The Vixen Speaks

Two Kits at Play

Mama staring at the people staring out the window 

I see you looking at me from high and also from low.  Being stared at by humans is displeasing to me.  Even more displeasing is your staring at my kits while they play.  I am staring back at you.  My demands are simple.  Do not come into my territory while the kits are out of the den.  Never approach them or me or the den.  Make no loud noises and create no strange odors.  Remain in your own den while my kits become used to their territory.  My kits must be allowed to grow strong and healthy. 

I have observed you and have seen no disrespect, but I am always waiting, always wary and always on guard.  Make sure that no members of the dog species disturb us.  I can deal with dogs but would rather not.                                             

If you follow my simple rules, we will live in peace and mutual respect.  

This is what the fox "said" to me while I watched her.  She seemed very focused on my understanding her wants.  The five little kits play and jump and frolic and seem intent on conveying the phrase "glad animal spirits."  Around midnight one evening, there was an awful noise below my window and I believe the fox caught a rabbit.  Foxes are omnivorous and eat everything, but we have been careful not to feed them.   Otherwise, one may end of with a "nuisance."  Now they just fascinate and enchant.  

Two kits and the proud mom

Mama with two visible kits.  There are four in the litter. 

I am such a sucker for wildlife, inherited from my Dad--Mom too, who once had a pet squirrel.  This is about the coolest thing ever.  I hope to be able to sneak a peak at the little family soon.  Keep your fingers crossed they all stay safe.  I always worry about everything.  Sigh.

Nature News from All Over

A week ago, coming home from my writing group, a fox ran across the road and into the bushes just a few hundred yards from where we live. Very cool indeed. I lectured the cats on the topic of the fox and why it is inadvisable to sneak out at night, but they just looked at me. Maybe they know that they are each about the size of a fox these days, and would give the fox pause. Third fox I've seen in these parts.

Then two nights ago, a weird bark came from the slough. Didn't exactly sound like a dog. A fox? A coyote? Went to the open door and listened. More like a dog, but coming from a spot where NO DOG ever barked. Listened again. Most like a dog. Then the barking stopped. When the barking first started, a bull frog joined in the chorus.

In the front feeder, we have messy baby sparrows, baby finches, blues jays, cardinals, titmice, chicadees, and mourning doves. Everyone eats on the ground from the mess the sparrows make. Somewhat of a bird seed/poop mess on the porch, too.

Keeping all the feeders full and seed in the house, along with the cat food, catnip and litter is a fair amount of work. I should take some seed to the spot where we saw the wild turkeys.

Somewhere in New York State, we saw a flock with lots of baby turkeys. Very nice. Ohio has an interesting device for letting motorists know that a large animal is on the highway. Something to do with a camera and lights. Couldn't figure it out, but it must be a godsend if lots of deer are present.

A good corn crop this year. I noticed it before the newspaper. A farm girl, I never was, but I always lived in farm communities, and I don't know, it must get into the blood what good crops look like, because after all these years I can still eyeball wheat, corn and evern soybeans and tell you if the yield will be good or not. A useless talent, for sure.

Tonight we are having Spanish rice, which I usually just make, but today I'll look up a recipe to see if I can add some extra ooomph.

One of your fellow critters,

Grapeshot

Hideous Carnage

Drove by the cow's pasture after my workout to see where they were, and on the road leading to the pasture there was evidence of road kill, including a mallard duck, not normally seen as a roadside victim. On my way out, I looked again at the duck and then at the yucky mess a few yards away. Ye gods, it was a fox, and then of course the story unfolded, which was either the fox chasing the duck and not watching for traffic or the fox, having caught the duck not watching for traffic or some version of the story of the fox and the duck. This is Foxborough, to be sure.

I don't like to see wildlife, esp. a nice red fox destroyed, nor do I like to consider that this may be one of "our" ducks, but there is an entire flock in the farmer's mill pond, so it must be one of those, and I haven't seen ours for a while.

Worry is endemic.

Today, with lots of clouds, I'll introduce the wintered-over geraniums to the outdoors. Into the sun gradually. Other houseplants on front porch. They do like it.