6/16/2006: Young bat-eared fox kits

Undertoad · 06-16-2006, 01:07 PM

Happy Friday! This is a family of foxes, believe it or not - they don't look like it, but these are BAT-eared foxes, an African type, very unique and rarely seen even in zoos. This bunch is at the San Diego zoo. This zoo blog entry details the arrivals, which were kind of unexpected.

Quote:

Finally, on June 6, we got the first look at the kits. One of the keepers was feeding the adults near the burrow as usual, and saw three little heads emerge. The babies were marked with the black mask and feet, just like the adults, but their fur was very short. They were about 5 inches (12 centimeters) long, not including the tail, and were very lively, showing interest in the mealworms we tossed to the adults. Fox kits grow fast, and are fully mature at only eight to nine months old. These little guys were not wasting any time. The following day there was a bonus - four little fox heads poked out of the hole! No wonder Mom was so hungry all the time, with four mouths to feed.

As of now, the kits have not ventured out of the rock ring that surrounds their burrow. It shouldn’t be long until they begin exploring the rest of the exhibit. These foxes are most active early and late in the day, and at night. I will post when Desdamona allows them to leave their safe haven, and the best times to view them. Incidentally, the warthogs that share the exhibit with the family should not pose a problem or threat to the kits. They have peacefully coexisted with the adults, and additionally sleep in their bedroom every night, giving the foxes the run of the exhibit. I expect we will see little fox footprints outside the rock ring in the mornings before we actually see them out in the daylight hours.

Griff · 06-16-2006, 01:09 PM

They're so cute, I don't even want to eat them! Happy Friday all! g

Emrikol · 06-16-2006, 01:13 PM

Those are too cute!

I like bats, and I like foxes, and I like baby animals. It's like a cutegasm.

Ibby · 06-16-2006, 01:26 PM

all together now --

AWWWW!

xoxoxoBruce · 06-16-2006, 02:55 PM

I guess they use that ear spread to zero in on insects in the dark.......or fly.

capnhowdy · 06-16-2006, 07:29 PM

Damn. I was thinking this was a new 'spare time' project. These dudes outa have hypersensative hearing.

I love Fridays.

DucksNuts · 06-16-2006, 09:17 PM

Ohh, they arent so cute when they grow up.

Wonder if I can get a stray one to follow me home?

milkfish · 06-16-2006, 09:39 PM

I bet they get all the channels on DirecTV.

capnhowdy · 06-17-2006, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DucksNuts

Ohh, they arent so cute when they grow up.

Wonder if I can get a stray one to follow me home?

Try tying a pork chop around your neck.

Griff · 06-26-2006, 06:48 PM

Where is the link for the kit? I'd like to build one.

dar512 · 06-27-2006, 02:11 PM

Not to mention the missing caboodle.

footfootfoot · 06-27-2006, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Griff

Where is the link for the kit? I'd like to build one.

Skip it. I ordered the kit and it was missing a bunch of parts, and didn't look anything like the illustration.

capnhowdy · 06-28-2006, 05:52 PM

mine didn't come with the bat ears, so I took the legs off my x ray glasses, covered them with my magic cape, and used them. With the x ray bonus this is one bad fox.

predatormc · 06-28-2006, 06:15 PM

They wouldn't be so freakin' scared if there wasn't a Sudowodo taking the photo. I know I would be.

Yes, I am 5.

capnhowdy · 06-28-2006, 06:33 PM

5 what?

06-16-2006, 01:09 PM	#2
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	They're so cute, I don't even want to eat them! Happy Friday all! g __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

06-16-2006, 01:26 PM	#4
Ibby erika Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: "the high up north" Posts: 6,127	all together now -- AWWWW! __________________ not really back, you didn't see me, i was never here shhhhhh

06-16-2006, 02:55 PM	#5
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	I guess they use that ear spread to zero in on insects in the dark.......or fly. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump. Last edited by xoxoxoBruce; 04-07-2007 at 05:52 PM.

06-16-2006, 07:29 PM	#6
capnhowdy Blatantly Homosapien Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,200	Damn. I was thinking this was a new 'spare time' project. These dudes outa have hypersensative hearing. I love Fridays. __________________ Please type slowly. I can't read very fast............... and no holy water, please.

06-26-2006, 06:48 PM	#10
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Where is the link for the kit? I'd like to build one. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

06-16-2006, 01:13 PM	#3
Emrikol Compatriot-at-Arms Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 107	Those are too cute! I like bats, and I like foxes, and I like baby animals. It's like a cutegasm.

06-16-2006, 09:17 PM	#7
DucksNuts Bitchy Little Brat Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 5,067	Ohh, they arent so cute when they grow up. Wonder if I can get a stray one to follow me home?

06-16-2006, 09:39 PM	#8
milkfish A serene breakdown Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Northern NJ, USA Posts: 266	I bet they get all the channels on DirecTV.

06-27-2006, 02:11 PM	#11
dar512 dar512 is now Pete Zicato Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago suburb Posts: 4,968	Not to mention the missing caboodle. __________________ "Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain." -- Friedrich Schiller

06-28-2006, 05:52 PM	#13
capnhowdy Blatantly Homosapien Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,200	mine didn't come with the bat ears, so I took the legs off my x ray glasses, covered them with my magic cape, and used them. With the x ray bonus this is one bad fox. __________________ Please type slowly. I can't read very fast............... and no holy water, please.

06-28-2006, 06:15 PM	#14
predatormc The mug rack at the End of the World. Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: UK Posts: 5	Awh They wouldn't be so freakin' scared if there wasn't a Sudowodo taking the photo. I know I would be. Yes, I am 5.

06-28-2006, 06:33 PM	#15
capnhowdy Blatantly Homosapien Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,200	5 what? __________________ Please type slowly. I can't read very fast............... and no holy water, please.

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