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Baby foxes drawing crowds, eating like kings at Labrador City golf course

A family of foxes has taken up residence at the Tamarack Golf Club in Labrador City, delighting golfers and attracting spectators, but some worry the brood is a little too comfortable on the green.

A mother and her seven cubs moved onto the course in June and have been charming golfers around Hole 6 and 7 ever since.

"They were so cute and so they were so tiny that everybody started feeding them," said Sally Snow, who runs the concession cart.

"People buy sandwiches and Cheezies and feed them," she said. "We had people bring up cat food and everything."

Snow said she and other employees have been asking golfers to stop bringing the snacks and she hopes it's not too late for the young foxes to learn the skills they will need in the wild.

Foxes suspected in golf ball thefts

In what's perhaps a sign of their instincts, the cubs have been spotted stealing golf balls, which foxes are known to mistake for eggs.

Apart from that, Snow said they haven't caused any trouble.

"They're very friendly and they won't hurt you," she said.

In fact, Snow said the photogenic family has attracted more visitors than usual to the club.

"They'd all sit around and they'd pose for you and everything, it's unreal," she said. "They're cute little things."

'They're going to starve'

As the golf season winds down, employees at the Tamarack Golf Club are hoping the foxes become more independent. But Snow can't help being worried.

"They're going to starve ... I don't think they know how to survive."

Their mother hasn't been spotted in about three weeks and it's rare to see more than two or three cubs at a time. Snow hopes that means they're moving on.

Snow said she understands why golfers are fascinated by the foxes because it's so unusual to have them around. She's seen foxes wander through the course before, but nothing like this.

"This is the first time we've ever had a family of foxes," she said, "Try not to feed them, I know it's hard."