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Mild winter- Foxes with second litter of cubs.

  • 07-07-2009 7:40am
    #1
    ivanthehunter
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,284 ✭✭✭


    Is it possible that the ultimate opportunist would try and mate twice in one year?

    Has anyone noticed vixens with distended abdomens?

    There seems to be a lot of vocalisation by my local foxes for this time of year. These sounds (vocalisations) seem similar to those of early to mid winter i.e. similar to those mating calls.

    One old timer in my region believes that such a second mating is common.

    Any thoughts

    Regards Ivan


Comments

  • #2
    Dusty87
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,920 ✭✭✭Dusty87


    I thought if they bread early, some foxes have a second litter later summer early autumn? So i was told by and ould lad too


  • #3
    ivanthehunter
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,284 ✭✭✭ivanthehunter


    Well if this second mating is common, then people that shoot foxes for sport only should hold off till later in the year and benefit from a bumper season.

    People shooting for predator eradication will have other considerations and may have to to be proactive much earlier, they might have to ignore any ethical issues.

    If you like shooting foxes then you should allow there numbers to swell..

    If you prefer to shoot rabbits then you'll have to get involved much earlier after Charlie and keep him off your turf 365.


  • #4
    Dusty87
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,920 ✭✭✭Dusty87


    Oh by no means is what iv said fact ivan. I could be totally wrong here. Just heard it same as you from an old timer. But i only shoot problem ones this time of year anyways.


  • #5
    foxshooter243
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,461 ✭✭✭foxshooter243


    Never read or heard of any evidence that the red fox in the wild will breed twice in one year, the number of cubs will be dependant on local resources and the family unit and structure requires from early spring till late summer to produce fit healthy and self dependant; young.

    However there is evidence of foxes bred in captivity producing 2 litters in a year;

    http://www.floridalupine.org/publications/PDF/trut-fox-study.pdf

    Although most fox cubs are born around the same time every year it s not unususal for a litter of cubs to be born later than usual and it may be a late litter that causes some confusion, but this late litter is just that a late litter, not a second one.


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