theurbanfoxwatcher:

eshu-the-vixen:

0nightvale0:

theurbanfoxwatcher:

eshu-the-vixen:

Some studio shot was done of her a while back. They happened long ago, but only recently got the refined shots from the photographer :)

Credit goes to; https://www.facebook.com/gatiodaniel

I just noticed that Eshu is a white-spotted fox!

This is very interesting as most of the theory’s I’ve heard are that it’s either the result of a fox that’s had mange, flea and/or tick bites or something that happens during shedding, however I doubt any of those could be the case with Eshu. Since the spots still seem to still be there in her older photos it goes with my suspicion that it could be a genetic trait.

I’ve also still never found an example of any other fox sub-species with these spots which also suggests genetic rather then disease or shedding issues that could effect foxes from any region. Wish there was more information on white spotting in European foxes! 

My two cents: arctic foxes tend to develop spots when being bred for domestication! I don’t know anything about Eshu, but if she is part of a line of foxes bred for being pets, that’s one possible cause of the spots.

I also don’t know if the white spotting happens in the wild as well as with domesticated foxes.

That is right, Eshu is a white spotted fox and she still has her spots as she maturing week by week. We noticed earlier this and not only on her legs but also on her back and a bit on her “eyebrow”. 

She is not domesticated nor captive bred, she is directly from the wild an orphan kit whose mother made nest on the wrong era and due of human activity she never returned there. She not seems having any health issues connected with her spots, it is there the way it is - a bit less seen with her slowly growing winter fur but with short fur clearly can be “spotted”. 

But this is not that strange if I think that this year at the shelter we got an orphan male kit also from the wilds who looks exactly like the “fire and ice” colour morph. He also having extra spots even on his black part of the ears! This year wild fostered kits surprised many of us. I will upload some photos of this pale toned kit so you can see!

This type of white spotting has never been documented in captive bred red foxes as far as I know. This is probably because they originate from North American stock which don’t appear to carry this mutation. It is strictly a mutation found in wild European red foxes (V. v. crucigera) like Eshu. It seems to be pretty common in European foxes too. 

Also I would love to see those photos sometime! Sounds like the typical leucistic coloring found in European foxes (again something that seems fairly unique to wild foxes here.) I’ve seen examples of quite a few of them and they definitely have that fire and ice look. There’s even a population of them close to where I live in Kent, England!

I’m fascinated by wild color morphs and variations, especially in our native foxes.