Here's a Riddle
Saturday, 28. October 2006, 17:23:36
Telling the individual foxes apart isn't usually much of a challenge, any more than recognising dogs or cats that you know well.
However seeing them in the garden is one matter; a fox in a meadow, keeping scrupulously close to the ground, is for all intents and purposes anonymous - at least to me, a mere Human. I'm sure other foxes know who they are looking at...
This afternoon I had just such an experience while walking past the horse paddock. A little fox was sitting bolt upright in the grass, starkly orange and white in a sea of green, a bit like a very small flame amidst the grass.
The light was terrible, Kelly (my Belgian shepherd) was tugging on her leash and I had no tripod. So please forgive the quality of this picture!
Not the Old Dogfox; much too petite. Didn't feel right for Fringe Vixen - when I've seen her before with Kelly, she's quickly bolted. The Survivor Vixen isn't that fluffy, and the Interloper's blind eye is a clear giveaway. Granted, it could be an intruder, but it wasn't exactly acting nervous.
I think it's Takahe. The breeding vixen vanished at the end of the summer after a series of fights with the Fringe Vixen and has clearly lost her mate to the usurper, mange or not. The behaviour - sitting dead still for long periods of time - is very typical of her, as is the stunningly white chest.
Okay, unless I see her again, and much clearer, I cannot confirm her identity, but it's a solid working hypothesis
I would be glad to see her vulpine good looks in the garden again.
From last June:
However seeing them in the garden is one matter; a fox in a meadow, keeping scrupulously close to the ground, is for all intents and purposes anonymous - at least to me, a mere Human. I'm sure other foxes know who they are looking at...
This afternoon I had just such an experience while walking past the horse paddock. A little fox was sitting bolt upright in the grass, starkly orange and white in a sea of green, a bit like a very small flame amidst the grass.
The light was terrible, Kelly (my Belgian shepherd) was tugging on her leash and I had no tripod. So please forgive the quality of this picture!
Not the Old Dogfox; much too petite. Didn't feel right for Fringe Vixen - when I've seen her before with Kelly, she's quickly bolted. The Survivor Vixen isn't that fluffy, and the Interloper's blind eye is a clear giveaway. Granted, it could be an intruder, but it wasn't exactly acting nervous.
I think it's Takahe. The breeding vixen vanished at the end of the summer after a series of fights with the Fringe Vixen and has clearly lost her mate to the usurper, mange or not. The behaviour - sitting dead still for long periods of time - is very typical of her, as is the stunningly white chest.
Okay, unless I see her again, and much clearer, I cannot confirm her identity, but it's a solid working hypothesis
I would be glad to see her vulpine good looks in the garden again.From last June:
