Night Out Shooting Cubs...

[Mooching Celt 659]

Had a callout this year to a litter of 6 and keeper on nearby estate had 10 out of one spot which was clearly two litters due to size/age difference in cubs, anyone else heard of two litters being together in same spot? Wasn't a big spot either

[neil cooney 10,416]

2 litters being reared side by side is not that uncommon and I'd say that's the case with the OPs first post.

That's why I asked were the double figured litters all in the ground together.

But when lads tell you about big numbers actually in the vixen then what more proof do you need ?

It's an eye opener for me.

[timmy k 591]

Taking into consideration that opening up a vixen isn't done that often, (I'm just thinking out loud here) is it not possible that big litters could be the norm and maybe the vixen kills the excess or weak depending on food supply. Let's face it dogs often have big litters but the bitch is fed ample and so has no need to kill excess but she will still remove weak pups.

[dillydog 8,477]

I wouldn't of thought they kill the excess in a big litter, more likely the strongest would get to the warmth and tit first and the small weak cubs would perish.

[timmy k 591]

Maybe so dilly, but would the vixen eat the dead? Seems that a struggling vixen may use the waste not want not method. Either way it's interesting and maybe worth some proper research on litter sizes.

[Rabbit Hunter 6,613]

This years batch, about a mile or so from last years litter. Same vixen maybe? Who knows.

(Apologies for quality, photo'd them off my camera screen)

 

[Rabbit Hunter 6,613]

That's the mother. She left and the cubs came out to play.

Edited May 28, 2018 by Rabbit Hunter

[neil cooney 10,416]

She's in good fettle for a Vixen rearing good healthy cubs.

[Rabbit Hunter 6,613]

Plenty of chicken carcasses outside the earth Neil, with such a good steady supply I can imagine it's made it a bit easier for her.

Ps . Only 3 cubs this time too.

Edited May 28, 2018 by Rabbit Hunter

[andy26 618]

Av seen  a couple of litters in the field's at the back of my house (different size foxes) an I no the holes are on one of the keepers pheasant  drives, so they won' be there for long once the birds are put down

[king 11,984]

I came across a very large fresh cockerall outside an earth on top of the mountain the vixen and cubs were in the earth.

It was at least 2 miles from the village. which house lost a cockerall I don't know.he could of carried it further than 2 miles. 

But it's some journey for the dog to carry it all that way.

[Rabbit Hunter 6,613]

They weren't so active tonight so struggled for pics. But managed to see other wildlife while I waited.