Vicki Fox > Guests > PEI Foxes > 1995 Journal 4Q

PEI Foxes - 1995 Journal : October to December

1 Oct

Tom reports via telephone. Abby becomes more and more submissive each day. If Pepper even looks like she wants whatever Abby has, Abby moves away or drops it.

3 Oct

Tom's report. Pepper was waiting at T junction. He gave her a little bit and called and called "kit kit". Abby finally came slowly down from the direction of the log den. Tom suspects she is using that now. Pepper planted herself at the T junction as if to say "I dare you". Abby wouldnt come nearer than 20 - 25 feet.

Very important: Tom forgot to mention that starting last Thursday Pepper would mark after every set-to they had. As if "I won this fight, this is my space." Pepper had not been noticed marking before this time. She has been marking alot, in every location, since. Abby has not been seen marking at all. (So what's left for her to mark?)

21 Oct

Arrived last nite after dark. 2:30 pm - Took a drive back to log den (from which the mother had moved the kits last June but Tom saw evidence of use several weeks ago) and threw some Crispex on the ground and called "kit kit". To my surprise, a head popped up. Yawning, Pepper emerged. Excused myself for interrupting her afternoon nap but thanked her for coming when I called. She then curled up at the side of the road, wrapped her tail around its body, and closed its eyes and dozed (?) off.

22 Oct

Poured rain all day so didn't do a mid afternoon tour.

(5:30 pm) Pepper was lying down in the middle of the road on the hill just behind the house. I asked her if she was afraid she'd miss us. She gave a big grin and thoroughly enjoyed some leftover garlic mashed potatoes. She trotted docily (if there is such a word) next to the car on the way to the T junction where she got some more garlic mashed potatoes. Her breath may be fierce from this treat, but it should help keep worms away. :) No sign of Abby nor any other fox. The fox trail by the log den has had much traffic. It's almost worn a depression in the ground. It is obviously one of the main routes they take, and not just one fox (Pepper) could keep it worn down so.

23 Oct

(5:15 pm) It's dark by 6:30 so am going earlier now. Abby was waiting at the top of the hill behind the house. Wow - she is a brilliant orange. IPepper was stretched out on the bale of straw by the T junction and got a few treats. Since I was alone, she came right up to my feet. She almost tried to take a bit out of my hand, but I am not giving in to that temptation. I heard a rustling in the bush, and sure enough, Abby came out on the road about 40 feet away. She came a little closer, but each time I tried to toss something to her, Pepper loped over and took it. During the entire fox hunt tonite, they never got closer than 10 feet to each other. There was no hostility, growling, etc. Both chased the car as far as the brook and then Abby disappeared. Pepper kept up the tradition of the race and got the last piece of hot dog on the sitting rock.

24 Oct

(5:15 pm) Pepper was waiting just 200 yards from the house. Pepper is disturbed by Tom's presence. At the T junction Tom got out of the car and sat on the bale of straw, camera in hand. Pepper wouldn't come out of the brush. I walked down the road toward the log den a ways, and Pepper came out and ate the leftover soggy yellow beans with gusto.

25 Oct

(5:15 pm) Pepper waiting at the T junction. She marked after getting treats tonite. All as usual at the mound and loop road. Pepper followed us out. She doesn't run as fast as she did; if we speed up a great deal of distance between us develops. She is happiest when we drive slow and she can lope along right next to the car. Every so often she'll look at me thru the window on the passenger side and I'll give her encouragement or tell her she's beautiful. I get a smile in return and she's content to lope along a little further. While Pepper was enjoying some bread at SS ridgeI noticed Abby at the hill top and urged Tom to drive down quick before Pepper was thru. Tom misunderstood me, so by the Tom we got to Abby, Pepper was right behind us. Abby got a treat before Pepper came to claim the territory. Abby went into the spruce trees and stayed in sight under a low branch. She finally came out down the field from the feeding spot. Tom kept Pepper busy with Cheerios and I tossed soggy beans and burned meatloaf to Abby. She got it all, but kept about 20 feet between her and Pepper. As we rounded a curve at the end of the spruce trees (about 200 yards from the house) I tossed another handfull from my side of the window and Abby went right to them. We could see her "hoovering" as we left. There is absolutely no antagonism evident between them. Abby is the Cinderella hovering on the sidelines and seems to accept her place. She also seems to have great faith that we will figure a way for her to get her share of treats. Neither of them are very hungry.

26 Oct

(5:15 pm) Abby was waiting for us half way up the hill. She got some bread and hot dog there and at the hill top. She pounced her way over to the sitting rock, making nice aerial arcs with each pounce.

27 Oct

(5:15 pm) Pepper was waiting for us at the top of the hill. She escorted us back to the T junction, trotting nicely next to the car. She appears to nod her head in acknowledgement when I speak; however, it could be just the effort of running. She got her usual treats at all the regular places. Pepper chased the car out, cut kitty-corner across a field to position herself next to the car and raced us on the flat to the sitting rock. She runs with her head thrust forward, her tongue stuck out, and her tail straight out and waving behind. She arrived at the sitting rock with moisture dripping from her tongue. I was feeding her bits of carrot cake when I noticed Abby lurking in the pile of rocks beyond the sitting rock. I called "kit kit" but she never appeared. Finally Tom said "You're looking in the wrong direction. She's in front of the car." There she was, stretched out sphinx style on the road toward the top of the hill. She had circled all around the sitting rock, down to the spruce trees and come up the road.Tom tossed her bits of bread as I was keeping Pepper occupied. The carrot cake pieces "flew" further when tossed, so I started tossing those to Abby. One landed equal distance between her and Pepper. Pepper saw it and made a dash for it. Abby backed up (didn't actually move her feet but kind of "slanted" backwards), lowered her head and put her ears back. Pepper got the cake. We finally worked it out so each was getting the same amount of attention, with Abby getting slightly bigger pieces since Pepper had been fed at other locations. Suddenly Abby went at the alert and almost 'pointed' to the spruce trees. She took a few steps forward, stopped, went on the alert with her ears pricked and pointing (even to the point of one paw lifted like a hunting dog). Pepper had her back to Abby so was completely unaware of what was happening. Suddenly Abby took off toward the spruce trees "arcing" her way the entire time. It's interesting how she and Pepper have different styles of locomotion. Pepper is a straight line as she runs. (From the rear she *does* have a Marilyn Monroe wiggle.) Abby, however, moves in half circles as she pounces her way from place to place dolphin style.

29 Oct

Heard foxes barking last night for first time. Last year there was a cacophony of barking each night. This year's family more the silent type.

(4:15 pm) Time change last nite - set clocks back an hour.

Pepper met us on the flat and chased us back to the T junction. She was very frisky tonight. We made the rounds and she actually got up to 23 miles per hour chasing us out. At one point she decided to play tag and pulled ahead and ran in front of the car. I was holding my head and yelling "You're going to hit her". Tom was in the process of slowing down when she crossed into the brush, slowed her pace, and then chased us. I had the distinct feeling of being herded. At the sitting rock Pepper either coughed or barked. I wasn't sure which, and since she didn't repeat it still don't know. She was looking directly at me when she made the noise. Abby showed up and stayed on the road between the top of the hill and the sitting rock. Tonite Pepper bypassed the hill top, followed the car down, and just as Abby was settling into her treat Pepper barged her out of the way and took over. Abby looked forlorn, so we just left another handfull farther down the road and closer to the house.

A general note. I can't get over how long their toenails are. I mentioned to Tom I thought they were far too long and could get torn. He said they needed them for digging dens and caching food. Dah! Why didn't I think of that.

30 Oct

(4:15 pm) Cold, cold, cold, About 4°C and windy. Feels like snow. You could see Pepper's breath as she was chasing us. Pepper didn't particularly like the carrots; the pieces were too big for one thing. She would bite down and about 4 pieces would come spilling out of her mouth. She much preferred the pie crust and Cheerios. She only ate the carrots when nothing more was forthcoming.

At the sitting rock Pepper was busy eating a few turkey bits when we saw Abby sitting at the hill top. We started tossing the carrots to her (they were heavy enough to carry in the wind). Pepper broke off from the turkey bits and started chasing the carrots (the very same ones she stuck her nose up at before). Abby got a few, but Pepper kept racing from one to the other, breaking them into little bits and then chasing another toss. At one point Abby had a piece and Pepper hip slammed her. Abby ducked her head in submission, laid her ears back, turned her back on Pepper and kept on chewing. We just kept raining carrots so Abby was sure to get some. Abby started down the hill as if to say "hurry, Pepper's occupied". By the time we got the car started, however, Pepper was right behind us. Tom had Pepper on his side of the car so I tossed some pie crust to Abby on my side. Doggone if Pepper didn't see it and snatch it right from under Abby's nose. We dropped some Cheerios and carrots and started for home. Abby was keeping us company underneath the branches of the spruce trees. Pepper ignored everything at the top of the hill; bypassed it in favor of following the car to see what we left for Abby. Abby immediately turned back and the last we saw was cleaning up everything at the top of the hill.

I don't mean to make Pepper sound like a bully. She's really very sweet. This is just nature. Pepper may be dominant, but I'm betting that Abby has better survival skills.

31 Oct

(4:15 pm) Bitter cold. Snow flurries last night and below zero (C). Tom spent the latter part of the afternoon working with the front loader and scraper moving a pile of rock at the top of the hill. When I started off on the evening "fox hunt" I stopped and said big equipment would scare the foxes. Tom laughed and said Pepper had been sitting there for the past half hour watching him. As I drove toward the T junction Pepper ran up to escort me. Usual rounds. Coming out Pepper met me by the top of the loop road for the usual chase/tag/race. When we got to the road by the brook before we cross it, I saw a red fox in my rear view mirror. It had run out from the hedgerows between the two back fields. I stopped the car and got out. Sure enough, it was Abby. Pepper had already crossed the brook by this time, so Abby got a piece of potato before Pepper returned to see what was holding me up. Pepper stayed in front of the car and Abby at the rear, so I was able to toss in two directions at once without interference. Pepper got tiny pieces since she had already eaten. I tossed Pepper a pork bone which she promptly started to demolish with her strong teeth. I tossed Abby a BIGGER bone that had lots of meat and some fat on it. Abby immediately ran about 3 feet into the brush. I could still see her and had the camera ready in case she was going to cache it. But now, she sat and ate and worked at the treasure right then and there.

1 Nov

(4:15 pm) Workmen were back in the corner of the field between the T junction and the mound today laying tile to help drainage. Since they had big equipment I was afraid the foxes wouldn't show up. You can imagine my delight when both Pepper and Abby were at the T junction. The workmen were about 80 - 100 yards away. They just stopped, watched, and shook their heads. Pepper followed us to the sitting rock and barged Abby out of the way to eat a few crumbs. We left some more treats half-way down the spruce trees and Abby started for those, when Pepper came running up from behind and either barged her or hip slammed her out of the way. (Couldn't tell for sure in the rear view mirror which it was.) So much for generosity. Pepper kept following the car down the hill and we would stop every 15 feet to leave another treat. Meanwhile, Abby ran back to the hill top and was cleaning up all the bits Pepper left in her haste to barge Abby out of the way of further treats. Patience has her reward.

(8:30 pm) It is totally dark by 6:00 now. It is such a clear bright night, Tom and I drove up to Sunset Ridge to look at the stars and watch the planes go overhead from Chicago to London. The moon was so bright Tom started to drive back down with no lights on. I asked him to please put them on because Pepper might be in front of the car. When Tom turned the lights on, sure enough. There was Pepper racing in front of the car heading for the sitting rock. Fortunately I had a treat with me and threw it to her as we headed for home.

2 Nov

(4:15 pm) Abby and Pepper waiting at T junction. The men were working with their big equipment between the T junction and the mound. When the foxes appeared, the men shut off all the machinery so it was quiet and stood and watched. (This was beyond the call of duty in consideration. I forgive them for being three weeks late on the job.)

3 Nov

(4:00 pm) Dark at 5:00 now - a dank, dreary day, rain all day long and bitter cold. Snow flurries forecast. Pepper met us at the T junction. The clay roads were so "greasy" the car had no traction and we thought we might be in trouble. Gave Pepper treats at T junction, mound, and loop road. When we got to the top of the loop road we knew we couldn't continue back into the woods so headed back to the brook. This was a mean trick to play as Pepper knows she always has 15 minutes before we start back out. We never saw her again. The car barely made it up the hill over the brook at the mound. Poor Faithful Pepper; probably still waiting for us. When we got to the sitting rock all the food was gone, but no fox in sight. I called "kit kit" for about 2 minutes and finally Abby showed up. Boy did she get a feed tonight. She kept looking back toward the woods thinking Pepper might show up any minute, but gloried in having the field to herself. Her left rear leg is carried high much of the time and she is hopping on 3 legs. There were times she would put it down and her gait looked fine, but usually when she put it down there was a decided limp. I am afraid she had been hurt. However, after puncturing 2 tractor tires on the thorns in the brush this week, Tom thinks she may have a thorn in her paw. It will be a sad trip back to Chicago tomorrow.

4 Nov

(4:15 pm) Tom's report. Pepper was waiting in the ditch by the curve in the road up the hill just behind the house.

5 Nov

(4:15 pm) Tom's report - Harmony reigns - almost. Both Pepper and Abby met Tom half way back to the T junction. They seemed to be sharing the area, the food, etc. They were close (body wise) to each other - just as when they were kits. Suddenly there was some snarling and they were in the stand-up fight position. Tom jumped out of the car with the video camera. He doesn't know if he got anything or not because out of the corner of his eye he saw the car rolling off through the field, heading for the ditch the tilers hadnt filled in yet. Tom raced across the field to catch the car. This antic so surprised the foxes they stopped fighting and came to watch the show. He thought he might have to get the tractor to get the car out of the mire, but finally pulled out and was able to drive to the mound - where Abby and Pepper behaved sweetly to each other - and to Tom. Driving back out, both foxes followed him to the sitting rock where once again their shared the space and Tom's attention. Tom tossed a few kernels of the cat food which they loved. Pepper's nature got the best of her and she snarled at Abby to force her to back away. Pepper got the most of the cat food. Best news of all, Tom could see no visible limping on Abby's part. She seemed as normal as always.

7 Nov

(4:00 pm) Tom had set some mousetraps in the woodhouse. One of the traps had been sprung and a nice fat mouse was in it. He took it along on the "fox hunt" tonite. Pepper was waiting for him at the hill top. Tom tossed the mouse to her. Pepper was overjoyed with the treat. Pepper grabbed the mouse in the midsection with her first bite. Tom said the head and tail were hanging out each side of her mouth. Those disappeared with the second bite.

Abby was waiting at the mound. She has become so shy she won't come near the car now. This is the same behavior we noticed with last year's red kit. One day friendly, the next day extremely shy. Tom was tossing food out of both sides of the car windows. Before he drove off he tossed a handfull of cheerios to keep Pepper busy. He drove away and in the rear view mirror Abby was busy cleaning up her treats while Pepper was hoovering the cereal. Neither fox was visible as Tom came out of the woods. No chase, no race.

9 Nov

Tom's report - Pepper was waiting at the top of the hill and "escorted" Tom back. Usual rounds Pepper chased Tom out and got some treats at the sitting rock. Down by the hill top, there was Abby waiting. Tom left food for Pepper and drove to where Abby was sitting. She moved down the road to between the spruce trees. Tom left food at the hill top and drove to where Abby was and gave her a handfull of cheerios. On his way home he stopped and left some more. Suddenly Pepper came charging down the hill and Tom thought for sure she was going to barge Abby out of the way. However, Pepper completely by-passed Abby completely ignoring her and went directly to where Tom had thrown the last bit of food.

10 Nov

As Tom was driving up the hill he saw some movement by the sitting rock, but couldn't see what it was. As he drew up next to it, Pepper jumped out and up on the rock. (She had been hiding behind it.) Tom said she did all but yell "Surprise!" She wasn't interested in food (at this point) but was more interested in racing the car back to the T junction. Abby joined them there. She sees Pepper and puts her ears back and snarls right away. Pepper usually ignores her as if she doesn't exist. Just once Pepper had enough and shoulder slammed her., but the majority of her behavior tonight was one of "shunning". Abby sits on the sidelines and watches. Tom makes sure she gets some food tosses that Pepper doesn't see and trusts Abby's memory to come get them after everyone leaves.

king about how beautiful Pepper was.

12 Nov

Tom reports it was extremely windy today. Pepper was all curled up in the ditch waiting for him as he drove up. She had a feed at all the normal areas, tho Tom did not go beyond the brook. On his way out Pepper got the rest of the bread at the sitting rock and the hill top. As Tom was driving down he stopped to throw out some Cheerios in case Abby showed up. He looked in his rear view mirror, and there she was coming toward him. Both foxes shared the rest of the box of Cheerios and the last of the cat food. Tom admonished them to stay healthy and bid farewell for the both of us.

27 Dec

Arrived on PEI late afternoon. It was dusk by the time we got to the farm. Huffed and puffed my way through the snow and up the hill to the hill top. It was a race between my knees and lungs as to which would give out first - that hill is wicked. Left cat food and bologna (there's a balanced meal) at several spots up the hill. Called and called, but no one came. Many, many fox tracks in the snow. Hoping they'll find the food tonight and listen for the call tomorrow night.

28 Dec

It snowed about 1" last night and fresh tracks were visible as I was grunting my way up the hill. There was a crust on the snow which made for easier walking. There were a few kernles of cat food snowed over close to the first rise behind the house; all other food was completely gone. Fresh scat had been left at the top of the hill.

29 Dec

A neighbor gave me a snowmobile ride up to the top of the hill. All food gone - every single trace. Two new pieces of scat left at the top of the hill, one on each side of the "road". Left bread and sugared donut. Walking down saw many, many new fox tracks. Had a light snow and the underlying snow was so crusty one's feet didn't sink in far. The fox tracks were obviously new. Left a trail of food all the way down to the first rise behind the house. I had a phone call so quickly hobbled/skated across the ice into the house. While on the phone I heard Tom yell "There's your fox." Quickly hung up and looked thru the binoculars. Eventually I watched from upstairs thru one pair and Tom watched from downstairs thru the 2nd pair. It certainly looked like Abby. As I suspected, sugared donut did the trick. Tomorrow I'll perch on my Ambercrombie & Fitch shooting stick (which I use as a walking stick) and sit and wait for awhile. Hang any phone calls.

30 Dec

Quite a day of discovery. This morning Tom walked all the way back through the loop road. There were fox tracks, but none by the natal den. He found a "flurry" of tracks, similar to a "flurry" we saw half way up the hill our first night here. They were tracks made by more than one fox, overlaying each other, and in a tight circle. We wonder if it isn't evidence of mating. Never having seen a fox tied, we are basing this supposition on our knowledge of dogs and the kind of tracks they might make while mounting. Even more exciting, Tom saw lots of rabbit tracks. Some big and some small, like very young rabbits might make. Since we saw the first evidence of a rabbit in over 20 years in this area this spring, we have no knowledge of when a litter might be born. However, this is good news because rabbits are coming back, and because it will be a food source for the foxes.

(3:30 pm) Dressed in my finest outdoor clothing and looking something like a walking snowman I made my trek up the hill. Tom was watching from the upstairs window with binoculars. I left food near the hill top between the spruce plantations before the road curves out of view of the house. Coming down about 20 feet I stopped and left more food and repeated this to about 30 feet from the first rise. Tom said that as soon as I left food at the top and turned my back to come down, the red fox appeared. She stayed about 50 feet from me all the way down. When I stopped, she would stop. Tom said she was definitely waiting for me and stalked me all the way down. When I got down to the first rise I opened my shooting stick and sat. By this time she was at the end of the spruce trees. We watched each other for about 10 minutes. Tom knows it is a female because he saw her squat to "mark" several times. At this point she stretched out and made herself comfortable while I was wobbling on the shooting stick. Finally tired of squinting against the snow to see her (about 200 yards away) I decided to call again. "Kit Kit" She got up and trotted toward me and got as close as the culvert where she found more food.

Post Script:As I was posting this Tom shouted "She's back". The gorgeous red fox cocked her head down to the ground, listened, pawed and then pounced. She trotted off with a mouse in her mouth. For the past 20 minutes she has been hunting in the field - back and forth. Guess she prefers mouse to burnt meat loaf. It sure looks like its White Hips, Pepper and Abby's mother. Guess Pepper and Abby have dispursed since mother is still around.

31 Dec

4 above zero (F) and the wind is blowing hard; have no idea what the wind chill factor is. Snowed last night. Fresh tracks all around and even in our back yard. Made it up the hill with bread, Crispex and bologna but lost the feeling in my finger tips by the time I got to the bottom of the spruce trees. Left some food in a trail all the way down to the first rise behind the house and just kept on going to get back inside to warmth. Tom was watching thru the field glasses and said once again the fox tracked/stalked me about 50 yards behind. I ran to the upstairs window and looked thru the binoculars and shouted "It's Abby." There was the distinctive grey on her hips, and she was smaller than the fox of the past two days. Abby cleaned up everything near the top of the hill, disappeared into the spruce trees for about 5 minutes and then came back to investigate farther down the hill. When she got to the food by the little plateau (2/3 way down - or - 1/3 way up - whichever) she kept running into the middle of the field and then coming back for more. Adjusting the glasses I could see she was caching it; even to the distinctive nose push to cover it. She made about four trips like this (Crispex must be terribly difficult to cache) when Tom shouted "Look at the top of the hill." There was the big red (Mother?) we saw the past two days. She just sat and watched the entire procedure. Conclusion #1 - there definitely IS inter-family communication about food source; Conclusion #2 - Mother (?) is still looking after Abby. Abby is about 2/3 the size of the big red fox. Abby continued to cache, but only marked a couple of times. She went back to an earlier site and lay down on it for 2 or 3 minutes. She then trotted into the middle field (behind the well house and behind Sunset Ridge) and posed left, then right. Her mannerisms were so difinitely Abby. It appeared she was checking other cache sites. By this time the big red (mother?) had disappeared into the spruce trees. Abby spent about 20 minutes checking various spots in the ground and then melted from sight.

Now we wonder if Pepper will show up, or if as the dominant she has already been driven off to a new range and Abby has been kept behind as a baby sitter for next year's litter. Only tomorrow will tell.

Supposition: The mother, even when the litter was new last May, always made sure we had time with the kits. I wonder how we are perceived? None of the neighbors have seen the foxes since Tom left in November. Do they only appear for us? Or are we just watching for them?