foxy ladies (or gents)

A couple of days ago- I overheard a neighbor discussing the foxes at the end of the street ...... now I could be shy & sweet & unassuming and all ... pretending that I really knew all along that he was talking about me, & Lisa, & Julie & just didn't realize that I was within ear shot ... but that would have been childish now wouldn't it?? ESPECIALLY since he wasn't talkin' about us at all- but rather REAL foxes. 2-3 weeks ago someone noticed a female fox with a couple of cubs ... but the sightings were few & far between. We have a drainage ditch along our end of the street & word was that they seemed to be hanging out in it. Time has passed and it turns out that there are 6 pups and the mother hasn't been seen in a long while now. The little ones are foraging a bit on their own but uncharacteristically in & out throughout the day, rather than just dusk & dawn ... depending on how safe they feel (I guess). Not seeing the mother about, and these guys being kitten sized ... a few of us have taken up tossing out food for them and they are getting braver (and closer) This, we fear may have a double edged outcome- they do seem quite hungry & yet, if we continue this- will they learn to hunt for themselves? In the meantime- we are enjoying the "wildlife" in it's present form for now (a doe with 2 fawns were down here yesterday) .... I just hope we don't get around to naming them!!!