Vicki Fox > Guests > PEI Foxes > 2001 Journal 4Q

PEI Foxes - 2001 Journal : October to December

Oct 1

Had dinner guests last night so our fox hunt was abbreviated. Two brief sightings last night and neither one Gilda.

Parked by the log den tonight. Gum Drop and Gypsy both came out. Gum Drop has a rear end so much like Gus that the only way I can tell is Gus is more auburn and has a bigger white tip. The siblings were very much aware of each other. Gypsy was out first but made no move toward the food. She faded back into the brush by the hollow log. Gum Drop then entered from the right and started to eat the tid bits. Gypsy came out and joined her. There was slight movement to the tail as in a faint wag to acknowledge each other, but no great display of obeisance, awe, or even great joy. Gypsy took off thru the fields with a chicken leg bone. Gum Drop became increasingly antsy, jumping at every movement of a leaf. She started off several times, but always returned. Finally she, too, took something worth caching and ran off across the field looking back several times as she ran. I waited to see what had alarmed her but nothing showed. It eventually got so dark by 7:20 I couldn't video even if Gilda did show up. Upon my return to the house I could see the biscuit and fruit loops at the big rock were gone, so evidentally Gus has claimed that spot letting the younger ones have the log den. The tid bits at the first two drops were still there.

Oct 2

Oh Wow! What a night. Did all the normal food drops. Gus was waiting in the field just above the log den. He didn't even give me time to get into position before he trotted by the car (within 3 - 4 feet) and didn't care that the motor was going. I got the car turned around so I could see & video the area by the log den just as Gus was arriving. He took very little which mystified me because there were good meat loaf pan scrapings. He trotted back into the field, right up to the car, crossed under the front bumper and cut thru the hedge row to the big rock. I was so stunned I didn't video the frontal approach. Something made me stay in place. I've seen before where adults will check out the menu and leave the greater portion for the young'uns. About 10 minutes later Gilda appeared. Oh my word! What a gorgeous silver fox. I got about 4 minutes of video. It's pretty boring just watching her eat and hunt kibble in the grass, but I couldn't stop myself. She would look up at the car every so often but didn't seem unusually nervous. She did start and jump into the brush a couple of times, but always returned. It was weird to see this little pink tongue coming out of the beautiful coal black face as she ate and chewed with her mouth open. (When you're gorgeous you don't have to have good manners.) There is a sprinkling of light hair over her hips which makes it look like her gorgeous black fur has a dandruff problem. She also has the same sprinkling of white over her eyes, looking like it has snowed on her eyebrows. The only full white is the tip of her tail. I'm wondering now if Gus came so close to the car to show Gilda she needn't be afraid. Gilda finished and trotted into the raspberry bushes around the log den. As I drove back home, Gypsy came out as I neared the hutka. She had just finished cleaning up Sunset Ridge. Gum Drop was racing along the rows in the potato field next to the hutka. I think she was headed for the big rock. Surprise! Gus already cleaned it up. Oh what a night!

Oct 3

The pups are starting to look alike to me. As it gets dark earlier their coat colors are harder to tell apart. And their rear ends are all so similar I hate to go on record - but - will do so "without prejudice". Gum Drop was waiting in the field above the log den. As I was dropping food, she came down to behind the car, walked around the car on the passenger side and sat in the lane in front of me - as if to say "hurry up". I threw her some milk bone. She made no move toward it but I could see she noted where it fell. She finally came over to the window on the drivers side as if to say "go on so I can see whats to eat." I spoke to her and she just sat again. I threw her another piece of milk bone and drove off to position myself for pictures. This time I parked just 60 feet away. She sniffed around the tid bits, ate a little apple, picked up one of the milk bone and trotted up the field to cache it. She came right toward the car, crossed in front of me by going under the front bumper, and continued up to the top of the rise where she cached the milk bone. She did a very thorough job of it, taking great care. She trotted down to the food site, again crossing in front of me; though this time, not under the bumper. She kept on the alert as if another animal was in the vicinity. She did more "alerting" than eating. Once again she picked up a milk bone and trotted off to cache it. This time she went behind the car. She didn't return. Her coloring is like Gum Drop but her boldness is so much like Gypsy that I don't know for sure who it is. Waited for 10 minutes but no one else showed up. Went to the big rock to see if I could get some video of Gus - but the rock was cleaned up. Went to Sunset Ridge. Food still there, but after waiting 5 minutes it got too dark to video if anyone did show up so came home.

Oct 4

another fantastic night. Gum Drop was waiting at Sunset Ridge. Wow - talk about a personality change. She has become a bold little hussy - exactly like Gypsy used to be. Anyway, she came up to the car and wanted the treats handed to her. No way - I drove off a few feet and left them in the grass. She was browsing before I even left the ridge. Was just completing the food drop at the log den and again she showed up. I tossed her a milk bone and again she didn't take it right away but as soon as I pulled 6 inches away she went for it. I positioned myself on the rise about 60 feet away. She "grazed" a little, didn't seem hungry - and no wonder after cleaning up SS Ridge - picked up a piece of steak and trotted off with it. I thought she was going to cache it, but she only moved off to eat it. She was on the alert as if another creature was in the area. Finally she trotted off, leaving most of the food. She came up near the car, sat down, cleaned her face, and curled up facing the food drop. There we were - the two of us - looking in the same direction at nothing. Suddenly she jumped to her feet, stood at attention, ears forward and just froze for about 2 full minutes. Then she turned and trotted even closer to the car, curled up, and continued to watch the food drop. It's as if the car gave her protection or company or I don't know what. Suddenly she started running zig zag across the field. After 30 yards or so she stopped, arched her back, ear ears were flat back against her skull, and I could see her lips pulled back. (had the window of the car closed because of mosquitos so didn't hear any noise) She inched forward, maintaining that aggressive posture. Suddenly I saw a white flag of truce waving. Sure enough, there was Gypsy, flat on her back, waving her tail in complete submission. Gum Drop didn't care that Gypsy had already given up, she jumped on her and for several seconds all I could see was a ball of fur rolling over and over. Gum Drop rose first, trotted off toward the brush by the log den, while Gypsy remained in the defeated position. Gum Drop looked back, saw Gypsy still submissive, paused long enough to raise her leg and urinate in a 'victory mark' and disappear into the brush. Eventually Gypsy followed. They both came out to the food drop, did some hip slamming, some barging, and a partial tail drape. Gum Drop turned and charged Gypsy, and Gypsy immediately went down on her belly. Moments later she was up again and all seemed well for the moment. Then they got into each others way - or Gum Drop was feeling feisty - and they had their mouths open in mock biting and eventually chasing each other in and out of the brush. All we needed was the music to make it a Mack Sennett comedy. They both went into the brush by the den and suddenly Gus came out and nonchalently trotted over to the car, posed for a moment, and went on to the big rock. Gum Drop and Gypsy stood and watched and continued their chasing play, stopping to grab a morsel to eat as they passed the food drop. Obviously this week Gum Drop is the Alpha!!!

Oct 6

Nothing unusual. Fed early last night as we were invited out to eat. Windy and rainy tonight. Gypsy grabbed a chicken leg bone at the top of the reopened lane and hurried over to just below Sunset Ridge to cache it. She did such a thorough job that all one could see for about 45 seconds was her fanny up in the air. Gus came to the big rock as soon as we drove up to it. He stayed in the hedge row until we drove off. Tom and I took a tour of the woods to see where he and a woodsman had been cutting today. Surprised a partridge twice.

Oct 8

Gilda made a dash for the hedgerow near the log den. She looked fantastic leaping across the straw stubble in the field with her tail waving behind her. She never appeared again. Gum Drop, however, came out to eat up some of our Thanksgiving (Canadian Thanksgiving) leftovers. She even ate some broccoli, proving that some foxes will eat green veggies.

Oct 9

Another fantastic evening of viewing. Saw them all. Gus was waiting by the big rock. I had hoped to get up to date video of him but the rock is in the hedge row and the shadow combined with dusk made it a bad prospect for videoing. Parked on the rise of the field to watch the log den site. Gypsy came out almost immediately. As she was hoovering the site, I caught a glimpse of Gilda running along the edge of the field and into the brush. I didn't actually see all of her, just her fanny and tail. The rise of the field hid the rest of her. Gypsy finished and loped off across the field to the big rock. I waited and 10 minutes later Gum Drop and Gilda both came out by the log den. Gum Drop kept flattening her ears, crouching down in submissive behaviour and running back into the brush. Gilda also slunk down and into the brush. They both returned, ate some, Gum Drop became very submissive as she looked into the brush and Gilda stood at the alert. Once again they resumed eating. There was absolutely no interaction between the two. It was if they ignored the other, tho often they were standing shoulder to shoulder. Suddenly they both went on the alert and Gum Drop again showed more submissiveness than Gilda, but not *to* Gilda. About 15 feet away an adult fox head came out of the brush, looked around, stepped into the lane and posed. It was Gus. What a magnificent animal. He looked all around, ignoring the young foxes, and trotted across the field toward the big rock. Perhaps he thought I had restocked the site. Gum Drop turned around to "graze" in another spot and bumped into Gilda. Gilda gave a sharp bark, Gum Drop moved a few inches away and this was the end of the encounter. Gilda finished her area, squatted to mark, and trotted down the lane. A few seconds later Gum Drop trotted in the opposite direction. Gilda is considerably smaller than Gum Drop.

Oct 10

Gypsy was waiting at Sunset Ridge, sitting on the very spot I drop food. I stopped the car about 10 feet away and waiting. She sat and waited. We both waited. Finally I inched forward a bit and she still sat and waited. I called out the window to her that she needed to move. She then, bold as brass, came over to the driver's window and stood looking at me as if I was absolutely dense as not to know to drop food. I told her that hunting season began November 1st and she had better not be this friendly with anyone else. I threw her food (2 slices of apple, 1/4 piece of bread cut up into communion size pieces, some chicken skin, and a chicken wing bone. She didn't even wait for the car to drive off before she began to eat. I then did the other drops, positioned myself about 30 feet from the log den and had video camera in hand. Good thing, too, because within 5 minutes Gilda appeared. For a while she played peek-a-boo. Grabbing a piece of food (same menu as Gypsy got as well as some peas and Fruit Loops) and dashing into the brush either to eat it or cache it. Come out, looking left and then right, dashing to the food drop, picking up another tid bit and retreating to the brush. Eventually she stayed out. I had thrown the peas in the straw stubble so it would take longer to retreive. Golly she is looking prime. Gorgeous silver guard hairs. Now I'm thinking I should have named her Gorgeous. I was in a time crunch so didn't wait for the second feature after Gilda left. On my way home I passed Gus on his way to the big rock. For those worried about hunters. Our land is heavily posted "No hunting - No trespassing". Tom has had a woodsman felling trees across our roads so that no one can go more than 100 yards without coming to a barrier. The only way onto the land is through our road frontage and we have neighbors watching for strangers there. I am confident there won't be hunters by land that the foxes will be tame with. My only worry is that someone will put traps in the brook - and that is hunting by distance. I still don't like Gypsy being that comfortable with the car.

Oct 13

Was in Halifax the past two days so a neighbor took bits to the food drops. I don't know what she fed them, but they sure were grateful as many "thank-you notes" were left at the sites.

What a night for UFOs this was. (Unidentified foxs observed) First, Gus came out of the hedge row as I left food at the big rock. He didn't look any different and since the rock is in the shadow of the trees I didn't bother to video. Another neighbor had given me a whole chicken carcass which I had removed bits from previously. Tonight, rather than take a hammer and smash it to small feedable pieces I decided to put the whole carcass out to see what would happen. I thought they might pull bits from it and I could video the process. I left this as the log den. I was just getting into position when Gypsy approached from behind and Gum Drop came out of the brush. I therefore stopped the car where I was which was about 50 -55 feet away; farther than I have been lately. Gypsy came to within 6 feet of the driver's side rear tire and sat and watched Gum Drop nose around down below. The sun was behind Gypsy but I thought I might try for some video anyway. I opened the car door and she started at the sound and moved to about 15 feet away. I tossed out an entire Milk Bone. She didn't move, but saw where it landed. Meanwhile Gum Drop was ignoring the chicken carcass, but having a good time with the snow peas. I looked behind and Gypsy had come up to her original spot close to the car and sat and cocked her head at me as I told her sweet nothings. She finally picked up the milk bone and ran off. I thought her gait was unusual but didn't watch as I wanted to see what Gum Drop was doing 180 degrees in the opposite direction. I was able to get it on video as she picked up the entire chicken carcass and trotted off down the lane and melted into the brush.

Gypsy came skulking down from the hill behind me and kind of "belly walked" to the log den site. She got a few pieces of something (Fruit Loops?) and suddenly started and took off running straight toward the car. She was going very fast but her gait looked funny. As she passed the car I could see she was running on 3 legs, holding her right front leg off the ground as she ran. She never stopped - just kept going until she was out of sight. I then watched the den site to see what had frightened her. Gilda appeared seconds later and browsed around what was left. I had tossed out a handfull of Fruit Loops and they scattered into the stubble so it would take the foxes a while to graze. She has developed more silver guard hairs since I saw her last a few days ago. She is truly glittering in the moonlight. Her face is still all black and that little pink tongue still is a charming effect as she eats. After a minute or two Gilda jumped and stood at alert. She finally leaped into the brush. I couldn't see anything until I looked down the lane half way to the big rock. Gum Drop had come out of the brush and was standing in the lane. However, Gum Drop had her ears back, and her back was roached in a submissive behavior. She moved slowly to about 30 - 35 feet from where Gilda had been.

Gilda then reappeared and the two of them stood looking at each other. Gilda lowered her head slightly - almost as a Queen would acknowledge her subjects - but it was more submissive. Gum Drop then dipped her shoulders slightly. Gilda swayed back so her rump was higher than her shoulders - but only for a second - and then stood in a normal stance. Gum Drop roached (arched) her back. The two of them kept this little dance going for about 3 or 4 minutes, neither seeming to give ground. Suddenly, Gilda turned and went into the brush. Gum Drop trotted down to the food site and gave a raised leg urination mark - I'm assuming to indicate victory. (How much of this behavior I missed in the past before Simon filled me in.) Gum Drop then trotted straight toward the car and passed within 2 feet of me.

I decided to wait a few more minutes to see if there was another act, even tho it was getting quite dark. Suddenly another red fox head appeared by the den. It never came out more than just the head and throat. It wasn't Gus because he has a "dirty throat". It had the same color throat as Gypsy but since it never came out I couldn't tell body color. However, there is no way Gypsy (nor Gum Drop) could get to that area without coming thru the field where the car was parked. I have no idea who this fox was. It finally backed up and I saw it no more.

I headed for home. As I was coming down the reopened lane, something made me look across the "triangle" to the old food site at the top of the hill at the top of the spruce trees. I haven't used this site all year as potatoes were planted right up to it and I couldn't get to it. There standing on the berm was a red fox. It was deep dusk and I couldn't tell more than it was a red fox. I continued down the lane and when I got to the culvert where the road splits into a Y (either go up the reopened lane or thru the spruce trees) I stopped and called "kit kit" and threw out some Fruit Loops. The red fox came walking down to the bottom of the spruce trees. Because it was walking I couldn't tell if it was Gypsy with an injured leg or not. In fact I couldn't tell if it was a pup or an adult as the pups are as big as adults now. It sat and listened to me talk, cocked its head, and watched as I threw out some bread cubes. This had to have been a fox from previous years since it was waiting at the old food site. So much to be grateful for.

Oct 16

Gypsy met me at Sunset Ridge, still carrying her right front paw. She walks and stands on all four - it's just trotting and running that forces her to hold it up. Later, while I was in position to view the log den, Gypsy came down the hill and sat next to the car and watched the food site with me. Gilda came out and hoovered up some of the bits. Then she stumbled onto some beef our neighbor donated to the foxes and she filled her mouth with all she could hold and dashed off into the brush. We waited and waited and waited and nothing happened. Gypsy left. Suddenly a red fox leaped over some brush by the den and ran along the lane for about 3 feet before dashing into the bush. It was not Gus, it was not Gypsy, and it was not Gum Drop. It could have been one of my mystery foxes from the other night. Gilda came out and grazed a little more. I overfed for just one fox; expected 2 or more there so Gilda got more than her share. She won't have to hunt much tonight. I looked in the rear view mirror and the most marvelously dramatic picture behind me. A red sunset sky with dark streaks, and on top of the hill backlit by this gorgeous nature backdrop was the silhouette of a fox. Poor Gypsy - a true Cinderella. Suddenly Gilda went on the alert and a red fox (assume it was the one I saw previously) came out to join her. It grabbed a piece of something and dashed off. Going back I could see the food at the big rock was still there and the food at the top of the reopened lane had been untouched. It seems as if the foxes have each staked out a feeding place of their own. Gypsy at SS ridge, Gus at the big rock, Gilda and GumDrop at the log den, and an unknown at the top of the lane. Tomorrow I take my video tape to a production house so they can make a copy of it for Mike Russell and the Vicki Fox web site. He will do some video capture and post photos of our critters before the end of the year.

Oct 17

The tail end of the hurricane was whipping PEI today and the foxes looked pretty pitiful tonight. Their wet coats show how scrawny and small they really are. Gypsy met us at SSRidge. Tom was driving. It puzzled her for a moment that the food was coming from the other side of the car, but she adjusted quickly. She was certainly putting weight on her foot when she stood or walked. Gilda and Gum Drop shared the log den site. They are very aware of each other before an appearance, but once they are both out browsing they ignore each other completely. It being a dark and stormy night (now there's literature) we put the headlights on. Didn't bother them one iota. Then we put the brights on. Gilda retreated for a moment, but decided she liked the spotlight so returned. We had chunks of beef from a neighbor which I had cut into small bits for the foxes. Gum Drop filled her mouth with several, trotted toward the car, passed within 2 feet of it, to her secret place to cache. Only a few more days and I say good bye to the critters until next year.

Oct 18

Gypsy came trotting across the field at the top of the spruce trees to greet me as I emerged from the reopened lane. Her gait is still uneven, but it looks as if she is using her foot more. She is certainly standing on it. Driving in the lane to the log den I saw two white tail puffs ahead of me; there, zig zagging down the lane was Gilda being chased by Gum Drop. They disappeared over a rise in the road. Suddenly, here came Gum Drop running toward the car, being chased by Gilda. Gum Drop skidded to a stop and wheeled around and chased Gilda. I left food and position myself for the show. Enter stage left Gum Drop - who looks the buffet over, picks up all the pieces of beef, packs them in her mouth, and leaves for the brush at stage right. Gilda then enters stage left and is enjoying the pieces of bread that were left, along with some carrot slices. Suddenly, like a banshee, Gum Drop comes streaking from stage right and catches Gilda unawares. Gilda reacts quickly and Gum Drop only has time to barge her once before she disappears stage left. Gum Drop then noses what is left, has a few kernals of corn, maybe a Fruit Loop or two and trots off down the lane stage right. This is heading toward the path to the big rock. A strange (unidentified) red fox jumped over the weeds between the log den and the road, stopped for a nano second, and jumped back to where it came from. There being no third act I headed for home. Gus was sitting by the hedgerow next to the big rock, looking very royal and noble. My headlights picked up a fox standing in the middle of the lane. As I got closer I saw it was Gum Drop. When I got about 5 feet away, she jumped up on the big rock and started to eat. Gus just sat there, watching, AND ALLOWED IT! Wow . . . when Gum Drop became the alpha she really made her power known. I should have named her Godzilla.

Oct 19

My last entry will be Monday Oct 22 as we head back to the States the next day. It's time for me to go, before I need therapy. No high drama tonight - except - a strange fox showed up at the log den. First, Gypsy was sitting at SSRidge waiting for me. She galloped up to the car as I approached. She's using all 4 feet with no problem. Gum Drop was sitting by the log den. She was partially in the road, so I stopped and waited for her to move. She waited for me to move. Eventually she moved and came up to the car as if to say "What's the hold up?" I left the food, positioned myself about 15 feet away to watch. She took all the choice bits and left the things she didn't like (cooked celery, some peas, pasta). She trotted down the lane when she had all she wanted. Ten minutes later a fox I have never seen before came out of the brush. S/he was much smaller than Gum Drop, Gypsy, or Gilda and very, very light. Almost a strawberry blond. Plus, s/he didn't have the distinctive black line down the fanny the others have. S/he was crouched as low as a fox can get and still walk. S/he kept looking around, never rose above a crouch, until s/he picked up a piece of bread. S/he then arose and raced down the lane in the opposite direction than Gum Drop went. Time for me to go!

Oct 20

Gypsy was waiting at SSRidge. In fact she trots out to meet the car now. Poor thing - she really is a Cinderella. She hasn't been close to the other sites since the night she was first limping. (At least that I've seen.) Positioned myself by the log den and was astounded that the new strawberry blond fox was first out. S/he is so easy to tell because she has a "normal" rear end; not the black line the others have. I assume it's a she as a male would have dispersed by now. But then - it could be a male that dispersed to this range. Anyway, decided to name it Guess-oo. She browsed the lamb chop bones, chicken fat, carrots and cautiously ate some. She stayed hunkered down most of the time with her tail flagged to one side or the other. I couldn't believe my eyes when she started to cache things right in the lane at the food drop. I thought the purpose of chaching was to hide it from others as well as store it up for winter. Anyway, she did a very neat job of it. Suddenly she got even lower to the ground, froze, and then dashed off. Gum Drop came flying out of the brush. I could hear her shrieking like a fish wife before I saw her. When I say she came flying, I mean she was really air borne. She must have launched herself from the top of the den. She quickly looked around the food drop, scratched the ground (digging up the cache?) picked up a chicken leg bone and trotted off in the same direction as Guess-oo had gone. About 10 minutes later Gilda came out, picked up one piece of something, started and dashed off in the opposite direction. That was tonight's show. No report tomorrow as we'll be out for dinner. One more report on Monday and then good bye.

Oct 22

what a banquet tonight. A neighbor's chicken carcass, 4 leftover hot dogs cut up, two carrots, some potato, and - a brownie. I know - way overfeeding, but I needed to clean things up. No sign of Gypsy. I circled around several times and she never showed. Gum Drop is definitely "Lady of the House" tho she doesn't have Hyacinth's (Keeping Up Appearances) good manners. She was waiting by the big rock and immediately jumped up to investigate it all. Gus approached but Gum Drop feinted a charge and he backed off. I positioned myself by the log den and a red fox head poked out of the brush. Couldn't tell for sure, but I'm assuming it was Guess-oo. Gum Drop came trotting down the lane and the head immediately disappeared, never to reappear. Gum Drop looked like she had landed in heaven. I had spread the food over about 30 feet so that multiple foxes could eat without infringing upon each other. Gum Drop had discovered the near end and was busily eating hot dog pieces. Gilda came out at the far end, stood and looked for a few seconds, then lowered her head and got something small in her mouth. Probably a piece of hot dog. Gum Drop became enraged and flew down the lane, ears back, teeth bared, and bit into Gilda's neck. Gilda wisely decided not to stick around for an encore and tore down the lane in the opposite direction. She kept looking back as she ran as if to see if Gum Drop was chasing her. Gum Drop now realized how big the food drop site was tonight and nearly had a nervous breakdown trying to protect it all. Fortunately no one else challenged her. She had filled up at the big rock so after sampling the things not on the big rock menu she began to cache things. She trotted up the hill with a chicken leg in her mouth and cached it within 3 feet of the driver's side of the car. Am I supposed to look after it? She cantered back, got another chicken part, trotted up the hill to the other side of the car and cached it on the passenger side. She then marked in front of the car. After several minutes of watching her cache things in different places I decided to check on Gypsy once again. All the food at SS Ridge was still there, and no sign of Gypsy. As I was driving back to the house, there in the "Y" where the lane branches between the trees and the reopened lane sat Gilda looking very forlorn. Alas - I had only Fruit Loops left so tossed out two generous handsful of those and said Good Bye until 2002.