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Curious cub ‘scout’ won't be
outfoxed
28.05.14
by Linda McGrory
IT'S a rare moment as a young fox cub ‘scout’ is
captured encouraging a sibling to take its first
tentative steps into the world outside their den. |
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Peekaboo...A young fox cub ventures
outside its den in a field outside Limavady, Co
Derry. |
But the foxy siblings,
resembling miniature bears, are careful not to
venture too far - staying close to home for safety.
The cubs were captured by talented local wildlife
photographer Christine Cassidy who regularly snaps
the wildlife of Inishowen and her native Derry. |
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Pssst, come on out: A young fox cub
waits for its sibling to follow suit. |
She got a tip-off from
a photographer friend, Dessie Loughrey, about the
den's location - in a field outside Limavady, Co
Derry - one evening late last month.
"There were four or five cubs in total and they were
about 10-12 weeks old. We didn't see the vixen
(cubs' mother) but the cubs all looked in great
condition," she said.
"They were well fed and had very bright eyes which
is a wonderful sign of good healthy cubs.
“We were both lying flat on our stomachs in a field
surrounded with cow dung. I didn’t even smell it
with all the excitement!” |
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I could get used to this: The young
fox cub gets more confidence in new surroundings. |
Her camouflaged jacket
and long-distance 500mm lens ensured Christine kept
out of sight of the curious youngsters.
"It is an experience I will cherish forever," she
added. |
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Cub scout is followed by its sibling
out of the den. |
The Irish red fox (madra
rua) is largely monogamous and lives in a small
family group. They breed once a year and the litter
is usually four or five cubs. The cubs are commonly
born underground (an earth) between March and
mid-April with the male bringing food in the early
weeks to sustain the mother and her young.
As they mature, the cubs' fur changes from brown to
red and their eye colour turns from pale blue to
amber. |
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