Roughly when do Fox cubs emerge?

[FUDGEY]

I am hoping to find a den to photograph them and was wondering roughly when do they first start to venture out the hole? I guess there will be regional variations so if its any help I live in Southern Scotland. Hope someone can help. Thanks

[The Woodman]

Fudgey

The earliest date I have evidence of is a one week old cub on Feb 16th in Cheshire.

I saw a cub dead on the road last week on the west coast of Cumbria that looked to be around 8 -10 weeks old. That's young for a road casualty and I would imagine that the earth was not too far from the scene.

There is an earth near me and the tell tale signs are there. Flattened areas of bluebells and "toys" - a bone or two and a pheasant wing end.

[mbaldw]

I find late April or early May the best time to go looking for cubs. They're generally easier to see at this time because, I find, they get more nervous of people as they get older.

Cheers,
Marc.

[Fauna]

At the moment i've located 9 active cubbing earths local to me, one of which is in a land drain (these have not ventured out yet), which does/will offer great views from the side of the road. The others can be a bit tricky to view as they are on ash tip sites with vast amounts of nettles.

The earliest signs at one earth was March 19tt. Have not got back to check this one since, but they usually move the cubs about at this earth so they may not be here if i visit again.

Just keep looking about Fudgey, Rabbit holes, Badger setts, land drains etc. Look for "larders" and various sorts of remains around entrance holes, i'm sure you will find what your looking for. Don't focus to much on the "musky Fox smell" as this can just be where they have been scent marking the "earths", though if there are cubs there you will usually smell the rot from kills and carrion. If you do locate any, try not to hang about to long at the entrance, some of the more nervous can/will up and move on.

Regards Chris...

[Dorts]

We always thought of the 21st of April as the 'magic day' when you could look forward to Fox Cubs first emerging, Badger cubs the same, Cuckoo and Nightingale calling, Swifts, Swallows and Martins arriving.

But of course things have changed over the years with 'arrivals' getting earlier, but in general, that date is still a good guide.
Dorts.

[ViperaBerus]

My locals are out.

[FUDGEY]

Thank you every one, they are so difficult to locate in my area due mainly to persecution and the few dens I did know about from previous years have been taken over by Badgers. This might be a bit cheeky asking and a bit of a long shot, but Id be willing to travel a reasonable distance if any one knows a Den that has cubs. It would have to be in a decent site for photographing. I can only ask Thanks once again for the replies folks