Tough times for foxes

I've not really felt like posting the past few days as all is not well here for my foxes. Some of the autumn regulars have given way and a new set of foxes have entered our domain. Jackal has not been sighted since November 22 - the longest absence had previously been 6 days so I'm concerned. A fresh menace to animal welfare has manifested itself, though I'll not go into details, suffice it to say that feeding at this time is vital for their survival through the winter. MR CRUISEDOG and I haven't seen a single badger for about a fortnight now, which is extremely unusual, though I know that they have been around in the very early hours.

A filthy night out ...

... the expected weather front arrived just as the Cruisedog and I set out for our nightly rounds. Usual vixen in my garden arrived to get three chicken thighs and at least 5 foxes had congregated in the woods nearby. At the first check, 4 foxes and Jackal who came to feed by hand. The big surprise was the meadow where no less than 5 foxes encircled us, making the Cruisedog a little nervous. A fleeting glimpse of a single fox on the blustery and unexposed headland and then back to the barn where there were no animals at all on view. By the time we got back to our gate, we were both soaking wet and abedraggled fox waited expectantly ... and was rewarded with the last of the scraps. A very good night indeed, despite the rain and the wind ...

Few people know that ...

... whereas animals are indeed creatures of habit - they also change their habits periodically ... 'Variations on a theme' was the case tonight as the foxes returned (after being missing for a few nights) with a vengeance outside my house. An old favourite (vixen) appeared in my garden for a feed before I set out on my rounds with the Cruisedog. No less than six foxes appeared immediately - without my calling to them. At the second stop however, where there are usually three or four foxes (including Jackal, the dog fox) a solitary fox 'Lop Ear' sat alone and reaped the benefit of being first to the chicken scraps. In the meadow, not a fox to be seen - strange. At the barn, I didn't expect much activity, as earlier, farmers with two tractors had been clearing out prior to bringing the cows under cover for the winter. I was right as only a single 'regular' waited in the orchard - a field away - but approached as we left. No badgers again anywhere to be seen.

That's more like it ...

... just got back 01:33 hrs and foxes galore out there tonight. Two outside my house were skulking until I called them forward. A few screams from a vixen higher up told me that normality was gradually being restored. At the first check and there were five waiting - including Jackal, who had been missing for three days. He took food by hand and then ran off with a piece of chicken. In the meadow, the usual three foxes were there and a new fox was seen some way off, observing events. At the farthest point of our round, there were another pair of foxes, making thirteen ... outside my gate and the same two foxes were still there, hoping for another treat - which they got ... so the final tally was Foxes 13 Badgers 0 ... a reassuring night ...

A strange night ... (Friday)

... as only three foxes turned up in the meadow and not a single animal - fox or badger - was sighted the whole of the rest of the round. Two factors might explain this ... chain saws were in action in the valley virtually all day and may have disturbed animals resting up during the day. The weather played its part as well ... heavy bursts of rain and strong gusts of wind ... we had to take shelter for a few minutes just after 1:30 am when a deluge occurred. Trust we'll have better luck tonight ...

Foxes are easily spooked ...

... and not a single fox seen outside my house as we started off on our rounds ... a very unusual occurrence and it was the same story at the first 'check' as after waiting and calling for a few minutes, a single fox appeared, looking around constantly. Something - or someone - had clearly upset the usual 'rhythm' of the night. Into the meadow and normality was resumed, three foxes lying in wait, spread out in a semi circle from the feeding point. A fourth fox was observed running across the field from way off as I retreated.

At the final port of call, two foxes were waiting, completely unperturbed, so whatever the problem, it was only in the western quadrant of the village. Returning outside my gate, I quickly scanned the woods above me with my head lamp on full power and made out a fox's eyes looking down from about 50 metres away. Despite calling, the fox stayed put. Not a single badger spotted either, in the course of the round. A fairly still night with very little light from a fast waning crescent moon ... more heavy rain and high winds forecast for tomorrow ...

Just back from the cliffs ...

... and as usual, the only Maidencombe resident abroad at this hour (1 am ish) ... all foxes identified (by their individual mannerisms usually as in poor light it's difficult to make out features such as muzzle length, scars, coats, colouring and other markings) ... two foxes at the first 'check' and two quite timid foxes in the first meadow - they lay, flattened to the ground - one so careful that it averted its eyes from my LED head torch, which is a very wise manoeuvre ... (how did I know it was there? Easy, foxes invariably rush forward as soon as they see me moving away and a quick turn and sweep of the head torch will reveal their presence) ... on along the cliff path and a 'regular' hove into view round a bend in the path. A vixen, lying on the ground with her front paws folded under her (like a cat) demonstrating her complete confidence (wild animals never trust humans) in our approach. Her companion, probably a dog fox was some way off, observing. Back on to the lane and two foxes appeared, running towards us. They had missed their slot at one of the checkpoints and were anxious to get a meal. Nearby were houses and if any resident had happened to look out of their window, they would have seen something quite unusual - a dark figure standing in the middle of the road (with orange street lighting) and a collie cross dog sitting untethered, alongside and two foxes running towards them. Up the hill and two pairs of greenish eyes watched our progress from high up in the woods. A call and they ran towards us for a scrap of chicken which they snatched and ran off with. No 'Jackal' but he came and took food by hand the previous night and ate well, so I didn't really expect to see him tonight. Not filming at present, I'll wait until it gets colder - better opportunities when the animals are hungrier.

First 'live' post ...

... and aptly, it's on the second anniversary of that great, original site, Preconderotous - which had the first fox video posted on it. A lot of rain about and like cats, foxes don't really like getting wet, so we (Cruisedog and I) don't expect that many 'customers' when we set out on our nightly rounds of Maidencombe. However, as I always remind you, we never know what we'll see - every night is different, every night an adventure and no matter how bad the weather may be, we always get back home knowing it has been worthwhile. This site was only put together after having a chat with a lady at the same checkout queue in Lidl on Tuesday (Nov 10th) ... she was looking with a little curiousity at my trolley which was laden with 5 boxes (15 to a box) of dog chub, 7 tins of dog food in jelly and 18 X 1 kilo trays of chicken thighs. I turned and said to her: "It's for a big dog - a VERY big dog!" But she wasn't going to have it and replied: "No it's not, what's it REALLY for?" Reluctantly (you never know the views of people on the subject of feeding wild animals - particularly foxes and badgers) I revealed what it was for and one thing led to another and as she seemed genuinely interested, I gave her the greathashgod web address which she (and apparently the checkout girl - who was listening) noted down. I said I'd put a message up for 'the lady from Lidl' - which I've done and there we are - or here it is - a site dedicated to the foxes and badgers where I live. If you did manage to find this site, ladies, I'd love to hear from you - just to know that you found it. You can either post a message after any post (which would keep you anonymous) - or my email address is: preconcruiser@aol.com

I'm getting very nervous ... (May 22 2009)

Snatcher once more ...

Make sure I can keep my finger (May 22 2009)

Snatcher again!

Reprise

Monday, 7 September 2009

A magical night on the cliffs ...

... after last night's sparse turnout. The folks across the way had a party until 2:30 am with loud rock music which echoed across the valley and scared off most of our usual 'customers'. Jackal did dash out to grab some food before scuttling away but at most of our rendezvous points there was nothing to be seen. However, it was business as usual with a vengeance 24 hours later with four foxes rushing down the lane to greet us, spearheaded by the 'Leader of the Pack' - Jackal. Most unusually, Jackal approached and took food from my hand in the lane before trotting behind Cruisedog and I to the top of the hill - the usual feeding point. It was a similar story out on the cliffs where another group of foxes stood off some way observing, before closing fast on our departure. At the last rendezvous, a minor fracas broke out when a pair of badgers took grave exception to Barnie (always appears from behind a barn) going too close to their banana and peanuts. Finally, on walking up to the back door, My Vixen's cub put in a belated appearance and waited while I got some of our chicken from the fridge. Over twenty animals observed on the rounds - just think, if you were walking around the exact route we took, you would have been very fortunate to have seen one or two ...

Reprise

Friday, 11 September 2009

Autumn looms in Maidencombe ...

A gusty night had brought the hazelnuts down and I spent a good ten minutes stuffing my pockets as Cruisedog looked on. We had earlier been delayed for a similar interval by a white van man loitering by the roadside at our first 'rendezvous' point - a pair of foxes watching suspiciously in the hedgerow. Obviously spooked by this, the foxes decided it was a safer bet to follow us to the next spot out on the cliffs. This was not appreciated by the usual 'customers' there and much squabbling and screaming ensued. The wind had increased by the time we belatedly made our last stopoff and there appeared to be no takers - all that could be heard was the corrugated iron on the old barn rattling eerily. However, after calling a few times, a badger and two foxes appeared. All animals are healthy and well-prepared for the coming winter, here in Maidencombe-on-Sea ...

We'll never see anything like you again (May 23 2009)

'Snatcher' in more gentle mood ...

'You're a bold one' May 20 2009

This is the first filming of 'Snatcher' a completely wild fox which had only appeared 5 days ago ... I was surprised at her boldness, but the biggest surprise was to come a few moments later ... see 'Unbelievable' vid clip which astonished me - I've never had a fox take food by hand after such a short time ...

June 19 2009 'They gather'