Vicki Fox > Guests > PEI Foxes > 1995 Journal 2Q

PEI Foxes - 1995 Journal : April to June

25 May

(8 am) Saw evidence of much traffic at "birthing den" in loop road. Fresh stool nearby. Strawberry blond adult fox streaked past coming down from Sunset ridge to pine planting. Left food bits.

(8 pm) Food bits gone. Three pups (2 red, one grey) romping and playing by birthing den on loop road. Very interested in us. Threw bread crusts. Came to within 8 feet of car, but not up to food. Games of choice were wrestling, pouncing (sort of) and biting litter mate's tail. Grey fox looks just like George (one of last year's kits who should have been Geogette). Both reds look like Charlene (one of last year's kits). Real deja vu.

26 May

(7:30 pm) Adult strawberry blond fox waiting for us by turn-in to loop road. She was not at all frightend of us. Watched the pups for a bit, got some video of the grey one. Pups ran into den and came out the other side of the mound. They all stayed close. The mother (or adult) is showing them we are not to be feared. What joy to find her waiting there.

27 May

(7:30 pm) Adult fox waiting for us in field by turn in to loop road. Ate some bread scraps and as we moved into loop road, little red pup came out behind us (by turn in) to eat the rest of the bread scraps. Another little red pup was sitting by the den in front of us just staring at us. The adult came out of the woods to our right and ate the scraps we had thrown toward the den. Not at all hungry . . . very lazy in her actions. It was truly as if the adult was eating a few scraps just to teach the pups it was ok.

For the first time I got out of the car and stood by it throwing scraps and photographing. I called "kit kit" as I distributed scraps to get them used to the sound of my voice and "teach" them a word. Chose "kit" because of the hard consonants. Eventually I would like to approach on foot with no car sound to alert them and see if calling "kit kit" will bring them.

30 May

(8 pm) Made several circuits - finally on last circuit saw little grey. He loved the steak scraps and turned up his nose at the bread. Was very brave and took some meat off the ledge in loop road about 3 feet from car. The little grey hung around birthing den but no sign of prints or much traffic.

31 May

(8 pm) Little grey was waiting for us by birthing den. Comes up to car - answers to "kit kit'. Would put his nose up to the wind to small the chicken I put out. His/her sense of direction isn't good yet tho as often started looking for scraps several feet away. Threw out a good sturdy leg bone and little grey had a wonderful time with it. Made some awkward moves to cache it, didn't succeed, so settled down to chew it. Saw one of the little reds run across the road a few times by birthing den. For the past 2 nights the food I have left on my "sitting rock" has disappeared and a 'present' left in its place. Last night's 'present' was fairly loose. Guess they need more bones in their diet.

1 Jun

(7:30 pm) Adult fox and the three pups were playing a game in the loop road. Didn't even hear us drive up. Vixen would chase the pups, the pups would chase the vixen and each other - you could tell they were having a wonderful time. We stopped the car and I got out and called "kit kit" - Vixen and pups came running up. One little red hung back - very shy. The other red came to within 15 feet of me standing outside car and the little grey came to within 3 feet. The vixen came forward and sat and watched the pups eat the cranberry muffin bits we threw out. Both the little grey and the little red ran back to the adult and did the "kissing" bit as if to let her smell what they were eating. Saw one full swish of the tail from the little grey; almost a tail wag.

2 Jun

(7:15 pm) Adult fox waiting for us by "playground" where road turns to cross brook. When I got out of the car she moved away. Turning into the loop road, there was the little grey, curled up in the road waiting for us. Since he (she) was the only one in evidence, didn't want to leave too much food. He comes right up to me now. I WILL resist the temptation to introduce him to taking food from my hand. That would be unnatural and turn him/her into a trained seal. One of the woodcutters trucks came past on the "main" road while we were turned off on the loop road. As soon as the kit heard the moter (truck about 60 feet away) the kit dashed into the brush, leaving us standing there with camera in hand. When the truck got about 60 feet past, the kit came back out. Joy! They know the difference.

4 Jun

The little grey is now waiting for us by the turn in to the loop road and chases us along waiting for the car to stop. S/He had tiny ham pieces and milk bone bits tonight. The ham pieces were about 1/4" square, but the smell is potent enough the kits could "tracK" them easily. The little grey comes very close; 3 - 5 feet. Will sit and pose for photos. After the adult came back, so did the bolder little red. Stayed about 15 feet away, but allowed me out of the car to video. Likes the milk bone (her first). She played around with us and the little grey until the mosquitos and black flies drove us off. The shy red crossed the road about 60 - 70 feet away but won't join in the feeding frenzy. An adult came out of the brush and the shy red followed her up the loop road. The bolder red got tired of hanging around when no more treats were forthcoming, but the little grey followed us out for a bit.

5 Jun

(7:00 pm) The little grey (whom I think I shall call Pepper) met the car as soon as it rounded the corner to the loop road. It's not calling "kit kit" after all that brings them, it's the car motor. I stepped out and threw some "yummies" (dog treats) and the little grey didn't see them. Ran up to my shoe and sniffed. I reached for the camera and s/he jumped back about 3 feet. Finally found a yummie and looked very satisfied. Heard noise in the brush to my right, but couldn't see anything. After giving 'Pepper' several yummies, drove up the hill and circled back on the loop road. There was the bold little red eating the broken milk bone I had left at the cross road. She trotted over the birth den (now fairly overgrown) and sat and looked at me. She finally came over to the car - within 5 feet and I threw a yummie to her. Down at the end of the loop road was an adult eating something in the bush. Since I had thrown nothing there could only assume she was hunting bugs. She came out into the road and stared at me. 'Pepper' ran up to her, scrunched along on her/his belly with much, much tail wagging. The classic fox love/ecstasy/submission performance I am told the vixen does when her mate arrives back from hunting.

6 Jun

(7:30 pm) Called "kit kit" and both Pepper and Abby (bold red) appeared. ShyLass (shy red) ran across the road, but didn't join the fun. Pepper and Abby went for same piece of milk bone at same time. Much gekking (quarelling) and Pepper barged or hip slammed Abby. Happened so fast couldn't tell which it was.

7 Jun

(7:30 pm) Surprised White Hips as we came over the hill by the "playgroud" before the turnoff to the brook. She was trotting by and jumped when we got close. Stopped the car outside of the loop road. No kits. I walked in calling "kit kit" for about 2 minutes when both Pepper and Abby came running up. They each had about 1/4 slice of bread and a "bone". ShyLass watched from the birthing den for awhile and then ran across the road into the brush. We toured the logging areas and on our way out an adult was waiting by the turn-in to the loope road. She watched us from the brush. Abby came running up when I stopped the car to talk to the adult (Charlene?) and throw her the last of the bread.

25 Jun

(8 am) All the baked potato and bread gone from feeding areas. Fresh scat on road between brook and loop road. Finished up at hollow log den. Was leaving a few treats and talking to den about my disappointment when - lo - Abby's head appeared out of hollow log. She listened to me, cocked her head, disappeared, reappeared on top of den, and was just coming toward me when the car's idle revved up and scared her off. What a relief to know at least one of them are here and recognize my voice.

(7:30 pm) Went to the log den first. Abby (the bold red pup) was waiting for me and came at the sound of my voice. She pounced around in the tall grass for a bit, but then came out to get some cranberry muffin. I heard a loud crash and saw the brush on top of the den moving. Said to Tom "wonder who fell down". Next, Pepper's (the grey pup) head appeared next to the hole in the log. Not very skillful at jumping yet I see. The both came out to within 3 - 5 feet of me. I kept talking all the time as I was tearing off tiny bits of muffin to toss. If I say "kit kit" every time I toss tidbits, they wait for it and aren't scared. They seem to know that sound means treats. Another car came along and I was most displeased to see someone on our property. I asked them if I could help them and they said they were new members of the logging team scheduled for the back 50 and were taking a trial run to see where they would be cutting tomorrow. During this exchange Tom was perched on top of our car with camera in hand. The foxes completely disappeared when the strange car came up. When it left I thought the pups had gone. I started talking and about 30 seconds later they came out. It pleases me that while they have no fear of the sound of our car, they vanish when another vehicle comes. Tom and I are both convinced, however, it was the sound of my voice they recognize and respond to.

27 Jun

(7:30 pm) Went to other feeding areas and left food ( leftover butterscotch cream pie & milk bone - maxed out on allowable calories tonight) before going to log den. Called "kit kit" and mother White Hips came out - took one look at us and loped off to other feeding areas. Tom had cut brush up to within 3 feet of den so we could film. No pups at all tonight. Wonder if mother moved them because of brush cutting? If so, have no idea where back-up den might be.

28 Jun

(7:30 pm) 2nd night have not seen pups. Think mother may have moved them from log den because of logging traffic. Left roast beef bits at usual places. Saw the head of an adult red thru the brush - but couldn't tell who it was. Whomever, it followed us on the entire circuit and cleaned everything up within 3 - 5 minutes of leaving it there. If it were White Hips or Charlene I would think they would come out of the brush as they know us. Anyway, good thing tonite was "diet light" eating if one fox got it all. No more than 30 calories tonite.

29 Jun

(6:00 pm) Went back early and left bologna in regular feeding places and parked. No one showed up. At 7:15 started to drive back to logging area to see what had been done today and half way back between loop road and 1st turnaround saw same adult golden fox we've seen last 2 nights. Turned the car around, and sure 'nuff, it went directly to the feeding places. Didn't have to hunt, or sniff - just went right to them. Got some good video. Discovered it was a male when he lifted his leg when departing frustrated that we had parked too close to one feeding area. Drove back into deep woods to 2nd turnaound where new road punched through. The bones I had left there were gone and a very fresh (today) scat in their place.

We continued back to area marked for clear cutting and silvanating and met 2 of the loggers coming back to leave gas for tomorrow. We asked them if they had seen the foxes recently and they said they saw the mother and one red kit by the hollow log den when they drove out of the woods yesterday at 4:00.

It's fairly obvious the mother has moved the pups. If she moved them, then she is sending the father (?) to get the food bits. In any case, the golden male knows unerringly where to go. On the other hand, I was ready to give them up for dead . . . but the logger saw mother and kit yesterday. The plot thickens.

30 Jun

(3:30 pm) Decided to take afternoon drive thru woods. Car had been sitting in sun all day with windows closed. Unbeknownst to me, Tom had picked up some fox scat last night (on a piece birch bark) and put it in the back seat. At first I thought I would drive thru the smell, but as it followed me, decided to stop and look; that's when I discovered the scat. An afternoon drive surrounded by the aroma of sun baked fox scat is not an exciting prelude to dinner. Drove back home with my head out the window.

(7:30 pm) No sightings. On the new road (Lower Spring Road) there is an Osprey who must have a nest. Each time we have walked it or driven (as far as we can) it screeches, swoops, and puts up a fuss that makes more noise than a modern rock band.