as small as a world and as large as alone, theurbanfoxwatcher: What Are “Helper Foxes?” In...

3:48am December 30, 2013

theurbanfoxwatcher:

What Are “Helper Foxes?”
In fox society it’s not uncommon for young foxes, usually vixens, to remain with their parents and help them to rear their young. These helpers may stay in their parents territory for many years, sometimes even inheriting the territory when their parents die.
Usually foxes will leave home at around 6-8 months old, but some foxes will be permitted to stay at home. This is most common in urban areas where an abundance of food better allows for group living, but helpers also occur in rural areas and have been documented in red foxes across many countries (Red Fox: The Catlike Canine by J. David Henry mentions helpers in North American foxes.) Why these foxes choose to stay isn’t fully understood, but it is known that it’s the dominant vixen who decides which of her cubs are allowed to stay and which must leave.
These helpers usually wont breed themselves, but instead help their mother raise her young by babysitting, suckling and bringing home food for the cubs. Should anything happen to the mother vixen then these helpers will even step in and raise the cubs as their own. Because the cubs share the same genes as the helper foxes it means they have a vested interest in helping to raise them. It’s also been suggested that these helpers gain valuable experience in how to raise a litter so they are better prepared for when they choose to have their own offspring, although there is no conclusive evidence on the subject.
It is also still unknown for sure whether helpers actually increase the chance of cub survival or not, although current research suggests they do not have any significant impact on cub survival. My own theory is that helpers could be benefiting the parent foxes rather then the cubs. Rearing cubs is a very difficult and exhausting time, and having other foxes around to help take some of the load may make it a bit easier on the parent animals, and allow the mother vixen in particular to have a rest from her demanding brood. As of yet I don’t know of any research regarding how helpers may effect or benefit the parent foxes, so it is still only a guess.

What Are “Helper Foxes?”

In fox society it’s not uncommon for young foxes, usually vixens, to remain with their parents and help them to rear their young. These helpers may stay in their parents territory for many years, sometimes even inheriting the territory when their parents die.

Usually foxes will leave home at around 6-8 months old, but some foxes will be permitted to stay at home. This is most common in urban areas where an abundance of food better allows for group living, but helpers also occur in rural areas and have been documented in red foxes across many countries (Red Fox: The Catlike Canine by J. David Henry mentions helpers in North American foxes.) Why these foxes choose to stay isn’t fully understood, but it is known that it’s the dominant vixen who decides which of her cubs are allowed to stay and which must leave.

These helpers usually wont breed themselves, but instead help their mother raise her young by babysitting, suckling and bringing home food for the cubs. Should anything happen to the mother vixen then these helpers will even step in and raise the cubs as their own. Because the cubs share the same genes as the helper foxes it means they have a vested interest in helping to raise them. It’s also been suggested that these helpers gain valuable experience in how to raise a litter so they are better prepared for when they choose to have their own offspring, although there is no conclusive evidence on the subject.

It is also still unknown for sure whether helpers actually increase the chance of cub survival or not, although current research suggests they do not have any significant impact on cub survival. My own theory is that helpers could be benefiting the parent foxes rather then the cubs. Rearing cubs is a very difficult and exhausting time, and having other foxes around to help take some of the load may make it a bit easier on the parent animals, and allow the mother vixen in particular to have a rest from her demanding brood. As of yet I don’t know of any research regarding how helpers may effect or benefit the parent foxes, so it is still only a guess.