Vicki Fox > Guests > PEI Foxes > 2002 Journal 4Q

PEI Foxes - 2002 Journal : October to December

Oct 2

For the past two nights Gypsy sampled and then took off toward the west field.  The minute he left, Gilda came out and couldn't believe her eyes.   She had everything at spot #2 to herself.  It's almost as if Gypsy is bored with us, yet he waits for the car to appear.  For some time I have felt there was another fox back in the brush, but couldn't see it.  It was just the behaviour of Gilda and Gypsy.  Gilda was happily eating when Gum Drop jumped out of the brush and ate some bread.  The two of them ate together for a few seconds and then as they did a couple of months ago, began to play.  Gum Drop chasing Gilda.  They circled around the spruce trees a couple of times, grabbing a bite as they passed the lane, and finally disappeared not to reappear.  Shortly thereafter, Gypsy returned and had the banquet to himself.  Himself, that is, except for the Blue Jay.  It now hovers over the car as I near the feeding area.  Last year Gum Drop shunned Gypsy.  Hope it isn't starting all over agin.  Gum Drop is huge - bigger than Gilda. 

Oct 3

Mouse 1, Fox 0.  After caching the biggest sausage bit, Gypsy decided to stay in the field.  Gilda was delighted as this gave her first choice at spot #2.  There were things on the banquet table she never knew existed and was eating so rapidly as many crumbs spilled out her mouth as went down.  (Tho she later 'hoovered' the ground to get it all.)  Suddendly, Gypsy's tail went straight up like a flag.  It was all we could see as the clover in the field is about 5" - 6" tall.  The very tip of the tail twitched slightly and Gypsy pushed up on her hind legs and jumped high in the air, arching like a cat, and boom! Pounced down with all four feet in a business-like way.  No movement.   Finally, he moved about 12" over and without warning, arched in the air, and boom!  Pounced again.  No movement.  This time, he cocked her head, listened intently, and made a series of three arcs; leap, pounce, leap pounce, leap, pounce.  He looked over at the car as if to see if we were watching.  We were.  Then, with a most unconcerned air, he trotted nonchalantly over to feeding spot #1.   By this time Gilda had thoroughly investigated spot #2 and was checking out spot #1.  Gypsy, chased her away, ate a few pieces of kibble and looked back at the car.  Then he casually strolled back in the field, crouched down, and was motionless for nearly a full minute.  Up went the tail like a rigid flag, and a gorgeous leap was followed by several bats of the front paws.  Once again he looked toward the car.  He finally sat in a little cleared space, groomed himself, and watched Gilda gorging herself at spot #1.

Oct 6

Both were out tonight, tho while Gypsy was waiting as usual it did take Gilda another 15 minutes before she decided to come out.  Gypsy didn't eat at all, but was kept busy for a good 30 minutes getting his mouth filled with food, trotting off and caching it, and returning for another 'load'.  First he took the sausage bits, then the bread bits, and finally even mouths full of kibble.  Gilda just ate the kibble because by the time she appeared everything else had gone with Gypsy.  Gypsy came up to the car door, sat down, let me talk to him for a minute or two and then casually strolled to a couple of feet beyond the left rear tire and picked up a dead mouse and trotted off to cache it.  He must have killed it while waiting for the car and saved it to show us that he really can catch a mouse and the other night was just play.   Gilda, while still highly strung, is showing signs of voice-toleration.  I spoke to her tonight and she didn't bolt.  Need I report that Bertie blue jay was also present and enjoying whatever the foxes left.  To make the experience complete, an owl kept who-hooting the whole time we were there.   It's been several years since they have been around and it's good to have them back.  I'm hoping the video tape picked up the sound.

Oct 7

Rain; hard rain.  Gypsy present and taking everything off to cache.  No sign of Gilda.   Bertie Blue Jay got his fill.

Oct 8

Both Gilda and Gypsy waiting - as well as Bertie Blue Jay who also brought a friend.  The foxes were delighted with the spare ribs from us and the chicken carcass from my neighbor.  Not much time was spent in actual eating, but lots of time spent in filling their mouth and running off to cache it.  Actually, Gilda spent much more time at the spot tonight than Gypsy.  She even let me talk to her without taking flight.  They totally ignore the blue jays.  Guess I'll call them Bertie and Biddie.

Oct 15

We've had house guests for the past week, plus dinner guests, going out for dinner, Canadian Thanksgiving so haven't been posting.  In   fact, I've been going back in the late afternoon to leave their treats and haven't seen them for a week.  However, tonight I was back to the old routine and so was Gypsy.  He was waiting as I drove back.  Bertie and Biddie were also waiting.  Gilda never did show up.  Gypsy is certainly not hungry and is getting very fussy about what he wants.  After several sniffs, he condescended to eat part of a lemon tart.  He eventually took a turkey leg bone off to cache, came back, turned his nose up at the bread bits and kibble (leaving those for Bertie and Biddie Blue Jay) and sniffed, nose-pushed, and finally ate a little bit of bread stuffing.  He finally took a little bit of bone off into the woods and didn't return.  I only have three nights left before we go back to Chicago so hope Gilda turns up to say good-bye.

Oct 16

Both foxes were out tonight - as they should be for leftover pork chop pieces from our grandchild, pork chop bones, stuffing, gravy, carrots, squash, etc.  A real feast.  The Blue Jays went nuts because Gilda was at one spot and Gypsy at the other and the birds appeared afraid that there wouldn't be anything left for them.  Both Gypsy and Gilda's coats are gorgeous.   Gypsy loaded his mouth with bones and trotted off to cache them.  He stopped to see what Gilda was doing and she snarfed at him.  He growled back but she stood her ground and snarfed again.  Gypsy went on his way, Gilda turned her back and did a "half-dominent" mark; she squatted, but lifted her left rear leg in the squat.

Oct 18

Last night and tonight Gypsy was the only one that came to socialize.  Even he was pretty busy, taking food and caching it rather than hanging around and eating.  It makes me wonder if he senses a rough winter ahead. Anyway, Bertie Blue Jay came to keep me company in between Gypsy's trips.   I said good-bye to him and begged him to be careful this winter so he would be around to greet me next spring.  Also requested that he tell Gilda I think it's pretty stuck-up of her not to come and say farewell.