Seasons Mixed Up

[Terryorr 27]

Was talking to old mate off mine today and off course the subject of lamping came up. He was saying 1 night last September (2013) he got a call out to shoot some foxes with his .223 on a local pheasant shoot. 1 of the club members and him lamped for a while and a pair of red eyes lit up bout 120 yds away, he steadied up and took the shot and heard the bullet hit home. They went down to pick the fox up but couldn't find it in the heather so the club member said he would find it in day light. The next day sure enough he phoned my mate to say he found the fox and believe it or not he said, it was a vixen full of cubs. My mate said if anyone else had told him that he wouldn't have believed it but not this guy. Has anyone else come across this before?

[CharlieSlade 14]

Do you think it might be a second litter because of the abundance of food about, no doubt the pheasants

[Terryorr 27]

Hi Charlie slade, that is 1 scenario yes, but not sure. I have seen cubs as early as end January and maybe as late as end of May but certainly not September. Some other members may have their own views.

[CHEVINFOX 3,537]

keeper I know dug a vixen with 3 cubs mid December a few years ago

[Terryorr 27]

Well there you go, that is really early (or really late)

[CHEVINFOX 3,537]

just looked it up and foxes have cubs in aug/sep in Australia they've adapted to their seasons so are our seasons changing ?

[celticrusader 78]

I think you've guys have nailed it, mild conditions in the weather may put things out of sync and speed up or slow down the natural habits and instincts of them.

[Terryorr 27]

Yip, celtic crusader you are probably closest to the answer, nature always throws up surprises