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Our very own Red Specials

These three cubs all arrived with us orphaned and very scared and a little under weight. They are now all together eating well and developing in our fox run. They are behaving like normal cubs. Very alert and very entertaining but with a healthy fear of humans. They are rarely handled after they are eight weeks apart from the occasional health checks. Sebastian is still quite tiny and has been bottle fed.He still remains afraid of humans and still snap and growls when fed. We were careful to introduce them slowly to each other , most fox cubs are sociable.

Sebastian is the youngest and the leader of the pack so we didn't need to worry. He is still a chubby brown ball of fluff . His fox like marking will soon be through.

They will be released into the wild later in the year when they are strong and able to look after themselves.

It will be another soft release to return them to the wild where they belong.

Well here we are six months later and all the cubs are fit and well and ready for release.

Soft release is just that soft. It is the most successful type of release. To release cubs into an area where there are established foxes would be unfair. The cubs would not be able to defend them selves from a dog fox and would not be able to feed or protect themselves from the elements. A soft release introduces them to the local wildlife population from the safety of a cage. Through this cage they get a feel for what's in their new home and also establish their own territory.

The cage will be their own territory and when released they will be free to return to the safety of it. Here they are in their new temporary home.They arrive fit and well after being checked by the vet and are keen to explore the new smells. They were very nervous for a few days and visibly shaken in the mornings but they soon settled. the intension was to keep them in the run for approximately three to four weeks or when they were really settled but the cubs had other ideas

They dug their way out. `The base of the run has mesh 75mm apart. they dug a hole through the mesh and made a earth. It was approximately eight foot deep. And the photos below show the Hole and Alisha in the earth. the cubs were free but didn't leave the safety of the run and earth. It was great to see that they can dig their own earth.

It is a credit to those who cared for them that they are still wild. The next step will be feeding and defending themselves

The hole in the wire that Archie and the gang have excavated through is three inches wide. The wire was opened and bent by us to get a camera inside. So these clever guys built a ten foot long tunnel and got all the earth out through a 3 inch gap. Its a good point to add all our british wildlife can get through a four inches gap.

Over the following weeks the cubs would spend less and less time in their earth and more and more time roaming their extensive release site.

They no longer go back to the run, they will still be fed outside the run for the next few months until they disperse completely.

The cubs looking relaxed in their new home

Isn't that fantastic. All the cubs are eating bugs, fruit and earthworms. They are starting to support themselves. They are totally free and despite their sad beginning to life at the hand of man the balance has be addressed again and they are where they belong in the wild having been given a second chance. Captive foxes usual make 14 years in the wild their life expectancy is less than two. Lets hope these guys manage to take care of themselves.

As always many people are involved in this process . From the members of the public who contacted us, to the care givers of the cubs and to the people that own the releases sites and finally the people that care for the land.

Two very special and happy cubs now with adult coats lets hope we get a glimpse of their own cubs next year.

In this case the owner of the land provided for this release is Brian May. Rock G-d and legend. The land that Brian provided for this release was fantastic. It is totally organic and pesticide free and perfect cub territory.

Brian has taken the time to support us and these cubs on their return to the wild. We are hugely grateful for his help and that of his team. These lucky young foxes have a fabulous second chance in what can only be described as paradise.
Thank you to Brian and his team Claire, Pete, Paul and Graham.

You all rock

Brian May's comments on Fox Hunting

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