Vicki Fox > Guests > PEI Foxes > 1997 Journal 2Q

PEI Foxes - 1997 Journal : April to June

May 6

Finally back on Prince Edward Island and at the farm. Last night I left biscuit and milk bone in the ditch beyond the garden (where Biscuit from last year loved to play and even Banjo visited several times.) All was gone this morning. Could have been fox, birds, neighborhood cat, and/or raccoons.

A beautiful sunny day. Tom had gathered debris, twigs, broken limbs from the yard and wanted to throw them in the woods. He hooked up the box cart to the tractor. Needless to say I begged to go along. A large flat rock in the front of the cart with a tarp covering and the tongue for a foot rest made a queen's throne for me. First we explored the pine plantation at the side of the property. If the foxes went hungry this year it was because they were lazy; mouse holes everywhere. Most no more than 2" from each other. Many, many trees denuded of bark thanks to the mice. We tractored along the pine plantation on up the hill to the spruce trees where we nearly got stuck. One wheel almost to the hub in clay. No sign of anything at the sitting rock, but left milk bone just in case. However by the reopened lane and its pile of rocks there was fox scat; not too old as it was still black. No sign of foxes by the hutka. By the brook I saw raccoon tracks, other small tracks (maybe mink?) and coyote tracks. There were some tracks that could have been fox or a small coyote. Couldn't tell which as they were fairly old. The old natal den on the loop road is not in use - and I can see why. Coyote scat on two sides of it. On the main road back into the woods saw old (white) coyote scat and some tracks by the first turnaround. Just past the first turnaround the road was too greasy to continue so we turned around. Coming back out we drove along the edge of the property above the spruce trees and stopped when we got to the corner. We walked into the spruce plantation where Tom discovered a den last year by a year round spring. Sure 'nuff, it had been cleared of dead leaves and looked to be in use. I left some milk bone and bread about 50 feet away. Our neighbor has seen much activity down by the shore during the winter. Tom investigated and it appears there is another fox family living under the old cottage by the shore - just like last year. I'm glad we made the tour as rain is forecast for the next 4 days so there is no hope of getting back until it clears and has had a chance to dry.

Left cooked carrots in the ditch beyond the garden tonight.

8:30 p.m. A gorgeous, huge red fox with a beautiful bushy tail casually walked down the drainage ditch beyond the garden, and then meandered up over the field behind the house. Gave us a wonderful view.

May 7

7:00 a.m. Veggies left last night are gone, except for one carrot.

I've been corrected by a neighbor who tells me there was 3 - 4 feet of snow with an ice crust that would support a grown man, so the mice were able to nibble at the tree bark with no danger of being caught by the foxes who could not dig thru the ice crust.

Left some freezer burned ground beef out for them in the ditch tonight. So far at 8:45 I've had no sighting. If they came and went in the ditch I'd never see them. Last nite I was lucky they crossed the field.

May 8

A big limb of the old maple tree in the back had broken off during the winter, splitting about 1/3 off the trunk. It's remarkable but there are buds on the remaining limbs. Tom cut up the fallen limb and we made another tractor and cart trip back to the brook; I sitting on my Island sandstone throne. (Hey - if British royalty sits on the throne over the stone of Scotland, who am I to argue about sitting on a stone of my own.) All previous treats were gone and most excitingly, fresh scat was left between the sitting rock and the end of the reopend lane, and again just past the hutka. Left lots of milk bone around, and bits of sugar cookie at the mound at the top of the hill. Called kit kit as I did so. Just getting dusk now, and put some more ground beef in the ditch beyond the garden, again calling "kit kit". I know they're here and more importantly, they know I'm here. We'll connect when it's time.

May 10

7:15 a.m. I stood at the window watching the rain come down feeling anger and helplessness as a young black lab (Labordor dog) wound its way through our fields and the ditch behind the garden. (I think the dog belongs to the neighbor with the orange cat that is always looking for my fox's food.) My only hope was that the bread I left there last night had already been confiscated by the foxes during the nocturnal hunt. No sooner did the black lab disappear stage left, when entering from stage right was a fox. It followed the same path as the dog had done. It's orange was a little washed out and it had lots of grey on its back. Very similar to Full Grey or Grey Back from last year. I quickly got some shoes on and ran out calling kit kit, but the fox was gone when I got to the garden's edge. Left lots of milk bone. And am still watching.

Contrary to my earlier thought of a plentiful winter, I hear that foxes are starving all over the Island. Some say there is more road kill this year than they have ever seen. At least I know a couple of dens are being used and I've now seen two foxes. So situation looks good.

May 11

8:30 a.m. Tom had my chariot (tractor and wagon with stone throne) ready for my mother's day treat of a ride throughout the woods. The sun was bright and a beautiful morning was unfolding. I grabbed some leftover raisin bread and some banana bread for fox food, jumped in the wagon and shouted "giddyup". We got to the top of the hill and I got off the wagon to leave food at the sitting rock (fresh scat left), the rock 10 feet away at the end of the reopend lane, and the top of the hill by the spruce trees. Did the rocks, and walking down to the spruce trees I spotted a fox watching me from the middle of the field. The sun was behind her/him so couldn't really tell the color, but it appeard to be a washed out red with a grey back such as I saw yesterday morning. It watched me for awhile and then loped over by the top of the spurce trees in the opposite corner from where I was. I called kit kit and left bread in the usual feeding area. It sat and watched me. It was probably 250 - 300 feet away. I walked back to the sitting rock where the tractor had stopped and Tom was standing up on it looking at the far corner. I stood on the tongue of the wagon. We could see the fox on a pile of stones in the far corner - sitting and watching us. We drove on to the back of the woods.

No new tracks by the brook but fresh scat by the mound by the brook, so I left more bread pieces there. At the top of the loop road the plump partridge was walking into the brush, looking very annoyed with us for disturbing her. On the main road back there were coyote tracks and scat. We turned off at the second turn around and went down thru the Osprey road. Tom walked the Upper Spring Road but it was too wet to take the tractor on. Half way down the Osprey road we noticed a new (to us, anyway) Osprey nest by the brook on the right. The old Osprey nest was farther along after crossing the culvert. Neither seemed occupied. There were coyote tracks and areas marked with scat all along this road.

Did not go down the clear cut road but cut up the Cross Road to the Circle Road. Coyote scat with much hair in it. The neighbor's cattle evidently crossed the river and came up an old steep logging road to the Circle Road again. Their hoof prints were all over the place. They do this about twice a year. Usually they stay on the Circle Road. One time last year they came down the Main Road all the way to our back fields. Anyway, from their tracks you could tell they were cavorting, scampering, and having a whale of a time. Suddenly I could see coyote tracks interspersed with theirs. We then hit a patch of about 20 feet where there was cow patty after coy patty. Don't know if the coyotes scared them, or they all deciced to take a bathroom break.

On our way out of the woods the bread on the sitting rock was gone; however the bread on the other rock (10 feet away) was still loaded as was the top of the hill by the spruce trees. Found this very strange. However I noticed last year that in the family of adults, each one would tend to take food from "their spot" and leave things for others. We tractored across the top of the spruce trees (where we had seen the fox and close to the den). There was fox scat all along. One spot was really strange. Had about 4 or 5 ribbons of fox scat overlaying each other so it would look larger. Investigating the pile of stones, we could see fox scat in several different areas plus some plucked-clean bones. They looked to be the size of chicken leg bones. Also, one large scat that could be coyote or dog. It did not have the distinctive twisted ends of the fox.

Coming back to the house, our neighbor across the road had left a message on the answering machine that fox kits (kits) the side of house cats were playing by the old cottage by the shore. We immediately drove down (the car can make it) only to find the kits/kits had either gone to ground or moved somewhere else. I left some milk bone and circled the old hut. There are several entrances on each side, but the one at the south east end seemed the most used. It had scat littered all around the entrance, and half out of the entrace was the lower half of a rabbit. I could see the rear legs and the belly. The upper half was in the hole. It's as if the parents went hunting, or Pa took Ma out for Mother's Day, and left the rabbit as a meal for the kits/kits.

A very fulfilling day.

May 11

email from Ruth "Landfall"

Dear Foxmomma;

Called you this AM when I spotted (under PERFECT conditions as re sun, location... anybody with a telephoto lens could have captured a thoroughly marvelous scene) a fox parent and three kits/kits. They were doing their 'family thing' just east of Arnold's shed. Mother (?) first caught my eye whilst drinking from the series of puddles I created when I got the wagon stuck, then he/she trotted leisurely back to Arnold's yard and lay down.

Out from under the shed came the babies. Two clambered a couple of feet up into the crotch of the old tree, wrestled, jumped on each other, pulled the parent's tail, a lot of real kitpy-like movements. 'Odd-man-out' on the other hand, was off doing his own thing. First I lost him in the gloom under the big evergreen west of the cottage, then he came back and wandered most of the yard, using all the hunting motions we watched his parents employ when trying to catch their food last winter. All the while Fox Senior is keeping a watchful eye on all three.

I can understand now why you are so fascinated!

RRJ

May 12

8:00 a.m. email from my neighbor

Dear Foxmomma One;

Just used the 'scope to look in on our vulpine neighbours and can count 2 parents and SIX kits/kits. Five kits/kits are wrestling over something that looks to be a fair size and bloody (another rabbit, perhaps?) and the sixth (probably old 'do-it-my-way' again), is off exploring the yard. The attention of both parents was towards me, seemingly riveted on the long grass in the field between them and us. Hope to heaven there are no predators lurking about!

My comments

9:00 a.m. Looked thru Ruth's scope and I saw 2 red kits and I grey one (like Pepper in '95 or George in '94) Went down to the shore with box of milkbone. Ruth was watching me thru the scope from her house. As soon as one of the adults saw me, it ran off as fast as its legs would carry it. (Reminded me of Nervous Nellie from last year except there was no screeching this time.) I called kit kit and threw milk bone pieces about the north side of the shed. Ruth said (from watching me thru her scope) that 3 kits/kits went under the shed and the other two stayed on the Southeast side just listening to me. Not fearful at all. The sixth kit and the other adult were not to be seen.

Made extensive search thru the pine plantation by the house and spruce plantation and find no evidence of den usage. The den by the spring at the top of the hill looks like it might have been cleaned out several weeks ago, but there has been no traffic. The den under the collapsed shed on our property line with our neighbor (by the pine plantation) shows some use, but the scat littered about looks a couple of days to several weeks old. I left bread, anyway.

Looks like the kits/kits by the shore will be the single litter this year. They will cross soon and take up residence in the spruce trees. (As Blaze and Bamboo did last year.)

May 13

Got some great video of the fox kits/kits this morning. We drove down to the shore and parked about 150 feet away from the shed/den. Suddenly we saw two red kits running from a pile of brush about 50 feet from the den entrance under the shed. They slid under real fast. A few seconds later two darker kits came running across, stopped half way, stared at us, and one continued on to the safety of the den. The other walked slowly to the entrance and sat and stared at us for awhile. I walked forward calling kit kit and tossing out some Cap'n Crunch cereal. The brave kit still watched. By this time Tom had circled the other way and was poised to shoot some video. The kit started and retreated to the bowels of the shed. I put some cereal right outside the den and then backed up half way between the den/shed and our car. Tom, meanwhile positioned himself in the corner of the cottage that had a good vantage point for pictures. After 10 minutes (with both of us motionless) one of the darker kits came out to scout. H/she sat on the bare dirt outside the den for some time. Tom got some great pictures. Then it went back inside. Tom came out to where I was and we both moved toward the pile of brush where they had been playing. I pointed out to Tom there were entrances in the brush that they must play in. We stood motionless for some time, but nothing happened. I put another handfull of cereal out by the den and we both went back to the car. Tom kept the camera ready "just in case". Suddenly another kit leaped out of the brush (where we had been standing) and ran to the safety of the den. Tom didn't get it on camera, but he did get the two kits that came out of the den as soon as the late arrival slid in and started eating the cereal. One was darker and one was light red. Tom is convinced there are 2 separate litters sharing this den because of the drastic size difference.

I made a tour of the sitting rock, top of the hill, sunset ridge, etc. and all food from yesterday is gone. New scat in a couple of places. One along the top of the pine trees could be a large fox or small coyote. I need our expert tracker, Scott MacDonald, here to help me. He left some muskrats for the foxes in April and promises to stop by before long and help me discover if coyotes have impinged even more on fox territory.;

May 17

What excitement. Scott MacDonald stopped by this morning to look over the fox/coyote situation. First we went down to the den by the shore where he left a muskrat and I left 6 small Milk Bone bits. Lots of kitpy scat around the den. No sign of activity this morning. My neighbor has only seen 3 kits playing there lately. Perhaps it was two litters as Tom had thought and 3 remain in that den and three have been moved. Who knows.

Next, Scott and I went to the collapsed shed den on our neighbor's property abutting our pine plantation. Scott confirmed my feeling that the den is in use by all the kit and adult scat around, plus some feathers by a den opening. Foul must have been on the menu some night recently. As we were standing by the den, we looked thru a clearing in the pine trees and there was a fox watching us. We assumed it was the mother fox. She watched us for nearly 5 minutes. She finally continued on in the direction of the top of the hill.

Scott confirmed one piece of scat in the ditch behind the garden as coyote scat. The other piece I questioned, turned out to be large fox. So the coyote behind the house was just passing through - I hope.

Continuing the tour, the area at the top of the hill is sprinkled with fox scat. However, in the opposite corner at the top of the spruce trees where the pile of stone is, there is both fox and coyote scat. As Scott turned to look at our neighbor's field adjacent to ours, he spotted a small coyote (probably female) sitting in the field looking at him. It was just yards away from the den in the spruce trees by the year-round spring - which is probably why it isn't being used this year. They stared at each other for some time and then the coyote went on its way. Scott is making an educated guess that the coyotes have come as far out of the woods as our spruce trees and this small area is where fox and coyote overlap. Right now, he tells me, coyotes are looking for as much meat as they can to feed their young. This means my hutka is now in coyote territory. Yuk!

After a cup of coffee, we decided to return to the den by the shore to see if the muskrat had been eaten yet. All the milk bone was gone, but the muskrat was still there. The kits probably neede an adult to tell them what to do with it. We stopped to see my neighbor who has the telescope overlooking the area and she told us she saw two of the kits nursing the other day. At first she wasn't sure what was going on, as the mother was not on her side as a dog would be, but had kind of scrunched down and a kit was nursing from each side.

8:00 pm - playing bridge in the family room by the fire place. One of the women looked out the back window and said "Oh Look - there's one of Janet's foxes." Sure enough, there was that big gorgeous red halfway up the hill, sitting and looking at the house. Finally s/he trotted up the hill a few more paces, sat and looked again. I was right in the midst of a 6 no trump doubled hand so I could hardly leave it to go out and throw some milk bone to it. When I finished the hand the fox had gone. Brought me luck tho.

May 18

Took an early morning walk to the collapsed shed den. All the milk bone from previous day was gone. I left some bread, calling kit kit as I was tearing it into small pieces. Lots of little kitpy scat around. No sightings. Then went to the shore. Four of the kits were out playing. One brave one (a greyish one) waited until the car was about 40 feet and I was just braking it before s/he dived under the old cottage. Left bread there. As I was driving away could see a couple of courageous souls poke their heads out.

Bridge and dinner at Ruth's (neighbor with the scope) and every time someone was dummy they watched thru the scope. Saw lots of playing with the mother - even chasing her half way up the lane. Kits would pair off two by two (all six kits were out) and wrestle, tail pul, or jump on mother. When she nursed this time, she did lay on her side as a dog does. Before dinner I went down and threw some ceral around. Mother dashed off, but watched from a safe distance, and two of the kits didn't take cover until the last minute. They seem to know that "kit kit" means a treat now as they surfaced as soon as I left.

May 19

8:30 a.m. Went down to the shore - parked half way - walked the rest of the way and called kit kit. The fox kits sat and watched me until I got about 150 feet from them before they took cover. I backed out and before I got back to the highway could hear them yipping. They are a very noisy bunch. They yipped and yapped all yesterday afternoon, and again this morning.

May 22

The kits have been playing the past few days and doing all kinds of adorable chase and tail pull games, but the rain has prevented me from going down the lane to the shore to take photos. Tonight Tom and I went down and the loner was alone and quickly disappeared when we got close. I left Capn Crunch and said we'd try another day. Ruth called about 20 minutes later that all the kits were out with an adult and they were having a whale of a time. I tried to video from her deck but it was too far and I was shooting into the setting sun. Disregarding sensible photo practices, I jumped in the car and video's thru the windshield as I got closer. I'm afraid all we'll see is dark shapes because of the sun's position. One by one the fox kits disappeared under the cottage or the shed. Suddenly an adult fox came loping across the field and went on the far side of the shed and in back of the old cottage - always keeping the buildings between us. S/he came into the open lane and looked at me as I looked & video'd it. The fox then turned and trotted down to the water. I waited a bit, tossed a few more cereal pieces, but the kits didn't come out. I'm not positive where the noise came from, but when the adult fox and I were having a stare down I heard a growling type noise. The birds were pretty noisy so I don't know where the noise came from. Too deep a noise to come from a kit and the adult was too far away. There could have been an adult under the cottage 10 feet away. Or, it could have been something else. Anyway - they love Capn Crunch.

May 23

email from my neighbor Ruth ********Moved the 'scope back to my room and took a peek at our little "family" this morning. Saw four kits romping and playing and a fifth (I'm a bit worried about him/her) just lying rather disinterestedly doing nothing. Momma Fox entered the area carrying a clump of something in her mouth (filled with a mouse/mice, I suspect). All five kits rushed to her, the most agressive one grabbing the clump and disappearing from my view behind the shed with it. The other four literally pushed Momma into a sitting position (much like the picture in your nature magazine) and began nursing like crazy. They acted as if they were extremely hungry, causing me wonder if one parent (I've seen only the one adult since the one you called ' Nervous Nellie ' ran off) is capable of feeding five kits that size.

Several times now I've seen her lying in our path to the shore. A couple of times she took a few moments' nap. At first I somewhat anthropomorphically compared her in my mind to a human mother relishing a brief "time out" from all those kids. Now I wonder if perhaps there is a more obvious answer: That the field simply does not have the resources to feed five kits that size and the poor thing is exhausted.

My comments

I walked up the hill behind the house early this morning (7:00 a.m.) and left baked potato skins at the top of the hill. Tonight the reopened lane had dried enough to drive, so we checked this morning's site.. Potato skins gone and fresh fox scat left in its place. Left a good beef soup bone, lots of fat and lots of marrow, in the same place. Went down to the shore with some tiny beef tid bits. Called kit kit and left just a few. No one is around. It seems as if an adult takes them someplace everyday late afternoon and doesn't return them until close to sunset. Will check back later.

On hour later - fox kits ran for cover when the car got close. Got some good video tho. This year the fox kits are extremely wild. I couldn't figure it out until I reread the last 3 years journals. Usually the adult has been with the kits and "introduced" them to us. This year, not so. Previous years the kits would come right up to us by the 2nd or 3rd time we met them. This year, not so. Does that mean the parents are unknown to us and vice versa? Or do the coyotes have them unusually spooked?

The bone at the top of the hill gone.

May 24

6:30 a.m. walk to the top of the hill today. Left a couple of milk bone at sitting rock and at top of hill. Checking early afternoon as we drove by, both sites cleaned.

7:00 p.m. Left green beans and bread at sitting rock and top of hill. Drove along the top of the spruce trees but didn't see anything except fox scat marking the area. Tom walked down to the den hidden in the spruce trees by the year-round spring that was cleaned but not used a couple of weeks ago and much to his astonishment found much work being done. Something had been digging vigorously; lots of fresh dirt outside the entrance/exit hole. No footprints/tracks in the loose dirt and no scat nearby. The hole itself had been enlarged five-fold. The fox hole is usually the size of a saucer or a bread plate. The hole had been enlarged to that of a large serving platter. Does this mean coyotes have taken over the den?

Drove down to the shore to leave clam bellies for the kits. They waited much longer b efore diving for cover. One or two *always* go under the old cottage. The others go under the shed. Does this mean two separate natal dens? From the size difference Tom is convinced there are 2 litters. The greatest number of kits observed nursing are four. Who knows.

Forty-five minutes later checked the sitting rock and the top of the hill and food gone. At least the bread is all gone - a few beans left.

May 27

Solid rain the past 3 days. Glad to see the sun today. Tom and I checked the den in the spruce trees. While the outside hole is humongous, it seems to narrow somewhat as it goes into the earth. Still no tracks in the fresh dirt - but there has been nothing but rain so perhaps the readiness of a new home has been delayed. However, there was fresh fox scat at the top of the hill - and I had left no food there recently. Almost an invitation.

Tom burning brush in the field. Went to check on him about 10:00. Coming down the lane in the field behind the house, I saw a fox in the middle of the field watching me. I stopped the car and called "kit kit". S/he just watched me watching her/him for about 3 minutes and then started to moved. S/he disappeared in a dip. I threw out some dry cat food and went on home. From the deck behind the house I could see the fox slowly work her/his way to the bottom of the spruce trees. I quickly got the video camera and taped the fox coming over to the bottom of the reopened lane. From this distance it looked like last year's Grey Back - but I'm not sure. Unfortunately in playing the video tape, I was taping into the morning sun so I couldn't tell anything. An afternoon tour of the woods showed fresh coyote scat on the circle road. Lots of white hair (hare?) in it.

This evening left spare rib bones, tough meat and fat at the top of the hill for the adults. Took some whole wheat breat down to the kits at the shore. They waited until the car was about 40 feet from them before diving for cover under the shed this time. Only observed 3 kits. The little fella who usually goes under the cottage was not to be seen.

Email from Ruth

Foxmomma 1

Further to your report - through the 'scope I observed four kits this a.m. (May 28), all of which appear healthy and playful. No sign of the " listless, sleepy" kit. He has, I suspect, slipped off somewhere and into his final rest. My son-in-law (who as a boy became familiar with fox behaviour on his father's cattle farm) tells me the ones least likely to survive and hunt for themselves become increasingly lethargic and eventually just curl up and go to sleep. Last time the cottage litter was reduced by one (a couple of weeks ago) we noticed a lot of crow activity for a good part of that morning. The 'clean-up squad', perhaps?

Yesterday afternoon I spotted Momma carrying, then burying (?) mouthfuls of food (small rabbits, I suspect) in several places in our field. Then she proceeded to the den entrance at the east end of Arnold's shed, stopped fifteen feet or so away and appeared to call them. Four kits came tumbling out and rushed after her into the field and for the next hour all we could see was four small rumps in the air, white-tipped tails waving like flags. Mother, meantime, retired to her "leisure spot" on our path near my accidental water hole and lay down. It was then that I saw A SECOND ADULT trotting eastward in the direction of the swale across Tom's field which the adults have been using sort of like their own private little highway to the other side of the TCH - so maybe TWO adults helped put on the "hunting lesson".

May 28

10:30 this morning (about same time as yesterday) a fox was in the field in back of the house. It looked like it was lazily hunting - or at least going thru the motions. This fox was a light red and without the grey back yesterday's fox had. It looked more like last year's Bamboo or Blaze's color. It watched me watching it. I can see the fox huddle with them exclaiming "You do the 10:30 run this time; I did it yesterday."

Went up at the usual time to leave bread on the sitting rock and at the top of the hill. I told Tom I had the feeling last nite a fox had been watching. No sooner had I said that than we saw a fox in the middle of the field below Sunset Ridge watching all the places I left bread. (Had made a loaf of whole wheat bread that wasn't too popular with the human species.) We went to sunset ridge and I got out of the car to leave some bread there. The fox started to run. I really don't know who it was, but it *did* look like last year's Biscuit. I called "kit kit" and the fox stopped, turned and looked at me. I called kit kit again, and it turned and ran off.

Down to the shore to feed the kits. Two ran immediately for cover. One was sitting right by the old pump - which has been one of the feeding areas - and waited until we got about 30 feet until it ran. Two were playing by the den entrance under the shed and didn't run until I got out of the car. We're making progress, but my goodness it's slow without the adult to introduce us.

May 29

9:00 a.m. Tom was sanding the cupboard in the hutka so I decided to take a drive thru the woods. As the car was coming over the hill before the downslope to the T Junction, there was a fox trotting slowly along. S/he didn't hear the car evidently. I cut over to the right so as not to run up the rear of the fox. It looked at me and moved a little faster. I called kit kit and we had a staring contest for a few seconds before the fox mosied into the brush on the way to the brook.

Coming back from my drive I stopped at the hutka. Time was 10:00 a.m. I looked down at the sitting rock, and there was a fox standing on it looking up at the hutka. Thank heaven I had left a few kernels of Capn'n Crunch this morning. I called to it and s/he didn't see alarmed - but not terribly interested in me either. If gathered up all the cereal and left.

At 10:30 I was sitting on the deck behind the house with camera in hand to video the 10:30 jaunt across the field (as evidenced by the past few days.) At 10:50 the phone rang so I went in to answer it and left the camera in the house. When I came out I could see a fox half way up the field - too far for good video. The binoculars showed me it was not only an adult fox, but a kit was with it. They pawed at the ground several times. Much like the behavior in Ruth's email about the kits at the shore. This kit was more interested in jumping on the adult's back. They moved to the edge of the field by the pine trees and roamed up and down, in and out, for another 20 minutes. So - either we have a litter here or a litter from the shore has moved up.

Evening rounds brought no sightings. Left cheerios for kits by the shore and chicken fat at the sitting rock and top of the hill. The cat food I had left at the mound by the brook this morning is gone with fox scat in its place. Wonder if the foxes are reclaiming their territory from the coyotes or if they are sharing, as Scott explained, coyotes may make a tour of their territory just once a month because it's so large. If this is the case, the foxes may wisely be using it between coyote trips.

May 30

Did my morning walk backwards today. (The route - not the way I walked.) The bulldozer was here working in the ditch behind the house and leveling the bumps out of the reopened lane so I first walked along the ditch to the pine trees, along the pine trees to the bottom of the spruce trees, etc. As I walked by the pine trees I saw fox scat (adult and kit) every so often. At each marked place I left some milk bone pieces and called "kit kit". Whether it was wishful thinking, imagination, a bird, or an actual fox answering, each "kit kit" evoked a half an "arf". Not a full bark, but a half conversational sounding bark. When I rounded the corner of the spruce trees and got to the top of the hill, I could see an adult fox sitting on the pile of stones in the opposite corner. S/he watched me leave some sugar donut pieces and some milk bone in the usual feeding place. We watched each other for a bit and I finally continued up the hill to the sitting rock where I left more milk bone. S/he continued to watch me. By this time the bulldozer was working right behind me in the reopened lane which bothered the fox not one bit. Eventually the fox meandered down from the pile of stones and went into the trees.

I just got back to the house from my walk and had a cup of coffee when I was suprised by a visit from friends from Nova Scotia who are also fox fans. Standing by their car, and as I was inviting them in for coffee, we could see a fox on the lane in the opening between the spruce trees. It wandered around for awhile and then melted into the trees.

Shortly after my friends left, I took the last cup of coffee from the pot and sat on the deck with binoculars. I wasn't there for more than 30 seconds when a fox came out of one side of the spruce trees, walked to the opening and sat looking down at me. S/he then went to the other side and sat for awhile. Nearly 10 minutes passed with this fox going to different vantage points and sitting and looking in the direction of the house. I still don't understand what it was doing.

Suddendly, a dark red kit ran across the opening and the adult turned to look at it but didn't follow it. Instead, the adult came down to the middle of the field behind the house and cut through to the pine trees. At the same time, another adult appeared by the spruce trees.

Tom said that an adult was watching him from under the spruce trees as he came back down the reopened lane.

Lots of auto traffic on the highway this morning as people are heading to the ferry for a last nostalgic ride. The Confederation Bridge (PEI's first fixed link to the mainland) opens for vehicle tomorrow and ferries will be a thing of the past. I sure hope foxes don't try to cross the highway today.

Evening: Made the rounds, no sightings. Pretty tired tonight so didn't hang around to see if anyone showed up.

Jun 1

Finished my morning walk by leaving milk bone and boiled potatoes at the top of the hill and some dry cat food on the sitting rock. Called kit kit at each place. Since I walked in the woods this morning, the car had been left at the hutka. I no sooner got into the car when an adult fox appeared at the top of the hill. It had been waiting for me to walk away from it. I could only see head and shoulders, but it was very, very light. Returned home, got a cup of coffee and the binoculars and sat on the deck watching. It almost reminded me of a comedy routine where people go in and out of doors. A fox would come out of the spruce trees on the right side and head up the lane. Another would come from the culvert on the reopend lane and head up that lane. A fox appeared from spruce trees at the left and came down the lane. Another appeared from the right, etc. It had to be at least two foxes weaving in and out and could have been more. About 10 minutes passed with no sightings, when an adult appeared from the reopend lane, trotted to the middle of the field behind the house, curled up and took a 20 minute nap. Tom says the foxes probably spend as much time watching me as I do them. After the nap, s/he trotted off to the pine trees.

Ruth reports no activity and no sightings at the shore (even thru her scope) for 3 days now.

7:30 p.m. Did the evening round and left the sitting rock and the top of the hill for last. Called kit kit as usual, then drove back to the hutka and turned around and came down the reopened lane. Stopped half way (opposite the sitting rock) where I have an unobstructed view of the top of the hill. Waited in the car no longer than 2 minutes when an adult fox brought a kit/kit to the top of the hill. The adult looked at me, left the kit, and trotted down the hill. The kit had a wonderful time cleaning up some meat bits donated by Ruth. The kit left when all scraps had been gleaned and trotted down the lane. I inched the car down the reopened lane and at the bottom of the lane between the spruce trees sat the adult and the kit. They both moved off, with the kit eventually moving into the trees and the adult moving about 40 feet into the field. I left some cheerios, called kit kit, and came home. Fortunately I had the video camera with me tonight and got some good shots of the kit.

The foxes are much friendlier now that they are here behind the house. Maybe since we don't usually get here until this time of year they feel I don't belong by the shore and therefore won't consort with me. Anyway, I'm happy to have evidence they will come when I call kit kit.

Jun 2

Fresh scat left on Sunset Ridge and more on the Sitting Rock as thank-yous for last night's treats. This is a first this year for both areas after a feed.

The morning provided more of the comedy entrance/exit routine. In one side, out another, only to appear from somewhere else. As far as I can tell, it's two adults and one or two kits. One kit seems to be darker than the other, but it could be the sunlight/shadow making the same kit look different.

One adult kept pacing back and forth while the other one was with the kit. The pacing adult took off and the other adult came to the middle of the field for a nap. Don't know where the kit was.

Evening hunt: I AM SO EXCITED. An adult fox was waiting at the sitting rock for me. It was the very light colored one I've been seeing. As I pulled up, she moved about 20 feet away. We finally got the Toyota back today and I was driving it and this fox showed recognition (honest) of my voice nattering away and the sound of the car. I left food at the sitting rock and the fox waited until I was finished and "led" me to the top of the hill. Once again, I stopped about 20 feet away and got out of the car. She waited under a spruce branch as I left meat bits and bread bits. I got back in the car and slammed the door; nothing. I backed up about 4 feet and she came out and gathered a mouth full and ran into the spruce trees. I waited with the motor running, and about 45 seconds later she came back and gathered another mouthfull and ran into the trees, but a different area this time. I got a really good look at her and I am convinced she is a yearling and one of last year's litter. I need to look at the video to be sure who it is. She came back for a third time and ate a last bread bit herself. I got a handfull of cheerios and yelled "kit kit" out the window and told her I had cereal for her. She promptly sat down at the top of the hill and watched me as I moved the car closer. She finally walked across the lane between the spruce trees and waited on the right hand side opposite the feeding area. She stayed there as I pulled the car abreast of her, dumped some cheerios on the left hand side as I got another look at her on the right hand side. She finally backed into the trees and I drove off.

Jun 3

Dropped some dry cat food at the sitting rock and top of the hill after my morning walk. An adult was waiting at the bottom of the spruce trees. Very light head and chest - full ruff. From a distance looked like Golden Boy. I doubt that he is still alive, however, as we first saw him as an adult 3 years ago.

Evening hunt: Went early, dropped food, parked car about 20 feet back. Ten minutes later adult fox appeared, picked up pork chop bone and trotted into the trees. A few minutes later, the adult appeared again, got another mouthful of food and trotted into trees and a kit came out of the trees and made a loop following the adult back in. At this time another adult came out of the trees on the right, ate some food, then took a mouthfull into the trees. Got the whole thing on video.

Then at the top of the spruce trees, an adult fox and the dark red kit came out and sat in the sunlight, both looking at me. The adult (not the light one seen earlier) and the kit did the kissy kissy motion of rubbing mouths together. The adult mosied over to the top of the hill and the kit followed. Mind you, I'm only 20 feet away. I got out of the car calling "kit kit" as I started tossing pieces of milk bone. The adult watched carefully to see where each one landed. The kit just stared. The two of them took a few steps toward me and then the kit spooked and ran into the trees so the adult slowly followed. I started the car and drove slowly down the hill to the house. All of this would have made a wonderful video except the *^%# camera battery went out. I thought it was fully charged but I guess not. Sigh.

Back at the house I noticed some activity on the hill so grabbed the binoculars in time to see the kit and 2 adults playing on the lane between the spruce trees. The kit would run, chased by one adult, make a flying leap to the back of the other adult, and all three of them would run in a circle. Again, no video.

No sooner had I typed this then one adult departed and suddenly there were FOUR kits playing around the remaining adult. They would jump on each other, chase in and out of the trees, tackle and roll, and generally behaved as exuberant young usually do.

Jun 4

Morning walk earlier than usual. A dead mouse had been left in the lane at the bottom of the spruce trees. Papa Fox leaving a treat for the kits to find I assume.

Evening hunt: Adult fox (Mama I'm sure) and her kit were waiting for me at the bottom of the spruce trees. I am assuming this kit is an only child as it is the only one with the adult each time. I went up the reopend lane and right on to Sunset Ridge and the hutka for food drops. Coming back, the Mama was sitting in the lane by the sitting rock obviously waiting for me, or checking on my progress. As I pulled up to the sitting rock, she moved half way down toward the top of the hill. She watched me leave bread at the sitting rock and as the car started up to leave bread at the top of the hill she trotted into the spruce trees. I parked the car about 40 feet from the top of the hill and left bread and cheerios and went back to the car and waited. Lo and behold, the kit appeared. It picked up two good sized pieces of bread and ran into the trees where Mama had gone - almost as if to show tonight's menu. The kit came back, ate some of the cheerios and another piece of bread. I was outside the car videoing by now and it made the kit nervous so it ran into the trees.

I drove down the lane between the spruce trees, turned and parked the car where the reopend lane splits off to see if they appeared again. After 10 minutes and no action I drove up the reopend lane and came face to face with the kit. S/he had just cleaned up the Sitting Rock, Sunset ridge and the hutka I discovered upon checking. When she saw the car she ran into the trees. I parked by the top of the hill for a while and eventually she ran across the lane into the trees on the other side. It's a bitterly cold, wintery night and I was anxious to get back to the fire place so called out "bye bye" and drove down the lane. At the bottom of the spruce trees, Mama fox was waiting. It's like she delivered the child to the food source, now go ahead by yourself. When I got to the house I could see the kit come out of the trees and jump on Mama and the two of them ran off into the field. No sign of the frolicking foursome fox kits that played here last nite.

The phone was ringing as I came into the house and it was Ruth with the news that two fox kits are back by the shed den by the shore. We both hope they aren't crossing the highway. (Our land is on both sides of the road and Ruth is directly across from me.)

Jun 5

Awful cold rainy night. An adult was waiting for me as I got to the hill top with beef bits. S/he clearly showed her/himself under the trees but evidently felt I was too close. I backed the car up and s/he came out and still wasn't satisfied so went under the trees. I backed the car up a little more and s/he came out again, but backed into the trees. S/he didn't like the sound of the windshield wipers on the car going. I finally backed up completely and started down the reopend lane. By this time s/he was picking the tidbits I had left and taking them to some destination under the trees. I sat and video'd thru the open window, getting quite wet as the wind was blowing in that direction. I hadn't left a great deal of food in case one fox was eating it all. Suddenly I noticed a fox head peeking out at me from under the spruce trees next to the reopened lane. It was very light colored head - nearly white/blonde. (A different one, I think, than had been at the top of the hill.) I inched the car closer and said "What's the matter - not enought food tonight or is it that you don't feel like hunting in the rain?" The fox sat there showing itself until I pulled abreast. It then backed into the trees about 3 feet so I could still see it's body under the branches. I called Kit Kit and threw some meat tib bits and 2 broken up milk bone under the trees. It landed about a foot in front of the fox body but s/he didn't move. The rain was soaking my shoulder thru the window and the battery had already gone out on the video camera so I scooted for home and the fire place.

Jun 6

Morning: Was driving to the hutka. No sooner had the car left the house than a light colored fox appeared half way up the lane. S/he waited for me and then trotted about 60 feet in front of me to the top of the hill. I had to go up the reopened lane as the other lane is still too greasy for driving. S/he turned and gave me a view from both sides. A real contrast. On one side the tail is light golden; the other side of the tail is grey. A grey saddle on the back, but the rest is light red/orange. This is definitely the fox peeking out of the trees last night. No big fluff at the end of the tail. At first, and without glasses, I thought "Ye gods - is this a coyote" but as I drew closer could see it was definitely a fox. Fully adult size, but has a 'young' look to it, so must be a yearling.

I left a handfull of cheerios at the top of the hill and on the sitting rock and went on to the hutka. On my way back, the fox was sitting at the top of the hill waiting for more. I threw some milk bone on the reopened lane and continued home.

Evening: Adult checked me out (grey saddle, black tail, big white fluff) and then sent the lone kit to eat the food. The kit waited until I backed up until I was about 50 feet from the feeding site. I shall name the kit Cinnamon as that is its color. Cinnamon kept looking down the hill as if someone was watching it, but as we left could see no one.

Jun 7

"Babysitter" adult and 4 little kits out playing this morning on the lane between the spruce trees. I got in the car to go take some video but this fox was alarmed by the sound of the car and she and her charges scattered.

Scott stopped by and we made a tour of the property. The old natal den on the loop road was inviestigated. Scott pointed out the opening on the other side had been greatly enlarged for coyote use and an old coyote track was outside. I had noticed old coyote scat on the side of the den by the road last month. Scott says it is not being used. The only recent coyote evidence we found was way back on the circle road and week old scat. We stopped by the old log den which has fresh raccoon and skunk scat around it. That den had a powerful skunk smell just outside it, so some little guy was frightened of something.

Scott checked the den in the spruce trees at the top of the hill and even though the outside was enlarged, he noticed (as had I) that it narrowed down to fox size pretty quickly. That den is definitely in use. Lots of little fox tracks all around it. More, Scott thought, than just one kit could make.

Evening hunt: Foxes everywhere. Before I left the house I could see three adults and several kits at the bottom of the spruce trees. The kits were playing and the adults were pacing back and forth - as if to say "where are our treats?" One adult ran across the field as I got close, but the other two trotted in a different direction. The kits sprinted for cover in the spruce trees. The lightest adult followed me up the lane, but under cover of spruce branches. Left tidbits at the top of the hill, sitting rock, sunset ridge and the hutka. On my way back, and just 20 feet from the sitting rock I saw a spectacular show. One kit was on top eating the handfull of cheerios and two other kits were trying to get up on the sitting rock. The dominant one kept them off - even tho it was often two against one. Several times there was hip barging, once a stand up fight in boxing position, and sometimes just defensive attitude. Finally when the cheerios were gone, the dominant kit allowed the other two to come atop the rock. I called kit kit and they ran; however, they were not one bit bothered by the noise of the car engine running. The whole event was video'd and I just checked and the camera got it all. whew! ) I circled around and met the light adult at the sitting rock on this circuit. She hadn't touched the graham cracker I had left but went to the middle of the triangle (sitting rock at peak, spruce trees at bottom, reopened lane one side and lane between spruce trees other side) and just watched me. We watched each other for some time. Cinnamon appeared at the top of the hill and got a few cheerios that had been missed by the others earlier. Then two of the kits came out and chased Cinnamon off. The three little kits that were on the sitting rock were about 2/3 the size of Cinnamon. I yelled "bye bye" and went down the lane between the spruce trees, leaving the light adult in the triangle. At the bottom of the spruce trees was the other adult - the light one (usually seen with Cinnamon) - which confirms two separate litters to me. However, last year's kit crop were definitely 2 litters and they were merged into one batch after a couple of weeks. Wonder if that will happen this year or if Cinnamon will continue to be alone. S/he is most certainly 2 weeks to a month older.

Jun 8

Ruth spotted two fox kits sunning themselves by the den by the shore this morning.

A few moments later they began playing (?) in the now farly tall grass. They didn't play together, but about twenty feet apart; they looked as if they might be hunting for insects or mice.

A death in our family precluded a morning walk and caused an abbreviated evening hunt. However an adult came to the top of the hill as soon as we pulled away. After she checked the menu (stale bread) she went into the trees and one by one, four kits came out. Their little tails were wagging so fast they reminded me of the rear rotor on a helicopter. The had great fun attacking and "killing" the bread. I left Tom by the sitting rock getting some video as I left food at sunset ridge and the hutka. As I was coming back one kit came to the sitting rock, checked to see what was offered, declined any more stale bread and left. By this time I was back at the sitting rock and Tom and I watched them play in the triangle for a few minutes. The one who had come to the sitting rock just sat and sunned in the reopened lane. The others played on the hill top, with one making beautiful pouncing moves into the trees. They are all the same color and I honestly coudn't tell who is who. I have names picked - I just have to get close enough to find a distinguishing mark for identification.

Jun 9

A quck trip back from the funeral home for a few minutes to do a fast fox feed. The threesome came out and ate everything in sight. Poor Cinnamon came out after they left and there was nothing for him, so I had to toss a handfull of cheerios which he seemed to appreciate.

Jun 10

Wow! Tonight was great progess. Home after the Memorial Service and a big supper in time for the fox hunt. I left chicken bones and fat at Sunset Ridge and the hutka first. The three kits were dancing around on the reopend lane. The littlest (named Curious) was taking two steps forward, one step back as she inched closer and closer to the car. I finally went toward the sitting rock and she hid in the trees. Left veggies and a chicken wing and started toward the top of the hill. By halfway there, Curious was on the sitting rock cleaning everything up. I left lots of drumstick bones and chicken wings and veggies at the hill top and backed the car up half way. Soon the adult with the grey tail (more on this later) took off full tilt for Sunset ridge and the hutka. It appears those are the adult feeding areas. Soon Cheddar (biggest of the three and the color of Cheddar cheese) and Cha Cha (middle size of the three and doesn't walk when she can step sideways like a Lippizaner) appeared at the hill top to hoover everything up there. Cheddar found a huge leg bone and trotted off into the trees with it, tripping over it and dropping the bone several times. Cha Cha contined to feast. The adult with the grey tail came streaking down the reopened lane still licking her chops from the hutka. She joined Cha Cha in cleaning every last big up at the top of the hill.

Cinnamon and his adult companion ran across the lane but didn't join the other two. When the hill top was scoured clean, I started the car down the lane between the spruce trees. The adult that is usually with the three kits just lay by the side of the lane and I got some gread video. I know who it is! It's Biscuit from last year. When Scott stopped out in March he said he thought he had seen Biscuit. I am so excited. I don't know if these are her kits or if she is just the caretaker baby sitter. Now everyone is identified and named except Cinnamon's caretaker, the really light fox.

Jun 11

Cheddar, Cha Cha and Curious ran to greet the car as it started up the hill, jumping with excitement, dashing in and out of trees. I passed them by to leave bits at the hutka and sunset ridge before coming to the lower areas. When I got to Sunset ridge Cinnamon had joined them as well as Biscuit - dashing to and fro. A fifth kit came out but for such a short time I couldn't get a decent look at it. This is the 3rd time we've seen the 5th kit.

I left beef bits and dry cat food at the sitting rock and came on down to the hill top (it's the top of *that* hill) and left the same. Curious was waiting and Cha Cha was boogying all around. Cheddar tried to be more dignified. I threw out the food and all three of the kits were running around the car, under the front bumper, by the wheels, etc. I tried to take some video by the dash board kept getting in the way. Curious was about 5 feet from the door on the driver's side while Cha Cha continued to dance about 8 feet away. Cheddar went into the trees. Biscuit stretched out and watched the whole thing. They finally moved far enough away from the wheels that I dared to back up about 5 feet. I got out of the car and sat on the front bumper and threw graham cracker pieces (sorry - no warm milk to go with it) calling "kit kit" each time. Curious noted where each cracker piece fell, but loaded her mouth with food from the hill top and then lay down in the lane before me to eat it. Cha Cha came and got a few pieces but wasn't as comfortable with me out of the car as Curious.

Suddenly Biscuit got up and ran across the lane into the spruce trees on the other side, exiting onto the reopend lane. I thought "hah - she's going to Sunset Ridge". I was surprised when I saw her detour to the sitting rock. There was Cheddar already on the sitting rock having a wonderful time all alone with the trees. Biscuit moved right in and ate her share. Suddenly Cinnamon dashed up the reopened lane and joined Biscuit and Cheddar on the rock. Cinnamon seemed comfortable with them, tho she did bob her head to show her subservience. Soon Cha Cha ran up the reopened lane to join them. Suddenly Curious realized she was alone at the top of the hill so ran through the spruce trees to the reopened lane to join the others. By this time Biscuit and Cinnamon took off toward the sitting rock.

We have noticed each time there are two or more kits - or even a kit and Biscuit - they have this strange maneuver of hanging their tail over the other's back. Tonight during a short feeding frenzy, Biscuit had about three kit tails draped over her back. They even do it to each other when they get close. I don't know if this is a sign of affection or what. The kissy kissy seems to be either greeting or reassurance. This tail draping appears to happen during excitement.

Have not seen the lighter adult fox. It looks as if Biscuit is the designated baby sitter this year and that Cinnamon may have joined the others.

Ruth reports there is still a lone kit under the shed by the shore.

Jun 12

Going up the reopened lane I saw what looked like a dead animal in the roadl, about the size of a hare, half brown and half white. I got out of the car to look closer and saw it was one of Tom's suede work gloves. The cotton lining had been pulled out so it was a 10 fingered beast, five at each end, one end brown and the other end white. It was twisted, holes chewed in it, and you could just tell it had been used for tug of war by some very active fox kits.

Coming back from Sunset Ridge and the hutka, I could see a kit (I think it was Cinnamon) arcing through the field toward Sunset Ridge. I stopped at the sitting rock and Cheddar was sitting in the reopend lane watching me leave the food. Curious burst out of the trees with Cha Cha close behind her, ran around the triangle, and back into the trees. I left apple and bread at the sitting rock. I parked about 8 feet from the top of the hill and Curious was watching from beneath the trees as I left apple, bread, and some chicken bones. I tossed her an apple piece beneath the tree which she promptly ate. I sat on the front bumper and talked to her and she came out to investigate the top of the hill. Meanwhile, Cha Cha boogied past her and got the chicken back bone with the meat on it. She dashed beneath the trees, only to appear seconds later with Cheddar right behind her. My sitting on the front bumper didn't seem to bother them. I glanced back at the sitting rock and no one was there, and food still on it. Curious then got the chicken wishbone and moved just a few feet away to start chomping on it. Cha Cha came out and got some bread, as did Cheddar. When all that was left was apple, all three of them sniffed at it and refused. At this point Biscuit positioned herself in the lane to watch the whole thing. The kits would come out every few seconds to see if there was anything besides apple, sniff, and go back under the trees. Since this is our last night here for two weeks, I hated to disappoint them so left the last of the graham crackers. They watched me break them up. I let the car roll down the hill until about 10 feet from Biscuit. She lazily got up and moved off to the side. I still had another apple cut into pieces so tossed it out to her. As I left I could see her eating it. One of the kits (Cinnamon?) was on the sitting rock but I was too far to tell who it was. Wouldn't you know - I just get them to my feet and it's time to leave for a while. We'll be back in 2 weeks.

Jun 24

Headed out the door mid morning to take a drive back and see what was happening in the woods. Took a stale chocolate chip cookie with me "just in case". The car got half way up the hill behind the house and I could see a fox kit come running out. It was Cinnamon. He didn't care how close the car got, but ran and hid as soon as I got out. Left half the broked-up cookie for his enjoyment. Left the other half on the sitting rock. When I came back from my tour, he was still at the top of the hill looking for more. The sitting rock had been pretty well cleaned except for a few crumbs.

Thunder storm and rain tonight. Dashed back with cut-up apple and some chicken. No foxes appeared (most won't get wet unless they're hunting I've noticed) so left the food and came home. Wanted to get online before the storm knocked me off. Of course, now it has stopped raining and Tom is gone with the car. Oh well. There's tomorrow.

Jun 25

A neighbor pulled into our lane about 10:00 a.m. to tell me a fox kit was dead by the side of the road in front of the house. I jumped in the car and drove down to see if I could identify it. Couldn't. It's been 12 days since I've seen the kits and not sure who is who anymore. It's little hip bone was protruding from the fur and the stomach had been split by the impact so it's intestines were laid out. The front quarters and the little head looked so natural. I got Tom and he picked it up with a shovel and put it in a plastic bag. We'll either bury it or have it mounted.

I quckly got a hand full of milk bone and drove up the hill to see if any of my fox kits could be accounted for. Biscuit came out at the sound of the car, followed by Cinnamon. Another head appeared, but I don't know who.

Evening fox hunt: Well, instead of being minus one kit, I've gained one. We now have five kits.

Cinnamon and Biscuit waiting as I drove up. Left food at the top of the hill, but Cinnamon just watched me until I pulled away. He then came and ate the disastrous bread pudding I left. As I was leaving some at the sitting rock, I could see Biscuit in the triangle below me. I left more bread pudding at Sunset Ridge and another helping at the hutka. Biscuit came streaking past me with Cinnamon close behind, heading for Sunset Ridge. Those of you that remember how selfless Full Grey, last year's baby sitter was, will be as surprised as I was at how Biscuit assumes what's for the kits is for her too. But then, she was greedy as a kit.

The bread pudding at the top of the hill was gone, as was that left at the sitting rock. I left some dry cat food at the sitting rock and threw a handfull of Cheerios at the hill top. I parked between the sitting rock and the top of the hill and saw the show of my life. Cheddar came out to eat the Cheerios. Soon Cha Cha danced out and tried to eat some and Cheddar first tail draped, then hip slammer her away. To keep her from getting any, Cheddar put one leg over Cha Cha and kept it there for close to 20 seconds as she continued eating. Curious came out to see what was going on, and found some Cheerios that had spilled into the lane. By this time Cha Cha and Cheddar were on their hind legs "boxing" and the 4th kit (named Critter) came out. Seeing the other two well occupied, Critter ate some Cheerios while they were fighting. Cheddar managed to barge one kit and hip slam the other at the same time, meanwhile letting out a gawdawful screech. Curious looked up, but continued to seek out Cheerios in the tall grass. Just then Cinnamon came streaking down the hill from the direction of the hutka and the sitting rock behind me and literally jumped into the melee. Cheddar and Cinnamon then went at it with one of them (probably Cheddar) issuing sharp barks. Cinnamon turned and ran into the trees at the right, exited at the reopened lane and dashed to the sitting rock where she cleaned up what was there. Biscuit came trotting down the reopend lane with a dejected look as if to say "You try controlling this bunch. It's unfair to make a glamourous fox like me baby sit." Meanwhile, Cha Cha went half-way down the lane between the spruce trees and watched from under the trees. Cheddar sat on the hill top for a good 10 minutes. The food was gone, but she was surely protecting her territory. I got out of the car and she moved off. Curious then came out and carefully examined the grass to see if she had missed anything.

It's a shame I wasn't able to get to know these kits in their natal den with their parents as I did when the natal den was on the loop road. George(tte) and Charlene in 1994 and Abby and Pepper in 1995 would come sit on my feet. Also, with so many kits, it's hard to get a relationship with any individual.

Driving back to the house I could see Tom and a neighbor watching my return. As I got out of the car they were telling me how the foxes followed me down, criss-crossed the lane, and generally romped around.

I don't know who our dead fox kit is, but it's been christened Cherub by me as it's surely in fox heaven with the angels.

Jun 26

Ruth from across the road went with me on the fox hunt tonight. Several of the kits were waiting as we drove up the hill. Biscuit was out and watched us go past on the reopened lane to Sunset Ridge and the hutka where cooked carrots and dry cat food were left. As we were coming back to the sitting rock, we could see Cinnamon waiting for us to leave something. Biscuit was further down the hill (near the feeding station at the top of that hill) with Cheddar. I got out of the car and the foxes moved back into the trees, except Cheddar who waiting until the last. Biscuit trotted across the bottom of the field at the top of the spruce trees as if to say "Ok, I've checked you out and I'm going to get a few minutes peace while you're entertaining the mob." Cinnamon went back down the reopened lane and into the spruce trees. I returned to the car and closed the door with a slam, and backed up about 2 inches. All the foxes came out; five of them. Cheddar was holding sway at the food source and not letting others come near. Cha Cha was dancing in and out of the trees. At one point she headed into the trees at the right and left her rear end sticking out Ostrich style. Even then her hips were swinging. That fox surely dances where others walk. Eventually Critter and Curious came to the top of the hill and Cheddar fought them both off; hip slamming and holding the opponent away with tail draping. This tail draping is a mystery. At first it was when they were in a feeding frenzy and "good excitement"; now that Cheddar seems to be king/queen of the hill the tail is used to keep another at arm's (tail's) length. Cinnamon joined the group and all five were finding tid bits in different parts. Suddenly, a sixth kit appeared. It was smaller than the others. They just keep multiplying. This was was very shy and very cautious. After taking a few morsels from the top of the hill, this 6th kit and Cinnamon went into the trees at the right. Soon Cinnamon was trotting up the reopened lane and went directly to the sitting rock where he was alone in "hoovering" up the treat. Suddenly Ruth said "There's the little one". Sure 'nuff, the 6th kit would take a few steps up the reopened lane, then stop. A few more steps, then stop. I told Ruth I was running out of names. We discussed "cautious" but it was too much like Curious. Ruth decided upon Chicken. To date we have Biscuit (from last year), Cinnamon, Cheddar, Cha Cha, Curious, Critter, and Chicken. I'm getting dizzy. (Cherub is in a freezer awaiting a decision about taxidermy.)

Jun 27

Tom went along tonight to man the video camera. Biscuit was waiting for us as we descended from SS Ridge, Hutka and Sitting Rock to the top of the hill. (A word of explanation - the top of the hill is the top of THAT hill, but the sitting rock and other sites are at higher elevation. Therefore, coming from that direction we are going *down* to the top of the hill.) Biscuit went into the trees and several kits came out. She went into the trees again and a couple of more came out. Tonight Cinnamon was King of the Hill and put others in their place, but not so severly as Cheddar does. Four kits and Biscuit were having a good feed of hot dog and apple when Chicken came out. S/he was terrified by all the boisterous behavior and after a good look-see melted back into the trees. There was some barging, hip slamming, and once instance of tail draping, but nothing on the order of previous melees where boxing and screeching take place. Biscuit sees no reason to hang back - she gets right in there for her full share. I think she makes sure all the kits are out to get treats so she won't have to take them hunting, but then feels she also deserves a reward. Biscuit took off at a dash into the trees and Cinnamon was right behind her. A few paces behind Cinnamon was Cheddar. This left Cha Cha and Curious at the top of the hill. Curious came right up to the car. Critter (I think) then joined Cha Cha at the hill top. Curious sat in front of the car and had a begging look on her face. I got out of the car and all the kits ran for cover. Retreating to the car, I slammed the door extra hard. The kits returned with Curious right in front again. I opened the window and threw out a hand full of dry cat food. Cha Cha noticed Curious having a wonderful time hoovering something, so she joined her in front of the car. I don't like them "having a relationship" with the car as I fear it's dangerous - but then they won't come out for our other car so maybe they think manna comes from green Toyotas. This reminds me of George and Charlene in 1994. They would come right up to the car and let me talk and talk thru the window, but did not like me getting out. Eventually I could see Biscuit sitting on the reopened lane watching everything. She would get up and move a few feet and sit and watch. Eventually she worked her way into the few trees by the sitting rock and ran the remaining distance to that food site. We could watch her in the rear view mirror cleaning up. When all was finished she ran back down the reopened lane and into the trees, exiting with Cinnamon and doing a kissy kissy thing. (Battery out on the video so couldn't get it - again!) Cinnamon came to the hill top and watched Cha Cha and Curious cleaning up the treats I threw from the car window. Cinnamon came to join them but by this time there was nothing left. I started the car and the fox kits ran - most under the trees except Curious who sat on the hill top. I tossed her some dry cat food as we drove home down the lane between the spruce trees.

From the size of the kits there are definitely two litters. However with Chicken just joining the group (and looking very thin) I wonder if there aren't three litters. This seems to be the same situation as last year. Does anyone know of any literature on multiple litters being left with a single baby sitter?

Jun 28

We sat out on the back deck after dinner, binoculars in hand. I kept focusing on the hill behind the house and the lane between the spruce trees. At 20 to 7 (18.40) I turned around to speak to Tom for a minute. At quarter to 7 (18.45) when I next looked, there was Biscuit and 4 of the kits lined up by the lane waiting for the nightly ritual.

We had the still camera tonight and took loads of pictures. They came right up to the car. Cha Cha and Curious are the most unafraid. At one time there were 5 kits out at the top of the hill looking for bread, ham bits, and cheerios. I was so busy snapping photos I honestly don't know who was doing what. Two of them decided to box - snapped too late. One "scatted" and I got a photo of that; why I have no idea. One evidently had a sore bum or worms as it kept scooting. Got a photo of that. The usual feeding frenzy went on, but Cinnamon and Cheddar were sated sooner than Cha Cha and Curious. Cha Cha picked up a piece of bread and went to the edge of the spruce trees and cached it. It was sweet to see how comfortable she was with the process. The kits are starting to like the socialization, and even when replete will lie down and enjoy the company. The most notable difference tonight is that they shared, and shared alike. Such sibling harmony. Biscuit was a little more 'on the ball' tonight as a responsible adult. She went into the trees and either Critter or Chicken came out with her on her exit (couldn't tell who.) Cinnanom went into ecstasy as seeing her (Biscuit) and ran up and did much belly scrounging, tail wagging and finally kissy kiss. A most harmonious evening.

Jun 29

A hot, humid evening. Not a breath of air is stirring and a breeze so slight off the water that it doesn't move the leaves. None of the kits were out waiting for me. Biscuit was, however. As soon as she saw me, she ran into the trees. By the time I finished the SS Ridge/hutka/Sitting Rock circuit, she had shoo'd Curious and Cha Cha out to the feeding area at the top of the hill. She went in again. Cheddar came out and hip slammed another kit (I think it was Cinnamon but hard to tell thru the view finder) from the top of the hill. Only 4 of the kits out to night and it was so hot they had their tongues hanging out the entire time. Cinnamon and Cheddar didn't stay long. Cha Cha went into the trees on the right to the reopened lane to go up to the Sitting Rock. For some reason she thought better of it and returned. I was in my mosquito suit which didn't frighten them nearly as much as it did Tom when I showed it to him. I was out of the car with my elbows on top of the car door. Curious didn't mind one bit and came to the front of the car and twitched her ears at my inane chatter. Cha Cha wasn't so sure, so she stayed about 25' away. Finally Cha Cha disappeared into the cool of the trees. Curious just threw herself flat on the ground and watched me as she panted away. Other fox kit heads poked out of the trees at various spots, but I couldn't begin to identify them. I was hot and uncomfortable so didn't spend more than 20 minutes with them tonight.

A word about scat. Fresh scat has been left at SS ridge every night for the past 4 nights. Don't know if it's the same fox commenting upon my cooking or a different one. Last year scat had been left at the hutka on my nice new patio stones. I pushed it into the grass and told last year's litter this is one place I really don't want gifts. The word must have been passed along because I'm finding scat *everywhere* else except there. At the sitting rock fresh scat was discovered tonight, decoratively (if precariously) hanging from one side. And, of course, all around the top of the hill and the lane at that point as tokens of appreciation (or comments about my food.) Have explored every lane and trail in the woods for the past two days and absolutely no sign of coyote scat nor tracks. However, I realize this could mean it's just the hiatus before their next "security check" of their boundary.

Reading David Macdonald's "Running With the Foxes" again for the 10th or 11th time. Always find something new.

Jun 30

Made the usual rounds and as I was coming from the hutka to the sitting rock I could see a fox kit sitting on it waiting. As the car pulled closer, it jumped and hip hopped across the triangle into the safety of the spruce trees. Biscuit was waiting at the hill top. The car pulled to within 20 feet before she moved off. Curious was running in circles on the bare spot where we feed, as Cha Cha (a little lower in the lane) would pounce in place. The both scattered as I walked to the hill top and left blueberries, hot dog, and dry cat food. None of the other fox kits were out tonight, just those two. Cha Cha is bigger than Curious, but I swear their markings are identical. For those of you who remember White Hips (mother from yesteryear) will be glad to know I strongly suspect these are her offspring as they have the same white stifles. Their rear legs are mostly brown, with white at the stifle and streaking down to the foot. Just their rear feet are black - kind of like half socks.

Curious reminds me of Biscuit last year. I stayed out of the car, with the car door open and between us, and she came to within 4 feet of me. Cha Cha comes up to the car door, but only if I'm inside. Curious took a little cat nap in the grass next to the passenger side of the car.

I spent close to 30 minute babbling to the two of them. As I drove off I could see Biscuit watching from the tall grass half way down the field at the top of the spruce trees. These kits were most definitely not hungry, but they seemed to love the game of searching for small things I have thrown out. The blueberries went over well and they do enjoy the small dry cat food.