N-Hokkaido

I observe red fox family life in Hokkaido every year using trail cameras. Now that the season has come when wild animals begin preparing for birth, I headed back to my usual forest. Even with some snow still remaining, I found fox tracks and an open den.

After setting up the trail camera, one red fox and two raccoon dogs appeared at different times. It’s still unclear which of them will end up using the den. I’ll continue monitoring the site.

北海道で毎年、キタキツネの子育てをトレイルカメラで観察しています。 野生動物が出産の準備を始める季節になったので、今年もまたいつもの森へ。

まだ雪が残る中、キタキツネの足跡と開いた巣穴を確認しました。 トレイルカメラ設置後、キタキツネ1匹とエゾタヌキ2匹が別々の時間に現れていました。

The father fox continues to search for food and bring it back to his family waiting in the den. The mother fox happily snuggles up to the father, as if to show her gratitude.

Last year, a raccoon was spotted near the red fox’s den as well. At that time, it only approached the den briefly before quickly leaving.

But this year, things are different.

The raccoon has been repeatedly hanging around the den, often appearing at night, and has even entered the den itself completely.

Its behavior seems full of curiosity, almost as if it’s playing.

A trail camera captured a raccoon boldly entering a fox den.

There should be newborn fox kits inside. It's a pretty dangerous situation.

The father fox goes out hunting several times a day, bringing food back to the mother fox waiting at the den.

Deep inside the den, the mother fox stays close to her kits, whose eyes are not yet open, quietly protecting them.

When the kits are newborns, the mother hardly ever leaves the den. 

But as they grow to about two weeks old, she gradually begins to spend more time outside.

This is because the kits become able to maintain their body temperature on their own and can endure short periods without their mother.

However, the mountains are far from a safe place. This year again, a raccoon was seen wandering around the den.

Many animals prey on young foxes — brown bears, martens, owls, eagles, hawks, and raccoons, to name a few. I have witnessed many heartbreaking scenes myself.

Last time, a pair of red foxes captured by the trail camera was searching for a den to raise their young. They carefully inspected several dens, sometimes even peeking inside.

However, in the latest footage, the den they had been considering was not the one confirmed. It seems they ultimately chose a different den nearby.

At the new den, the male fox can be seen repeatedly bringing food.

Meanwhile, the female fox rarely leaves the den, spending most of her time inside. From this behavior, it is likely that their kits have already been born.

For a while now, the male and female will work together through this important period of raising their young.

I visited the mountain where a pair of red foxes raise their young every year.  

The air in the mountains was crisp and cold, and a significant amount of snow still remained.   Spring is approaching, but it will take some more time for all the snow to melt.  

I set up a trail camera in an area where there were two holes that seemed suitable for a den.  

A few days later, when I checked the footage, a pair of red foxes appeared on the camera.   The two seemed to be inspecting potential den sites, searching for a place to give birth.  

Female red foxes typically become pregnant between February and March and give birth to their kits about 50 days later, in April or May.  

Each litter usually consists of around four to six kits, but last year, an unusual seven kits were born.   Newborn kits are tiny, fragile, and their eyes are not yet open.  

Because of this, the mother fox stays in the den for a while, nursing and caring for her young.   Meanwhile, the male supports the family by bringing food and keeping watch over the surroundings.  

The pair captured in the footage will likely start preparing in earnest for raising their young soon.  

I will continue my observations, hoping to see healthy, lively fox kits here again this year.

キタキツネが毎年子育てをする山へ、今年も行って来ました。   山の空気はひんやりと冷たく、まだ雪が多く残っています。 春は近づいていますが、全ての雪が解けるのはもう少し時間がかかりそうです。

巣穴に適していそうな穴が2か所ある場所に、トレイルカメラを設置しました。

数日後、映像を確認すると、キタキツネのカップルが映っていました。 2匹は、巣穴になりそうな場所を見て回り、出産場所を探しているようです。

キタキツネのメスは2月～3月頃に妊娠し、約50日後の4月～5月に子ギツネを出産するのが一般的です。  

1度の出産で生まれる子ギツネは4〜6匹ほどですが、昨年は珍しく7匹の子ギツネが誕生しました。 生まれたばかりの子ギツネは目も開いておらず、とても小さくてか弱い存在です。

そのため、母ギツネはしばらくの間、巣穴の中で授乳しながら子どもたちを育てます。 一方、オスは食べ物を運んだり、周囲を警戒したりして家族を支えます。  

今回映像に映っていたペアも、そろそろ本格的に子育ての準備を始める頃でしょう。

The mother fox seems to have noticed the predator approaching the den. She quietly hides inside the den to protect her kits.

During the relocation of the Ezo red fox den, I had confirmed six fox kits, but surprise! There were not six, but seven kits. The kits are so lively that it’s hard to count them.

The young Ezo red foxes have come out of their den for the first time.

The kits are full of energy.

With six kits, the parent foxes have their hands full.

キタキツネのこども達が初めて自分で巣穴から出てきました。 子ぎつね達は元気いっぱいです。