A heartwarming scene unfolded in a Surrey forest, where a trio of fox cubs were photographed sleeping piled atop one another. The image, described as a "cub sandwich," showcases the young animals resting in a secluded woodland area.
Photographer Ben Nicholson spent weeks setting up a hide near the fox family's den. His patient approach allowed the adult foxes to acclimate to his presence before the cubs emerged. As the cubs grew more confident, they were observed exploring, playing, and eventually collapsing in exhaustion.
One evening in April, the cubs played around the hide before climbing onto a log near Nicholson and falling asleep together. This intimate moment was captured and subsequently highly commended in the British Wildlife Photography Awards' animal portraits section.
Nicholson shared that his experience with the fox family spanned an entire spring and summer in 2023. He described the cubs' behavior shifting from energetic play to restful slumber as they became accustomed to his close proximity.