Nearly three years ago I spotted a vixen in the next door garden, it was early morning and she was bringing her cubs home after a hunting lesson. One of the cubs could not take another step and flopped onto the grass with all legs flailing. I was lost…..
I brought some of Maxies cat biscuits and regularly left some out for the cubs – they never became tame but I really wouldn’t want them to. We left food out every day and they thrived.
We are now years on and those first cubs have grown and all moved on except one and she has now disappeared – probably died as their life expectancy is quite short – but has left a legacy of wild life for us to watch. We now have her grandchildren visiting us every night and every night we foxwatch – its much better than the television.
Last night we had some ham for them – donated by my boss and I make no apologies for the photos – they were taken through a window with my mobile phone. I just hope you can see and experience some of the pleasures of these beautiful animals with me…
They have given us so much pleasure over the years – long may it continue!!!!
Thats brilliant !, I would love to see them… at Mum’s we used to have the same, but with badgers .. they would appear first, then then cubs (if they are called cubs ?). we woulld leave bread, toast out for them, they even loved spaghetti !. The problem was they would take the whole piece away ruuning our viewing, so we fixed that with rice !!!!, you could even watch with the door open, so they were 5 feet away …
you lucky thing !
Moon´s last blog post..Dec 29th 1979
Thank you so much – it is good to find people who appreciate wild life! I am afraid foxes get very bad press but the urban variety are truly amazing. This all goes on at my partners house which is perhaps as well as when I take Hippie (our greyhound) over there – they become very wary, it doesn’t stop them though and Hips? well all she wants to do is play with them.
I can sit outside and they will still come and feed – I love it – its a real adrenaline rush – but you must know that from the badgers – now that must have been a wonderful sight!
I love all animals, we are going Bear watching next year in Alaska, but I still get a thrill from a squirrel etc. we ahd a skunk in the back yard the other day, I loved it !!!.. so, to see a fox, a deer, or a baby badger is a real treat !
Moon´s last blog post..Dec 29th 1979
Good for you – so many people miss out on what is sitting on their doorsteps! Bears – now that will be fun!! Not sure about the skunk though – but I suppose they are ok unless they get scared?
What a thrill! My mother-in-law used to feed a semi-tame fox in her garden and got an enormous amount of pleasure from her. She called her Foxy (highly original!) and over the years managed to get some fairly good photos with her little camera.
We do have foxes here – of course we do! We right on the edge of farmland. But the dogs go tearing up the garden late at night and if the foxes are around they get the fright of their lives, so they won’t ever get too tame here, I think.
I hear the vixens bark in Jan/Feb though, when they’re breeding.
I took some pictures of the communal garden last night.
The new neighbour. She’s quite foxy.
Jay – Thats the trouble with our hounds isn’t it – they chase small furry creatures! Yes we get the barking too – its the only time you hear them!
Maxi – Well done – hope she didn’t catch you!! The joy of youth you see – enjoy! When you get to my age you’ll be eyeing up the urban kind of foxy lady!