Fox again

[altivo]

The tunnel under the SE corner of the arena came out all the way to the interior under the tackroom door. (Tackroom has a raised floor, so it was easy going for whatever critter made it to go the length of that room (just a walk-in closet, really) and emerge below the doorsill. Gary thought he could flush out whoever was in there, so I stood where I could see the outside end of the diggings, with a large pile of spoils now, while he ran a hose into the inside end. No one emerged. It doesn't smell like fox or skunk. Might be woodchuck, I don't think I'd smell them unless they'd been in there a while and this is less than 24 hours old. Anyway, he decided to block up both ends with concrete blocks and dirt. While he was doing that I saw the fox.

She (I'm sure it's the same vixen as last year) ran up the neighbor's drive and disappeared among the roots of the trees. I'm sure she has yet another burrow over there on the edge of our woods. No mistaking the identity, the tail alone was very obvious, and now I've seen her running enough times to recognize the posture which is unlike a dog. Also she runs silently. Any of the dogs around here would make a racket, and the neighbor on that side has a dog that is roughly fox sized and colored (but lacks the tail) but that one would have certainly barked at me rather than just running past. Fast, graceful, and silent. I like.

Spinach seed planted a week ago are starting to germinate. No sign of the lettuces yet.

Comments

[avon-deer.livejournal.com]

Usually you can smell a fox before you see them. ;)

They are clever creatures and I should imagine it's warm under the tackroom, and hence she has settled there.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Ah, but I don't smell fox in this particular case. That's why I think the hole under the tackroom was someone else.

The vixen is very likely either due to have kits soon, or has recently had them. I'm sure she has one or more secure dens in the area. There are plenty, at least three others that I know of on our land, and I think she disappeared into a fourth when she ran by yesterday afternoon. If there's been a major effort to reopen the one we closed, I may have to reconsider that opinion, but right now I think it was a woodchuck who did that.

I agree that foxes are smart. That also makes it seem unlikely that she'd dig a den right in the middle of a daily traffic pattern. She's been around the place long enough to know that spot offers little privacy or protection.

[avon-deer.livejournal.com]

Keep us informed if you find anything down there. :)

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Something tried to dig in again last night, but didn't get past Gary's blockade. Now he's going to reopen the hole because he's afraid there might be babies trapped in there. I rather doubt that. He set a live trap near the entrance and baited it with carrots. He may catch a big woodchuck, or the neighbor's stupid dog. I don't think a fox will fall for carrots.

[saythename.livejournal.com]

Do the Japanese thing and leave "offerings" in places far
away from your dwellings. We call it positive reinforcement.

As for it being a vixen, well, some mammals mate for life,
otheres yiff and run away and let the woman raise the kids.

Sounds like human society dunnit?

Poor Vix!

*finds the Tod and he's on the back of another vix and
breathing hard when he's dragged off*

"MEEF!"

"You left a vix with kits back there! She's had to break
into houses and barns!"

*the tod looks confused*

"So?"

*holds his temper and takes the tod back to the vix*

=D

*meefmeef!*

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I supposed all along that this was why so many furries, and especially males, associate themselves with foxes. ;p

Now, stallions, that's different. They may be polygamous, but they're also protective and loyal... Right? ;p;p;p

Henpecked is more the right term for the stallion. The chief mare runs the show and tells him what to do most of the time.

[saythename.livejournal.com]

I remember being in Kentucky by some railroad
tracks with a camera. I was intent on taking
a picture of a caboose. I wandered off from
the trails and into the woods to take a "shortcut".
As usual it was a "longcut" but I had to walk
through this pasture in moonlight. There where
ten or so mares and one huge black stallion, and
I disturbed them. I was already going out of the
pasture but the stallion ran up on me with a
heavy pounding noise and a snort and watched me
leave.

The mares giggled and the stallion turned
and glared.

The mares stopped giggling.

I did get my picture too.

^_^

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Of course some of us stud horses aren't into that game at all...

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

The ol Vixen has come back :)
I always imagine Horses as farmers and innkeepers for some reason

[altivo.livejournal.com]

My novel from last fall has one as a baker. But yes, you're on the right track.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Or gangsters?

Tatro is a baker, not a backer. He bakes bread and cakes and sells them for a living. He's also a volunteer firehorse.

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

Mr Hoss the baker?

Although those thinner sleeker horses I can see being Night club owners and things ;)