Luxor4u

Will have to get BB to post one of Kinkie to make up the full set, until we see the cubs of course, then we start again.
Managed to get pigs trotters today, (8 for a £1) so they had 1 of those as well tonight. It really brings home the strength of their jaws when they just chomp through the whole thing, nothing is left. They have all their bones raw as cooked ones splinter & can injure or kill foxes.

I have a different Vixen visiting, much lighter in colour, skinnier, maybe because she hasn't had the benefits that Lady has been having. Nowhere near as pretty in the face as Lady either I am calling her Tipsy as she has a big white tip on her tail.

How are yours doing Fran, I keep thinking now it is getting lighter they will stop coming but so far so good. They don't have all the wonderful stuff you put out, mainly scraps and bread here from us dipped in fats.

Hope you get a photo of Tipsy, now that she has found you I'm sure she'll become a regular & then hopefully put on some weight.

Loved the pics FABs, so sorry I missed them at the meeting.

I'll make a copy and send it to you Phantom...I know where you live!

Can we have another update please to see how they are all doing? Spring is in the air and maybe the cubs will be out soon.

There is great happiness and contentment with Mum in particular. All the cubs are doing well and are now beginning to take soild food. This is in the form of Chub and other food taken back and chewed up by Missie, Mum and Kinkie. All 3 are sharing in the whole process of raising the cubs. They have a well organised family unit with Tufty helping by hunting and bringing back food. Mum is able to come down for some quiet time in the garden and have a snack on treats. All the fluffies and other food put out gets taken back to the Earth so that those looking after the cubs can eat while cub minding. We frequently see Missie and Mum together in the garden which means that Kinkie is safely left in charge. Last night we had Mum and Kinkie in the garden together and they seemed very playful! Occasionally we get Missie and Tufty doing the same thing. They can be quite vocal!!

Mum saw Fran in the kitchen last night and a few minute later Fran had a conversation with her. She was apologising for not communicating much over the last few weeks but she had been very busy with her cubs. Wild food was in plentiful supply now but she did appreciate our efforts to keep them supplied while it was tough through the winter and the Chub was very useful as an early solid cub food.

Had to laugh Sunday night. Barry finished putting their food out whilst I started on the HH's. 5 minutes later Mum came down, didn't say anything but later she asked "Why no Chubb?"
Checked with Barry, he'd forgotten it. He went back out with the Chubb.
She said "Thank you. He's a bit like Tufty really, means well but doesn't always get the best food for the cubs! "
Won't forget the Chubb again!
The night before she had come down, loaded up with Fluffies & gone, only to return 30 seconds later, still with the fluffies, which she carefully put back on the table, and carried away Chubb. When we asked why she said Missie was going to feed the cubs, and the fluffies were for her, but then she realized the cubs would pester and she wouldn't be able to eat them, so thought it better to take the Chubb for the cubs first so that Missie could start them off feeding & then enjoy the fluffies herself.
Makes sense but I would have expected her to just drop the fluffies not carry them back to the table.

Well I have a feeling my vixens may not be friends. There was a bit of a fox fight in the field and we could see one with her head through our fence and the other with her jaw upon the others jaw.

But tonight Lady was back for her food as usual so maybe the territory thing is all sorted out now. Shame I was hoping they would come together one day.

Oh what a shame trouble is they are competing for the same food source & Lady sees it as hers as she found it first.
In December Mum & Missie were so upset about Missie being with Tufty & they thought she would have to leave to start a family to avoid competing for food. They got round it but only because they were so close & we promised to provide enough for both families if necessary. You can't do that with yours unfortunately. I'm sure Tipsy will find another territory.

Realised its been a while since we posted, too busy watching the foxes every night No sign of the cubs yet but all 4 adults take food back for them.
When we watched Thursdays recording on Friday night, we saw Mum was very lame on her left front leg, couldn't put it on the ground at all. I asked her what had happened & she showed me that when she jumped down from our garden (its about 5' above the lane) she had landed on a piece of wood which rolled or broke. She was still lame Friday night but could put a little weight on it, she still collected food for the cubs though! but Kinkie and Missie came down with her every time for the next few nights. Saturday we went wood hunting & found the piece exactly as she described it, & safely removed it. She is much better now just favouring it occasionally.
We stood and watched a lovely sequence this evening where Mum and Kinkie passed each other on the bank & stopped with their noses almost touching for about a minute.
They know we watch them and often stare in at us as well. They look so relaxed its lovely to see, we are sooo lucky

Do they ever come up and stare at you when you are sitting in your garden?

No, they only come when its dark, or nearly so. I have always encouraged them to keep glass between us & them. Obviously we would never do anything to harm them in any way, but not everybody feels the same & I feel its safer for them to keep that distance from all humans.(much as I would love to touch them)

Just been watching a traffic jam! Missie was coming back down for more food when she stopped on the side of the pond to let a hedgehog go past
Yesterday I was in the kitchen & stood up on some mini steps, to reach a cupboard whan I "heard" "Oh aren't you high/tall!" I said "Where are you?" much to Barry's surprise (I spoke out loud) & Missie took a couple of steps forward on the top terrace.
They are all well but Mum is still keeping the cubs away from her adult only place. They seem to be coming down in pairs most of the time, but we did see 3 eating together Sunday night, followed shortly after by Missie.

Thanks for the update Fran - keep 'em coming.

I had been longing for news now I am happy. Was there a chance that one of the hedgehogs was one of your foundlings.

We hope so LL. Last night there were HH's 2 down. They walked up and appeared to greet each other early on. Later we turned the light back on, 1 was startled but the other smaller one glanced up then ignored it to carry on eating Hopefully that was Nipper, if they are 2 of ours they are thriving, quite large and well rounded. Both ate well & then had a long drink from a plant drip tray we have put out for them. Its quite shallow but 18" long, several animals can share it, HH's, foxes & cat! The last 2 don't share but take it in turns! HH's share with anyone

Do you think they would run from you now?

I don't think Nipper would run away, but the others probably would.
The foxes came down and ate whilst Barry & I were talking in the kitchen and clearing the dishwasher with the back door wide open, only about 20 feet away We weren't being quiet at all, then we went & looked out of the window at them & they looked back.

Our first confirmed cub visit
We caught up on some recordings last night. 1 night when Missie came down we saw another fox sniffing round the terraces but not coming down, it stayed in the foliage so we were unable to identify it.
The next night Mum was followed by a second fox, which watched her feeding and then ventured down, it is slightly smaller than Missie, with BIG ears, quite a lot of white on the front of its back legs but darker brown on the back and tail. It instantly recognised the food on the table & tucked well in.
Kinnie was in disgrace Thursday night, he chased the foxes Last night I told Mum he had been bad the night before & she thought at first I meant she was bad, (sorted that, the problem of using images & emotions as language) she said she knew! I reassured her he had been very sorry (something to do with a whack from Barry) & last night she passed within a foot of him & he just waited for her to go past & then came quietly in. I think it was probably the presence of the cub plus a bit of a strop over food that caused it.
There was quite a bit of barking last night from some dogs in the distance & Mum started calling as well. Barry asked whether she was able to call all the cubs telepathically and she said "Yes, but they don't always respond, hence her vocalising as well! "
Are human young like that too?
YES
She says now that 1 has found its way here she thinks the rest will shortly follow, so that's the end of her quiet place now
It'll be nice for us to see them all but I do feel sorry for her. She kept them away a lot longer this year than last, but then Missie was very inquisitive.
The 2 vixens were eating together last night & sharing the table with no real distance between them. It is lovely to see them still so close at this age, something Mum had told me foxes don't normally do
Sorry turned in to War & Peace & I'm meant to be out in the garden!