Mom's Getting Tired

As den mother to 15 kits, wouldn't you too? She's also getting more skinny, as the babies get bigger.
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You counted how many kits - 15? I'd be exhausted too. Doesn't the other mother help with feeding the kits?

cheekychicas wrote in post #18017777
You counted how many kits - 15? I'd be exhausted too. Doesn't the other mother help with feeding the kits?

Yep, 15 kits. I know the second female helps out, she was spotted hunting bull frogs at a pond, but this Mom is tireless and very dedicated.

Great series Ian. Most enjoyable to view and well photographed.

Great shots!

Very nice series and great to have this large family of Foxes to photograph. I won't mention how envious I am.

Top mum, top shots.

No. 5 has an element of c'mon help me out here - just a spare chicken or two!

Really enjoyed these, thanks for sharing.

Kev

KT29 wrote in post #18017876
Great series Ian. Most enjoyable to view and well photographed.

AGMPhotography wrote in post #18017890
Great shots!

Grizz1 wrote in post #18018083
Very nice series and great to have this large family of Foxes to photograph. I won't mention how envious I am.

KeBul wrote in post #18018407
Top mum, top shots.
No. 5 has an element of c'mon help me out here - just a spare chicken or two!
Really enjoyed these, thanks for sharing. Kev

Thanks very much folks, your comments are appreciated. This Mom is quite the lady!

#6 - I knew there was a better mousetrap!

Great shots Wallace!

Stunning photography, thanks for sharing.

John from PA wrote in post #18020067
#6 - I knew there was a better mousetrap!

fourfa wrote in post #18020092
Great shots Wallace!

John Koerner wrote in post #18021202
Stunning photography, thanks for sharing.

Thanks much John, fourfa and John.

15 kits?!? Isn't that an unusually large litter? I don't even know how she nursed 15!

ptcanon3ti wrote in post #18021247
15 kits?!? Isn't that an unusually large litter? I don't even know how she nursed 15!

LOL yea 15 would be a lot for one Mom. Two females have combined to make one household here. There are 3 dens about 200 feet apart each Nd the babies were all born in one, but now they have been separated into 2 of the 3 dens. Mom number one knows me from prior years and is quite accepting of my company. She also is an excellent provider, bringing in rabbits, birds, mouthfuls of mice etc. Mom #2 is less approachable and also seems to contribute much less, although she is around a fair bit. She used to bark and run away but now she stays around, at a bit of a distance. When she is there I limit my visits to a minute or two, but when Mom #1 is there I can sit on the ground and she'll lay down 5 feet from me and fall asleep. It's very cool.

Wow! That must be amazing. Thank you for explaining the situation there.