altivo

I missed it, alas, because I was too slow getting my boots on this morning. Gary went out to start feeding critters, and heard barking and that fox "yawp" sound behind the arena so he went back to see. The Brit neighbors have a noisy and stupid little Cairn terrier, and there he was, confronting the vixen over a dead rabbit. Gary's appearance startled the dog and he broke eye contact, upon which the vixen grabbed her prey and ran off toward the pasture. I got out there in time to see just footprints and tufts of rabbit fur scattered about, but this provides reliable visual confirmation that the fox is around, finding prey, and that the "yawp" sound we've heard at night comes from her. Gary saw her open her mouth and utter it.

She's too small to bother even this year's lamb (who probably outweighs her already by 50%) and she certainly won't eat my ponies, so I'm glad to have her around. If she keeps the rabbits and woodchucks out of the vegetable garden I'll be delighted. If she steals the neighbor's errant chickens, I'll be even happier. To bother our remaining ducks she'd have to climb a fence in broad daylight, which I imagine she can do but as long as there are easier pickings, I don't think she'll bother. I wonder if she can take out a mature goose... Or a stupid gobbler of a turkey?

OK, pack up and head off to the guild meeting...