As with every new year, springtime brings the arrival of many new baby animals born throughout the world. Farm life brings lambs, calves and chicks to name a few but alongside the agriculture, our woodland wildlife also births a new generation.

Spring is the perfect time of year for new baby animals to thrive, as the weather is getting warmer and fresh young plants are blossoming from the dampened floors to provide a nutrient-packed boost for growing tummies.

Fox cubs

Baby fox cubs, also known as ‘kits’ or ‘pups’, are born in March, usually in litters of four or five. By four weeks of age fox cubs will leave their den and start to feed on solid foods, and by six weeks they are fully weaned. Baby foxes will stay with their mothers until they are 6-7 months old, and by this time they are ready to be fully independent.

Frogspawn

Female frogs lay frogspawn eggs, which look like a mass of jelly protecting a tiny black embryo. After 2-4 weeks the eggs will hatch and little tadpoles will emerge with tails to help them swim. They will first feed on the frogspawn jelly and then move on to algae. At around 16 weeks their legs will start to grow along with tiny teeth – this is the time they will begin eating small insects.

Buzzards

Mating usually starts in March for buzzards. Male and female buzzards build a nest together either in a tree or on a cliff, and the female will lay 2-4 eggs with a 35 day incubation period. She will then look after her babies while the male brings them food for the first two weeks. At around fifty days old her young will start learning to fly and stay with her for a final 6-8 weeks.

Ladybirds

By April, ladybirds will have come out of hibernation and found a mate. The mother ladybird will lay her eggs on the underside of a leaf, and 3-5 days later they will hatch. Baby ladybirds, known as larvae, have long bodies and are black with orange markings and little spikes on their backs.

The larvae stage lasts about 21 days, followed by the pupae stage which will last around one week. This is when the larvae become immobile and will attach itself to a leaf, still orange and black in colour. The body inside will breakdown and be reformed into an adult ladybird, usually emerging pale in colour.

Spring is a time to revel in the delightful sights that new wildlife brings. For some animals, this may be their year of birth, while for others it may be the first year they become parents.