Foxes!

Brandy
- May 20, 2008

I had to tell you that my foxes are back! Actually, they probably never went completely away but moved to a different spot.

I was out behind my barn Saturday morning and startled some kind of animal that made a snarling bark noise and scrambled off through the grass. It seemed like 3 creatures scurried off but within a couple of minutes a fox popped up a few feet away on the base of an old uprooted tree that has lots of dirt built up around it. The fox promptly sat down a started watching me. It seemed fairly relaxed and laid down after a bit. I was probably 40-50 feet from it. Within a few more minutes another fox showed up, came around the side of the downed tree and popped down a hole that the first animal was still sitting in front of. The second fox seemed a little smaller but I only got a brief look. The first fox continued to sit outside of the den and seemed fairly unconcerned, but watchful.

Sunday morning about 5:00 both my husband and I were awoken by a very strange noise close to our window. Further investigation on the internet revealed it to be a fox call (that weazy, asthmatic noise). It might have been 2 of them calling to each other as it went from far away to close up pretty quickly. The same call woke me up this morning about 5 again. Since this is the first time I've heard this call, I wonder if there are kits that are being taken out on little hunting parties or if a pair has gotten a late start this year and have just bonded.

I plan on spending a bit more time watching them as soon as I have the opportunity and see who's living in the den. I've read that foxes can use the same den for generations and this one is in an area that we do not use at all and I have no reason or plans to disturb them.

It's very exciting to see them again and I hope that they will stay.