As previously mentioned multiple times, the animals know we’re not here at home all the time. We’ve had various incidents in the past year from a variety of animals, insects, etc. A few weeks ago we returned home to find that birds were trying to build a mud nest in the eaves of our front porch. Thankfully they tried a crappy spot (no pun intended) and gave up.
The past couple times we’ve been home, the dogs seemed very interested to hang out around one of the shipping containers we use for storage. We didn’t think much of it…figured mice, squirrels or something were there now or left a scent behind. With the lengthy wintery weather, we’ve scene a lot more of the animals around feeding on the abundant grasses (or each other)…deer, turkeys, squirrels, foxes, hawks, etc. The fox in particular was noticeable because it didn’t seem scared of us coming and going from the house, sitting nearby our driveway, watching from a safe distance. Then last week we got a call from a neighbor, noting that they saw a fox with little foxes (kits) coming out from under one of the containers. BINGO! That’s what interested the dogs…
We don’t care that the fox has chosen to den under one of the containers but we are worried that the dogs will interfere. So for the meantime, we’re trying to keep the dogs away from the containers but the fox isn’t helping. Last night she was walking around on the deck, shrieking out in the darkness, calling her kits back? Since we slept with our door open, Bodie was going nuts growling at the fox on the deck…McKinley seems to care less…probably realizes they’re related.
Tom returned from an errand this morning and saw her out with two of her kits and tonight as we sat on the couch and started a movie, she was out walking around on the deck again. I decided to go out for a pre-darkness picture as she laid in the grass behind the house. Although she craned her neck to watch me, she didn’t seem frightened or even get up. So do we have a new neighbor or a new pet? Tom for one was happy when he found half a squirrel carcass near their den…nature is a vicious cycle.
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- Fox relaxing in the grass behind the house
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- Checking things out in front of the house
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- Doesn’t seem too scared…and McKinley was laying on the front lawn
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- Sitting in front of the house
