Vicki Fox > Guests > PEI Foxes > 1997 Journal 4Q

PEI Foxes - 1997 Journal : October to December

Oct 1

Mushrooms are so abundant right now. Every day another new variety has sprouted up. There are about 6 varieties up the reopened lane and several more on the lane between the trees. It has been interesting each day to see which kind the foxes like and will eat. Who teaches them what ones are poisonous? The adults, sure - but how did the first fox know I wonder. There are some big saucer sized ones near the hill top and each day I can see little bite marks out of the tops. There are several stalks with no top at all - all eaten I guess. The other morning I saw a fox running with the stalk in its mouth. Wonder if those are good to eat or if it was taking it to teach fox kits about "good" mushrooms.

We went to the Blue Goose for dinner tonight. As we drove past one of our fields, Cheddar was sitting at the bottom of the field about 15 feet from the road, just watching the traffic go by. I was afraid she's hear our car and run out - but a huge tractor trailer truck came and its noise scared her so she jumped and ran off about another 15 feet. By this time we were by.

The fox hunt was very successful with little pieces of raw bacon and some stale white tortilla chips. Cheddar was out first, following me all around. Cha Cha only came out when I moved the car back. Sometimes she is so bold, and other times really shy. It makes me wonder if I'm confusing her with Chicken when she is shy.

Oct 2

A lovely rainbow as I started out tonight. Captured it, I hope, on video. Cheddar and Cha Cha accompanied the car on its standard tour. Took the last of the pork fat out of the freezer for them tonight. Figured we might as well have a big next-to-the-last-night celebration. They were delighted and behaved very well toward each other. A third fox ran across the bottom of the lane a couple of times but it wasn't until I got into the car and backed it up that it came out. It was Critter. I drove over to the reopened lane and video'd across the "triangle" to the top of the hill and she was very comfortable with that.

We will have the big car packed tomorrow and immediately after the fox hunt start our trek home after turning the little Toyota over to our niece for the winter. My laptop will be packed so I won't post until a motel somewhere along the road or from home Sunday night. This is the last video taping I'll do so can get Mike Russell's tape off to him on Monday. (See his earlier offer to duplicate it for *serious* fox lovers.)

Oct 3

Went out an hour early so as to get a decent start on our trip back to Chicago. Cha Cha followed me up to SS Ridge tho I was unaware of it. I took my time tearing up the bread and dropping it and finally I heard a cough. I looked and there was Cha Cha waiting for me to leave so she could investigate tonight's goodies. I was so amused at the cough - it was almost attention getting. Actually, it was a soft bark. As I was leaving food at the top of the hill, I could see Cha Cha taking her time over the treats at the sitting rock. Eventually Critter came out to join her at the hilltop. As I left, I checked the sitting rock, hutka and SS Ridge again. There was food left at each site. The meat tidbits were gone, but plenty of other things were left. This seems to be consistent behavior of the foxes, to always leave some for the rest of the family. It was difficult to say good-bye for the winter, but life goes on.