"Hello and welcome to the Little Fox Animal Report.
I am your host, Ian Shelback. Tonight, I am in Forest, Canada.
I am interviewing a very special red fox named Boxer.
He is the oldest fox in this forest.
Good evening, Boxer."
"Good evening, Ian."
"Boxer, can you tell us about your life?
What's life like here in the Canadian forest?"
"Well, Ian, I would be delighted to tell you about my life.
Where should I begin?
Let me tell you about how I met my darling wife, Bridget.
When I was a young fox, I left my family. I wanted to see the world.
'Good luck, Boxer. Take care.'
'Good-bye, Mother. Good-bye, Father. Good-bye, Family.'
I traveled for almost one month.
It was late summer so the forest was green and full of small animals.
I especially liked to catch rabbits and birds.
One day, while I was chasing a squirrel through a meadow, I met the prettiest vixen I have ever seen.
Her face and ears were wonderfully pointed; her fur was long and her tail was very bushy.
I don't think she weighed more than 3.6 kilograms. She was very slim.
'Hello, I'm Bridget. I have never seen you before.'
'Well hello, I'm Boxer. I am from very far away.
I have been traveling through the forest.'
'Traveling! That sounds exciting! I have lived here all my life.
I would like to . . . AHH!'
Just then, a large wolf jumped out from behind a tree and tried to make us his supper.
As quick as I could, I grabbed Bridget and we ran into a small hole.
We barely escaped. From that day forward, we fell in love and lived happily together."
"Did you build a house for your wife?"
"Ian, red foxes don't like to have permanent houses.
We usually spend our time outside.
Even in the winter, when the other animals are hibernating, we play outside in the snow.
By late December, it was time for us to start our family.
I searched and searched for the best place to build a den.
A den needs to be warm and dry for the cubs.
'Boxer, we must find a den soon. Our cubs will come very soon.'
'Don't worry, Bridget. I have found a great place for a den.
It is an old groundhog's den. It is not too far away.'
That very night, after we had settled into our new den, our cubs were born.
We had six wonderful young cubs, three boys and three girls. It was terrific."
"What was it like taking care of six young cubs?
It must have been very hard work."
"Well, it certainly was.
You know, when they are born they cannot even see for nine days.
Over the next two months the cubs grew and grew.
Soon they were ready for their hunting lessons.
'Okay, Children. Today you are going to get your first hunting lesson.
Usually, we like to hunt these animals: rabbits, squirrels, and mice.
Today, we will practice catching mice.
Mice are not easy to catch so you will have to pay close attention.'
After six months, Bridget and I had to say good-bye to our cubs.
They were ready to go out into the world on their own.
'Good-bye, my lovely cubs. Take care. Watch out for wolves!'
'Good-bye, Mother; good-bye, Father.'
'Good-bye, Children.'
Bridget and I lived many happy years together and had many more wonderful cubs.
My life has been great."
"Well, thank you, Boxer. It has been great talking to you."
"Before I go, I would like to say that I know that some people think foxes are mean and cunning, but we are not.
We are kind and gentle."
"Of course you are.
That was Boxer the fox.
This has been Ian Shelback for the Little Fox Animal Report in Forest, Canada.
Thank you for joining us and see you next time when we interview another interesting forest animal."