I had an enchanting encounter with a family of young foxes yesterday evening, just before sunset. I had seen a fox by my caravan hide the other day, as I quietly made my way there I could see a fox just sitting there in the sun, whats more, it didn't seem to be all that alert or wary and I walked ever closer to it.  Then later on, my friend Dick told me that he had seen a vixen and cubs there recently so I thought I would go back with the camera and see if I could get a photo or two.  Again, as I approached the gate I saw three cubs who were playing in the grass and oblivious to me but eventually they disappeared in to the cover of the woodland.  It wasn't long before one came out again and continued to romp around in the long grass and amongst the wild flowers.  It came ever closer and closer to me but was still 30 feet away from my position as I stood out in the open but very still.  The wind was blowing in my direction so it probably couldn't scent  me.  I pursed my lips and made a few loud squeaks which really got the little fox interested and it started to approach me.  I have seen my brother do this and knew it worked but I didn't have an idea that it would be so effective.  I squeaked again and again and in the end it was literally no more than 6 feet from me, it just couldn't resist being inquisitive. and I could see why it hadn't seen me.  One eye was damaged and instead of a bright sparkle there was a white sunken and bloody socket.  The poor animal had lost an eye and this was why it was struggling with the concept of caution.  I would suspect that with nature being kindest to the strong and fit, this young animal will soon meet its end sadly.  How stupid is a fox that would approach a grown man's squeak?  Later on I saw an adult fox and tried the squeak again.  This time the wary, intelligent animal hastily made its way in to the undergrowth proving that if you want to live to adulthood and you are a fox you have to learn that its probably not a good idea to walk towards a strange sound.

In the photo below, you can see how close the cub came and also it's nasty injury that will have such a massive impact on it's life expectancy.