Vicki Fox > Guests > PEI Foxes > 2001 Journal 2Q

PEI Foxes - 2001 Journal : April to June

June 6

We decided to trade the old Green Toyota in before it let us down. What a car; coming up to 200,000 miles and never let us down. We decided upon a 2 year old Rav 4 to replace it. With the 4 wheel drive we were able to get up to the hutka to leave leftovers from tonight's dinner. There on the hutka deck was fox scat. ( Be still my heart ) I took that for a positive signal that feeding would be allowed there, so left food. Also left some at the top of the reopened lane, and at the bottom of the spruce trees. I know this isn't a sighting, but at least it's a sign. :)

June 7

Went back this morning and all food was gone PLUS there was fresh fox scat at Sunset Ridge. Further, there were fox tracks in the mud from Sunset Ridge to the hutka that were not there yesterday. Things, I felt, were looking good.

Tonight I went up with chicken pieces from dinner and as I neared the hutka I couldn't believe my eyes. Fortunately I had brought the binoculars - and sure enough, there were two little fox pups; one sitting in the sun on the porch and the other sitting on the step. I got as close as 30' before they went for cover under the hutka. I called "kit kit" and threw out the food, drove around the hutka so as not to frighten them by where they had been sitting and went on to Sunset Ridge to leave food. As I came back to the hutka I could see the crows were getting what I had left, so stopped at the hutka and threw some bread closer to the steps. I drove about 30' away and finally a little head poked out and then withdrew. Eventually two little heads poked out, but didn't come out any farther. I nudged the golf cart another 10' and that was all it took. The two of them came out and gamboled about, playing leap frog, eating the bread (not sure what to do with it), sunning themselves, etc. One is a taupe color and the other a dark golden. They look to be at least 3 months and maybe closer to 4 months old. Tom had taken the tractor back to see what the mudslide damage was, but had gone a different route - however, I could hear him getting closer so knew he was coming back past the hutka. The taupe colored one is much the bolder of the two and ran about 3 furrows into the field to see if s/he could see what was making the noise. I called "you get back where it's safe" but it didn't listen to me. The golden one squeaked and the taupe one finally returned. They sat on the porch, ears far forward to hear the sound, until Tom got right up to them. Then, Tom stopped the tractor and was about to get off. I felt like Hyacinth on the TV show "Keeping Up Appearances" waving my arms to get him to keep going. I finally shouted and he realized something was up. Of course he couldn't hear me thru his ear protectors but he realized the arm waving had some significance so drove on to where I was. The fox pups had their heads poked out but didn't come out again. I had spent 45 minutes watching them - all without a camera of course. I never thought I'd make contact this early and never dreamed they would make a home under my fox watching cottage.

June 8

Nothing! Back in the house for 30 minutes and an adult crossed the field just behind the garden.

June 9

checked in the morning. Baby scat left on the deck where the dog food had been left.

Evening - the crows hear the golf cart and wait and follow. Fortunately Tom had gone around with the brush cutter and cut some of the "grass" around the hutka and in the triangle below the sitting rock. After the crows got the first food we put down (chicken skin and stale bread), I got some loose grass and covered another feeding of chicken skin. Waited for about 30 minutes and the crows didn't come back, but neither did the foxes. My neighbor, Gertrude, is going with me on the fox hunt. She put out food for the foxes at our feeding spots for most of the winter for me, so I feel she has a vested interest in seeing the litter - wherever it may be.

The field at the top of the spruce trees is in potatoes this year and plowed right up to the spruce trees so there is no way I can get there. That's one old feeding spot eliminated. However, if I can get them to come to the hutka then I can view them from the comfort of a window seat inside.

June 10

Have finally learned to outwit the crows. I hide the fox food under grass, and throw some bread out in plain sight for the crows. They follow me so I have to do something!!!

I was alone tonight and thrilled to see a lovely vision of an adult fox trot across the field next to the hutka. We bought a new Hi8mm video camera with digital zoom and I did get some video of her/him. Also got my foot, the sky, the porch post of the hutka, the steering wheel of the golf cart, etc. Still learning to use it. Anyway, the fox has a wide white band across it's hips. S/he looked as if it were wearing hot pants or short shorts (or a diaper?). A lovely large white tip at the end of the tail. I'll need to watch the video to see if I recognize it from a previous pup. It's certainly not a previous adult that I'd recognize. The fox came from the direction of the spruce trees at the top of the hill and was heading toward the brook. I suspect the pups have been moved from underneath the hutka into the spruce trees.

June 11

What a day for foxes!!!! I drove around all the roads in the woods to see the how much windfall we'll have to deal with. I took the loop road on my way out. Half-way around it was a dead pup; about 3 months old I'd guess. I didn't want to look at it, but from the angle of its head I could tell it was killed rather than die a natural death. I put the "pedal to the metal" and was hurrying back to the house to get Tom to come back with me to the dead pup and tell me how it died. As I was zooming past my hutka, there were 2 little fox pups peeking out. I screeched to a stop, called "kit kit" and walked up to the hutka as I threw out some corn pops. I then went back to the golf cart and sat. Seconds later, first one little head and then a second peeked out and looked at me as I looked at them. I hastened back to the house, told Tom about the dead kit and as he was getting a shovel to bury it I ran for the new video camera. As we neared the hutka, there they were; just as cute as fox pups can be. I got some video, albeit shaky. Still not used to this light weight camera. They were happy with their corn pops. We watched and video'd for a while and then went on to our unpleasant task. I just couldn't look at the dead pup, but Tom said something had killed it by biting it through the head, and so severely that one eye had popped out. This was more information than I wanted, but needed to know if he thought a coyote had done it. He said he was quite certain that was the culprit. He also felt the wee one had been dead less than 24 hours. Tom dug a hole, put the fox pup in, I offered a little silent prayer, and we left. At the top of the Loop Road where it joins the main road back into the woods, we spotted a dark adult fox watching us. I presume it's one of the parents. We threw out some Milk Bone, called "kit Kit" and came back to the house. All of this activity before 3:00 in the afternoon.

Evening: Continued with my deception of hiding fox food under grass and leaving bread for crows out in the open. As I neared the hutka, I saw the hind end of the taupe colored pup disappearing down the lane toward the brook. Had a real standoff tonight as the lighter colored pupcame out from under the hutka as soon as I called kit kit and started toward the carrots I had hid under grass. It was too near the bread I had put out for the crows and the crow stood its ground screeching, cawing, and darn near barking at the pup. The pup took it for awhile but then evidently had enough and went back under the hutka. I was about 20' away and was so startled when the pup came out from another exit right by me that I forgot to take video. It, too, ran down the lane and into the hedgerow. Minutes later, it came trotting back. Maybe went to check with mother. In any case, ate the food I had hidden and then sat on the step of the hutka and posed for photos. I'd say "left profile, please" and s/he would turn. Sat for photos for a couple of minutes and then went under the deck, only to appear from the side and peek at me. I think we have the rudiments of "peek-a-boo" here. As I pulled away, I could see two little fox fannys running toward the brook, so the other one must have come in "the back door" when I was videoing. Just about ready to give them names. Perhaps tomorrow.

June 12

nothing! Not a sign of a fox.

June 13

The crows seem to be absent from the hutka area when the foxes are not there. It's almost an eerie silence without their cawing. I left food, but no sign of the pups. Then, just as I was to leave, I could see two little fox pups running in a furrow at the far side of the field next to the hutka. I called "kit kit" and they stopped and turned toward me. They seemed to consult each other, and then start running toward the brook. Again I called "kit kit" and one of them actually turned toward me and jumped a furrow, but then decided to continue on with his/her sibling. A third time I called, and again they stopped; longer this time. They actually put their heads together, but then continued on their way. I don't know what their mother is thinking about letting them run loose like this. I hope she's all right.We leave tomorrow morning for 10 days in Europe, so the pups will have to fend without us - which they seem to be doing very well.The lighter colored pup is named Gumdrop (sweetness) and the taupe colored fox is Gypsy because s/he seemed the boldest.

June 25

Back from Rome and the Riviera. Great trip. Drove up the hill last night but no sign of pups. Took the golf cart and burned meat loaf scrapings up tonight and "buried" them in cut grass. Lots and lots of crows, but no sign of pups. Our neighbor tells us a fox pup was killed on the road in front of our house while we were gone. Don't know if it was one of ours or what.

June 26

Nothing.

June 27

Nothing. Made a tour of the complete woods this afternoon. Fresh fox scat on the Upper Spring Road - no older than 12 hours I'd guess. Two - three day old scat on main road. Absolutely no sign of coyotes. Not one speck of coyote scat or tracks. It's a mystery as to where the foxes have gone. Our neighbor saw an adult fox crossing the road 2 days ago, but that's been it. There are lots and lots of mice in the pine trees, chewing the bark off. Tom nearly got one with the mower. So the food supply is plentiful. At the top of the hill there is some mouse hide and fur that wasn't there yesterday, so someone had a feast. However, we've seen no rabbits in the woods nor partridges this year. Feast or famine.