Entry tags:

wildlife

Fox Snooze

(No, not the notoriously biased news team.) Snapped just a couple of hours ago. We returned from taking my car for 15000 mile service and shortly after getting into the house the dogs erupted into barking on both sides and ours joined in. Our two have access to a dog door and both rushed outside, but out there they are restrained by a fence unless we deliberately open the gate to let them out. The neighbors' dogs on both sides, by contrast, run completely loose all the time, invading our buildings and chasing wildlife on our land as well as on theirs. Gary spotted the fox running between our barns, pursued by several terriers. She wasn't working very hard, though they certainly were: barking their lungs out and racing as fast as their stubby legs could go. The entire hunt receded to the north, after crossing the creek to the Brits' side.

A few minutes later, the fox was back, without the dogs, and curled up to rest in the shade of a treetrunk in full view. She watched me with some curiosity as I fiddled with the camera, trying different zoom settings, but didn't move. A squirrel came down the tree to about eight feet above her before realizing his mistake and turning back with a warning chatter. Still no dogs. Finally she got up in a leisurely manner and ambled off toward the henhouse... Practicing her nonchalant look, no doubt. "Who me? Why I'm just out for a walk. Chickens? Why no, I haven't seen any today."