January 27, 2007

Gratuitous Domestic Posting (TM) - Outdoor Division, Part 2

I was sitting over my cup of coffee early this morning watching the birds at the feeder when all of a sudden I noticed the local fox come gliding up from the back gate. His first impulse was to have a go at the birds and the squirrels. Failing this, he proceeded to start eating bird seed off the patio under the feeder. I couldn't have been more than about twenty five feet from him.

I didn't realize foxes would eat seed, but I suppose when they're hungry enough they'll eat anything.

Fascinating.

Posted by Robert at January 27, 2007 09:29 AM | TrackBack
Comments

Gray or red? I have a den of gray's (No, not the aliens) at the back edge of my property. Very shy, but very smart. This particular vixen is evidently very successful, as she has used that den for at least three seasons and her kits seem to always survive, which is quite uncommon.

Most canines and felines (Foxes are canids, despite the eliptical pupils they sport) will eat some "roughage" or other, but foxes are actually partly omnivorous, being able to draw nourishment from fruits, berries, nuts, and seeds much better than wolves (And dogs, their domestic counterparts), or even coyotes (who are almost goat-like in their consuming of almost anything, including other animal's excrement *eeeeeew!*).

I love foxes: I have a huge bobcat mount, but I can never bring myself to trip the trigger on a fox. I suppose if I was in Australia (Where they were thoughtlessly introduced and are a conservation issue) I could take one, but they just have a mystical air about them. They are some kind of noble or holy even, and amazingly fastidious. No cat has anything on a fox, and foxes have it all over any of the canines.

I love foxes (Of all kinds) *wink, wink/nudge, nudge*

Posted by: Hucbald at January 28, 2007 11:56 PM

Red. Haven't seen any grays in our area.

This guy is a young male. There also used to be a mangy one that hung around - his favorite napping place was visible from our window. But I haven't seen him in a while.

Judging (frankly) from the roadkill, I'd say our area is pretty saturated. Too bad they don't do a more aggressive job on the rabbits.

Posted by: Robbo the LB at January 29, 2007 01:46 PM