Taexalia

wild.life

Garden Drama

I haven't been successful in getting a pic of any of the fox kits so far. They are only appearing right at dusk and they are very quick on their tiny toes! I suspect they were less visible last night because a neighbour left his wee doggie in the garden ~ I don't understand folk who pay more than I earn in a month on a posh pooch and then abandon it outside until long after dark...

Anyway, the posh pooch (who is actually quite a fine wee being) was doing her thing lying on the path watching the back door and willing it to open when one of the adult foxes came through the fence. Doggie barked and ran towards the vixen and the vixen disappeared back through the fence for a moment, but then she reappeared and took a few tentative steps closer. There was a bit of a stand-off and then the vixen sat down and starting vocalising ~ now I have heard sounds before that I thought might be foxes, but I've never actually seen one do it! The sound was almost like the bark of a small dog crossed with the yowl of a cat, it sounded like a warning... perhaps warning the doggie away, or perhaps warning the rest of the family.

Today the same vixen was out and about creating more drama. First she upset crow, who flew up onto a telephone wire and carked at her. Then she appeared from some shrubbery and started behaving like a cat and I realised she had caught a bird! The sparrows all congregated on the Skeleton Tree and remonstrated at her the whole time.

Red Fox Vulpes Vulpes ~ Catching Bird

She played with the poor thing for about 10 minutes, flinging it up and pouncing to catch it then leaving it for a minute and stalking it. It was just a bit magical to be a secret witness to it all...

Sometimes I sigh because my pics lack a little quality because they are shot through double glazing, but then I remember that if I tried to open a window or go outside, I wouldn't get any shots at all. As a side note - I don't think this is the mother of the kits, and I'm also not sure what is going on with her tail. Earlier in the year I was a bit concerned that she has mange, but the fur seems to be growing again ~ if anyone has any ideas or think she needs a vet, leave me a comment.

More foxes in my garden