad Mia has taken an interest in foxes! She might like to watch my video of young fox kits in Saskatchewan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVdh0lPtmy8
I think people down through the ages have always noticed that foxes are clever. I definitely agree that they’re mischievous too! 🙂
Finally showed this post to Mia. She loved it and wanted to touch the foxes. I don’t think they’d sit still for that.
Adele, have you heard anything from Erwin? It’s beginning to feel sinister.
He left a couple of comments on my photos via google+ yesterday.
Glad to hear that … go to “Tapping Away in the Middle of the Night” and check out the top post and read all the comments. Erwin has apparently been missing, and all sorts of dire ideas have been floating around. I’ll leave a note there, and let them hash it out … I’m just glad I don’t have to figure out how to get to Europe.
Hrm. I suspect in this case fiction is a lot stranger than fact. He didn’t say much on Google+, just commented in his usual style, but to the best of my knowledge there’s nothing amiss.
Well, he’s got a site here, but nothing’s on it. Where are all his bird pictures, if nothing else?