A very special film of a Red Fox Vulpes vulpes family. The 14-month-old vixen is one of two mates of the dog fox shown, the other being her mother, by comparison a much more elusive animal, and one that isn't willing to be filmed. Both females produced litters, but the younger female may have lost her cubs judging from her behaviour, as she was seen to allow her mother's four cubs to suckle, quite probably for the first time, whilst being filmed as the photographer stood close by and watched. Until a day or two earlier she would have been sent packing by her mum if she had strayed too close to the cubs. The previous year's litter produced by the older vixen contained seven cubs, but they were sired by a much older male (aged at least 6 by the time that he was usurped from his territory during the previous December). So, the young cubs are the half-siblings of the vixen shown playing with them and allowing them to feed from her, and the older vixen would have been (or may still be) a grandparent to the younger vixen's cubs. There is also no in-breeding in consequence of any incestuous relationship! Two of the previous year's young vixens remain in the territory as part of the social group, but the sibling failed to produce any cubs. The reason for the possible (yet unconfirmed) loss of the younger vixen's cubs is that the efforts of a social/family group are usually channelled into ensuring the survival of the dominant vixen's offspring, meaning that the older vixen is the most likely culprit if the cubs were killed, as the dog fox had been assiduously providing food for both families. Alternatively, they could have died for other reasons - or they may still be alive, meaning that the vixen was stimulated to feed the cubs in this film purely because of their behaviour. Her willingness to play with the cubs is also evident, and the dog fox, very much an involved and dedicated parent, was probably glad to be able to take a break!