Following a fox family in northern Germany


Following a fox family in northern Germany
Following a fox family in northern Germany
A red fox taking a deer leg to her hungry pups.
Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz
  • Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz
    A red fox taking a deer leg to her hungry pups.
  • Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz; Thumbnail © Bakhtovar Khobilov/Dreamstime.com
    On Russia's Wrangel Island, an Arctic fox hunting for eggs in a colony of snow geese.
  • Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz
    Arctic foxes and snowy owls struggling to find food in the Siberian Arctic.
  • Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz; Thumbnail © Hannah Babiak/Dreamstime.com
    Snow geese goslings facing threats from various animals, including Arctic foxes and wolverines.
  • Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz
    Red fox kits fighting over food.
  • Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz
    Learn how a female red fox cares for her newborn kits during their first weeks of life in this video.

Transcript

It’s late summer in northern Germany and the farmers have been busy bringing in the corn. A young fox is exploring the fields around his den. He’s nearly fully grown and now needs to learn to hunt for himself. He has picked up a scent but soon loses interest.

Nearby, his mother has been more successful in finding food. She has discovered a deer carcass near the edge of the woods. Foxes will eat almost anything, and carrion is regularly on the menu. She returns to the den with a sizeable piece of leg. Her fully-grown cubs show little restraint and the prized piece is heavily contested. The young foxes are already as big as their mother and their disputes are getting rougher every day. It will not be long before they're ready to go their own way.