Vicki Fox > Guests > PEI Foxes > 1996 Journal 1Q

PEI Foxes - 1996 Journal : January to March

1 Jan

Poor Abby has been working for the past hour caching food. At one point Abby came into our garden.

2 Jan

Bone chilling cold. Absolutely numbing. Yesterday wore sunglasses against glare but frames burned into my face. Today wore ski goggles. No feeling in fingers by the time I reached the bottom of the spruce trees. Left a trail of food all the way down and stiff with cold, frankenstein walked into the house. Had to wait for about 10 minutes before Abby came out. She ate her fill of potato pancake, bologna and sugared donut and commenced the back and forth routine of caching. Back and forth, back and forth. She huddled for awhile under a big fir tree by the "plateau" on the road then resumed back and forth. During her trips across the field behind the house, she investigated what I assume are other caches. A stop, a sniff, trot a few paces, stop, sniff, and on again. Back again under the fir tree, she decided to cache some in that area. Suddenly she stopped, listened, arched her back and pounced in place. She trotted off with something dark in her mouth. I can only assume it was a mouse.

1 Feb

The new era begins - many multiple tracks and signs of natal den being prepared. Many, many sightings during Feb trip of foxes travelling in pairs. On to a new journal to record the antics of the 1996 litter.

22 Mar

Much fox barking during the night. Either calling for a midwife or announcing a birth, or announcing their easy food source was back in residence. Fields very muddy so walked back to the natal den. On the way back saw some fresh (1 - 2 day?) mixed with old scat. On the way down the hill before the brook there was much snow left and saw a myriad of old tracks of foxes travelling in pairs. One set of tracks larger than the other. Just before the brook the snow was gone and saw fresh single fox tracks in the mud. On a patch of snow just before the natal den saw muddy fresh tracks on the melting snow. Tracks intensified as we got closer to den. Much, much traffic and fresh scat. Went to about 10 feet from entrance and softly called "kit kit". Left 2 slices of bread torn into pieces, a small cookie and 4 very small milk bone at den sight and at end of loop road. ALL fresh tracks are of the larger fox.

24 Mar

I can't believe I subjected myself to the agony of walking back again, but there was a dusting of snow last night and I wanted to look for fresh tracks. The ground was a little firmer but not much. All the food left a couple of days ago was gone. At the mound by the brook we spotted not only fresh fox tracks (one set) but many, many rabbit tracks. This is very exciting as last year was the first evidience of rabbits back on this farm for 20 years. Also, there is *no* evididence of mice around the house or out buildings. The foxes are doing a good job there, but the neighbor's cat is quite sulky. The fact that rabbit tracks are so close to the fox tracks at the mound AND at the end of the loop road show the foxes aren't hungry enough to chase a speedy rabbit. Left dry cat food by the rabbit tracks (feeding a food source?) and at the usual fox eating places, along with bread and milk bone. At the end of the loop road left a full slice of bread torn into pieces and milk bone and at the natal den left a chicken breast, bread, cat food and some milk bone. Lots and lots of fresh tracks. I headed for home but Tom walked over to the log den. He reported a dearth of fox tracks but lots of rabbit tracks. It is so rewarding to see that with careful cultivation and silvanation the environment is returning to nature.

25 Mar

Tom walked back today. I couldn't face another hike. He found fresh fox prints in the mud. Left another chicken breast by natal den, plus miscellaneous leftovers along the way. No sighting of the actual mother or father, but "the books" say that he is doing all the hunting while she stays with the kits. He leaves food by the den and goes back to hunt some more. Later, when the kits are older, the mother may leave them with the father or a maiden aunt and help with the hunting. A very tiring time for both parents.

27 Mar

Temperature went down to freezing last night. Had a snow squal this morning. Sun came out and melted most of the snow but temperature stayed cold. I talked Tom into trying the car at least to the top of the hill behind the house. Made it to the end of the garden before we were past the hub caps in mud. Had to open the shed, push the rider mower out (battery was dead), start the tractor, tear up the lawn driving the tractor to where the car was stuck and pull the car out. Needless to say, I walked (huffed, puffed and groaned) back to the den to leave food. Fresh scat had been left in one of the feeding areas. Snow not melted by brook and saw fresh tracks cross the road and climb the side of the mound . . . looking for food? At the end of the loop road there were four little holes; as if someone had taken the heel of their shoe and scuffed a little hole. Around each hole was a myriad of fresh fox tracks not seen on previous days. Another couple similar holes closer to den. Can only assume these were caches that had been dug up. Left chicken parts and sugared donut; figure vixen needs energy.