Fox Cubs 101: Nutrition, Development, and Care

Foxes are much more agile than humans. A human can take years to learn survival skills. Foxes learn everything in a year. It’s been an eventful and busy year. However, in those years, a fox can go from being a completely dependent cub and can’t even see its mother to becoming a fully grown predator ready to raise its own cubs.

Everything begins in spring

The spring is the beginning of foxes’ life. The spring season begins in March in the northern and September in the southern hemispheres.

When they are born, baby foxes are often called kits, pups, or cubs. They are about 1/4 pound in weight and approximately 4 inches in length. Their black fur is short. They are also totally helpless. A baby fox cannot even open its eyes at this stage. For the first four weeks, they are completely dependent on their parents and will not eat milk from their mothers.

Early feeding

From birth, newborn cubs depend on their mother’s milk to nourish them until they are a few weeks old. When the cubs are able to open their eyes, they will start exploring the den. When they can open their eyes, cubs will start to eat scraps of solid food that the male has brought back to the den.

When do baby foxes leave the den?

Cubs will soon become more familiar with the surroundings of the den and start to be curious about what is outside. Cubs will not leave the den until they are over a month of age. They won’t venture far from the safety of their den, and they won’t leave it.

What does a baby fox look like?

Fox pups are born with no hair. They have a dark gray skin tone, and they are often blind and deaf. After 2 weeks, their senses start to develop and they also begin to grow black fuzz. Soon after their birth, they start to shed their fuzzy black fur and grow a new red coat. As the fox matures, their faces become more fox-like. Their ears and noses grow longer. Cubs now play with one another and chew on everything they find.

12 Weeks & Beyond

The cubs are forced to forage for their own food once they reach 12 weeks old. They follow their parents to learn how. Unfortunately, many cubs end up dying during this stage. However, by 16-18 weeks old, many cubs die. They are able to remain close to their den to ensure safety. They will need to wait several months before they can explore the area and venture out of their home.

What time do baby foxes leave their mother?

Growth is rapid from this point. Six months after birth, the cubs can be difficult to distinguish from their parents. They are no longer considered infants after one year. These baby foxes can start their own lives and leave their mother. The cubs will be ready to breed when winter arrives. They will mat during winter, and then find a den that is suitable to give birth to a new litter. Next, they will mate again and then find a suitable den to give birth to new cubs.

Conclusion

The growth stages of a fox are compressed into one year. They begin the year with their eyes closed and are unable to defend themselves. They have fully grown adults by the end of their first year and are ready to start a new litter. They will mate in winter, and then the cycle continues in spring. Unfortunately, only half of all foxes survive the first year and reach maturity. This is why there are 3-7 litters of foxes.