Mom Fox Finds Her Dead Pup & Carries it to a New Den

This was one of the most difficult videos I've made, but I felt it was an important part of this fox family's story to document. On May 21–22, my trail cameras captured something heartbreaking and extraordinary. Mom fox, Sage, found the body of her fourth pup & brought it back to the den. She allowed each of her pups to observe their dead sibling before eventually moving the living pups to a new, safer den. But the story doesn't end there. Later that night, Mom returned to the old den alone. She had left the living pups behind to go back for the body. At 10:46 p.m., she carried her dead pup with her to the new den. Why did she bring the body back? Why did she allow the other pups to see it? And why did she carry the body to their new den? I can't know what Mom was thinking, but the behavior my cameras captured is remarkable. I've shared the footage as respectfully as possible, including blurring the body slightly. This was a difficult sequence to watch and edit, but it is an important part of this family's story—and one I believe is worth documenting. The three surviving pups were safe, and the next challenge was finding their new den. It took me about a week to locate it, and it was in a completely unexpected place. So their story continues, and now they are in a safer den, away from whatever predator was attacking them. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Have you ever witnessed anything like this in foxes or other wild animals? What do you think was happening here? 📸Trail Camera footage is from May 21st-22nd, 2024. Thank you for watching and supporting Red Fox Tales. Every view helps me continue documenting the remarkable lives of these wild foxes. This nature documentary shows wild red foxes living in northern New York along Lake Ontario, as captured by my trail camera. 🦊🦊 📸 All footage captured with remote trail cameras 🦊 Wild red fox family behavior 🌳 Part of the series: Single Red Fox Mom Raises Pups Alone    • Single Red Fox Mom Raises 7 Pups Alone in ...   🐾 New episodes coming soon 📍 Filmed on location in Northern New York, on Lake Ontario ✨ Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe if you love wildlife stories 📸🦊🐾 MY TRAIL CAMERA GEAR & RESOURCES🐾🦊📸 Want to know what gear I use to track the red fox family? Check out the gear & books I use below: ► Red Fox- The Catlike Canine by J. David Henry - https://amzn.to/4yGMrtW ► Premium Pick - Browning Trail Cam: https://amzn.to/3R7LWs2 ► Budget Pick - GardePro Cam: https://link.amazon/B09vRZj0Y ► Best Night Vision - Stealth Cam Unit: https://amzn.to/4wTcKeO ► High-Speed SD Cards (Crucial for Video): https://amzn.to/4pwvK09 ► External Battery Packs for Field Power: https://amzn.to/4hnp2HF Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases #fox #wildlife #nature #animals #wildanimals #naturedocumentary #otters #foxes #lakeontario #trailcamera Footage from previous years: The Helper Fox: A Red Fox Daughter Returns To Help Her Family 2023    • The Helper Fox: A Red Fox Daughter Returns...   Red Fox Family: Mom & Dad Raise 8 Pups in 2022    • Red Fox Family: Mom & Dad Raise 8 Pups in ...   Two Wild Fox Moms Den Together with Their 14 Puppies 2021    • Two Wild Fox Moms Den Together with Their ...   Wild Fox Life • Lake Ontario    • Wild Fox Life • Lake Ontario   Watch a fox family thrive in their natural habitat. See rare, intimate moments of fox pups and parents interacting at the den. This footage provides an up-close look at a fox family living in the wild. If you enjoy observing animal behavior, this documentation of a fox den offers a clear view of how these creatures raise their young and navigate their environment. From playful daytime activities to quiet nighttime footage, you will see the daily routines that define life for these animals.