July 30, 2009 - Foxes at play and at workJULY 30, 2009 1 SUFFOLKTIMES.COM
ox - es at playan
This is the third day we have enjoyed watching
one of nature's playful moments. It all started when
Barbara asked halfheartedly, "Could I be seeing a fox
up on the back pasture ?" That brought immediate
attention from me as we've not seen a fox around
our place for over two years, so you can see why she
was amazed at the
FOCUS ON NATURE possibility of actually
seeing one. Binocu-
lars immediately
came out and, sure
enough, there was a
fox, dark in color, his
legs and tail looking
black from all the rain
PAUL STOUTENBURGH that we'd had.
We're partial to
all kinds of wildlife but we sometimes have to
tell Mr. Fox he's not wanted for the simple reason
foxes like chickens and they don't care whom they
belong to. Yet, I must say we were delighted for
now in seeing our playful visitor. We didn't have to
wait long, for not only did we have one fox, but to
our amazement two others showed up to join in
the frolicking, jumping, rolling over and climbing.
They had found a long board leaning up against
the windmill and, just like kids, they had fun
climbing up and down it.
When one of them got tired, it just stopped and
sat down, the big ears picking up every yip and
squeal. When it got to be too much and they could
not stay out of the game any onger, ac ey wen
to join in the fun. What a show they put on. Then,
as quickly as it had started, their childlike play
stopped, and off they went.
But there's more to the story. The next night
the performers were back. This time they had
dried off and their color was more foxlike, but this
time A new and different actor came on stage:
A woodchuck or groundhog was out in the lush
greenery enjoying his evening meal of clover. His
only concern was that the foxes wouldn't leave
at wor
young fox tries to get this woodchuck to join it in
ie woodchuck just wants to finish its dinner.
him alone and let him eat. For half an hour that
poor groundhog had to stop eating every once
in a while to chase those pesky foxes away. It was
hilarious to watch.
I have one more story about a fox that I always tell
when good folks get together. Some of you might re-
member my telling this but I think it's work repeating.
It all started at our home one Easter. We had invited
friends and relatives to have dinner with us. After the
meal the usual conversation took place as we all sat
around the table looking out the .big window.
We had chickens and were always letting them
roam free. They were a mixed breed of bantams
and they loved their free -
dom. All was going well We sometimes have
until all of a sudden we
heard a commotion and to tell Mr. Fox he's
saw chickens flying in
every direction. Bantams not wanted for the
are good fliers and so we
had thought they could simple reason foxes
take care of themselves. like chickens.
Not so. Out of the bushes
flew one of my roosters
and right behind him was the most determined
red fox you ever saw.
Down the road went my prize bantam a good three
feet above the ground, flying as fast as he could, with
the fox right beneath him. Bantams can't fly far and as
my little rooster ran out of energy he slowly dropped
down, right into the open mouth of Mr. Fox.
Now back to our recent story about the foxes and
woodchuck we were watching up in the back pas-
ture. As we sat watching the drama unfold, we sud-
denly realized there were cedar waxwings above us
in the cherry trees. They were enjoying not only the
cherries but every now and then they would fly out
over the pasture and snap up some flying insects. It
was a great sight as we sat there in the late after-
noon sun. What a way to end a day.
v
ro
L