{"id":13602,"date":"2020-02-24T06:30:00","date_gmt":"2020-02-24T11:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=13602"},"modified":"2020-02-21T12:59:04","modified_gmt":"2020-02-21T17:59:04","slug":"take-5-winter-foxes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-winter-foxes\/","title":{"rendered":"Take 5: Winter Foxes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As the breeding season for foxes<\/a> winds down (typically lasting from mid-January through February), females will be seeking dens in which to give birth and raise their young, called “kits.” Although both Gray and Red foxes (the two species found in Massachusetts) are nocturnal, it is common to see adults hunting during the day while they are raising young, so after the gestation period of 7\u20138 weeks, you may have better odds of spotting one during daylight hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Foxes typically produce 3-6 pups. The young are blind and helpless at birth and remain in the den until 4\u20135 weeks old. They’re weaned at around 12 weeks and come fall the family members will go their separate ways and become independent (both parents assist in raising the young). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not uncommon for foxes to use crawl spaces under a shed or deck as dens, but a fox den in the backyard presents little reason for concern: foxes would much rather avoid people than confront them. Plus, watching the young as they play and develop the skills they will need as an adult can be a joy to both adults and children. Of course, always remember to keep a respectful distance from any wildlife, refrain from feeding them (this includes securing outdoor garbage and pet food containers), and report any sick animals<\/a> or unusual behavior to your local police department. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more about foxes on our website and enjoy these five photos of foxes in winter from our annual Picture This: Your Great Outdoors<\/a> photo contest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Red
Red Fox \u00a9 Tracy Myers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Red
Red Fox \u00a9 Kevin Komiega<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Red
Red Fox \u00a9 Juliana Lugg<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Gray
Gray Fox \u00a9 Michael Snow<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Red
Red Fox \u00a9 Barbara Gaskin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Red
Red Fox \u00a9 Karen Walker<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As the breeding season for foxes winds down (typically lasting from mid-January through February), females will be seeking dens in which to give birth and raise their young, called “kits.” Although both Gray and Red foxes (the two species found in Massachusetts) are nocturnal, it is common to see adults hunting during the day while […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":68,"featured_media":13608,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[158],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13602","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-take-5"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/02\/2942Tracy_Myers29093.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t87A-3xo","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4141,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-fantastic-foxes\/","url_meta":{"origin":13602,"position":0},"title":"Take 5: Fantastic Foxes","author":"Rosemary","date":"October 6, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"There are two species of fox in Massachusetts, the red fox and the gray fox. Both are secretive and wily, yet they've been favorite subjects of our Photo Contest photographers. Here are some of our favorite shots. Our 2014 Photo Contest deadline has now passed, and the judges are hard\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Photo Contest"","block_context":{"text":"Photo Contest","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/photo-contest-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2014\/10\/Nick-DiNatale-2013.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2014\/10\/Nick-DiNatale-2013.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2014\/10\/Nick-DiNatale-2013.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4221,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/fox-or-coyote\/","url_meta":{"origin":13602,"position":1},"title":"Fox or Coyote? How to Tell Them Apart","author":"Rosemary","date":"October 29, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Most of us only ever catch fleeting\u00a0glimpses of coyotes or foxes, and these brief encounters can leave us wondering what species we saw. Besides the domestic dog, our state hosts three members of the family Canidae, a word that comes from the Latin word for dog, \u201ccanis.\u201d Here\u2019s a primer\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Nature Notes"","block_context":{"text":"Nature Notes","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/nature-notes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Red Fox","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2014\/10\/1923ColleenBruso7025.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2014\/10\/1923ColleenBruso7025.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2014\/10\/1923ColleenBruso7025.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7921,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-down-the-rabbit-hole\/","url_meta":{"origin":13602,"position":2},"title":"Take 5: Down the Rabbit Hole","author":"Ryan D.","date":"July 6, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Did you know that there are two species of cottontail rabbits in Massachusetts? 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This Friday, July 31, you can witness the month's second full moon, also now known as a Blue Moon. Don't be disappointed, though, if the sky isn't glowing in blue light. The name's origin has\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Get Outdoors"","block_context":{"text":"Get Outdoors","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/get-outdoors\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/07\/copyrightMackenzieLannon.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/07\/copyrightMackenzieLannon.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/07\/copyrightMackenzieLannon.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1917,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/the-western-greenway-project\/","url_meta":{"origin":13602,"position":4},"title":"The Western Greenway Project","author":"Hillary T.","date":"April 9, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary in Belmont is proud to be part of the Western Greenway, 1,200 acres of interconnected open space in Waltham, Lexington, and Belmont. This corridor is a valuable and increasingly rare resource in our region, providing natural, cultural, and recreational benefits. The interconnected lands of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Project Updates"","block_context":{"text":"Project Updates","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/project-updates\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2013\/03\/W-Greenway-1-1-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":14642,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-you-musk-be-joking\/","url_meta":{"origin":13602,"position":5},"title":"Take 5: You Musk Be Joking!","author":"Ryan D.","date":"September 7, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"While they do belong to the order Rodentia), muskrats are not, in fact, rats at all (i.e. members of the genus Rattus). 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