Update on the Fox Class of 2025

Well, it's been a while since I introduced this year's foxes, and it's fair to say that much has changed, and I've learned a lot. Firstly, there are not three adult foxes present but six, and secondly, I'm fairly certain that none of them are nursing or caring for cubs this year, which is hugely disappointing.

So, in addition to Big Red, Rusty and Bramble, I'd like to introduce Geri, Todd and Shadow.

Geri (Female)

Named after Geri Halliwell – Ginger Spice

Distinguishing features: A very even, light ginger-red coloured coat, with blonde patches along its neck and shoulders. Her tail is a pale ginger with a prominent white tip. The head and face is quite pale/blonde, with barely discernible tear stripes and no scars on her muzzle. Given that her face is quite pale, it gives the impression that she has darker eyes than the other foxes. She often adopts a stance where she cranes her neck to check that I'm not in the vicinity, giving the uncanny impression of a Maned Wolf (see middle image below).

Character: She's a nervous wee thing, painfully so, who is the most subordinate of the six. She's easily bullied off food by magpies and crows.

Shadow (Female)

Named after her tear stripes that extend above the corner of her eyes, giving the impression she is wearing poorly applied eye shadow (see images below). She could have been called any of a multitude of synonyms for beautiful, given her unblemished face.

Distinguishing features: Once again, a fairly even red coloured coat, with blonde patches along the shoulders. Her defining features are her relatively dark tear stripes that extend above the corner of her eye, which frame a perfect, unblemished muzzle. Throughout much of April and into the beginning of May, Shadow has been unable to put weight on her front right leg.

Character: She has become a regular in the field and appears to be an equivalent rank to Bramble and Rusty. Sadly, she's carrying a fairly serious injury to her front right leg and is unable to stand on it. It's made her very cautious around the other foxes, and she tends to be the last to arrive at the feeding site. Not surprisingly, she's the thinnest of the six, but at the time of writing, she's showing the first signs of improvement by taking occasional steps on the injured leg. She's not tolerant of my presence

Todd (male)

Named after the Middle English word, Todde, meaning Fox.

Distinguishing features: Todd is extremely distinctive, having a very grey coloured coat and a brown tail with a white tip. His forelegs are brown. Facially, Todd has quite pale/grey fur, with a brown colouration around his eyes, giving the impression of a mask that enhances his dark amber eyes. He has relatively dark tear stripes.

Character: Todd is a reasonably confident fox who's allowed me to sit on the floor at the edge of the field to photograph him. He appears at ease with all the other foxes, including Big Red and Rusty.