And...More Foxy Fotos...

I spent several hours; one early morning and two late afternoon/early evenings hidden behind a thicket of small trees, assorted native shrubs and not a small amount of poison ivy, in hopes of getting a few photos of this fox family. The morning produced a few shots of the parents, but the kits were apparently instructed to stay out of sight. The first late afternoon the kits were out having a great time running and tussling with each other. The third afternoon was a bust. 
Generally Dad was tasked with minding the kits. Occasionally they would run up to him, maybe for assurance that everything was ok or just to draw his attention to some new 'game' they were playing. Mom would cautiously walk through the scene but then quickly disappear back into the woods. 
Fox kits typically leave their parents around 7 months of age, usually at the end of summer or beginning of fall. A typical fox litter is four to five kits.  Breeding pairs are monogamous and form a bond that lasts for life. And I was a bit surprised to learn that the wild lifespan of a fox is only 2-3 years.   
A few more photos to share. Watch this space. m