March of last year, 4:30 in the morning we had a red fox calling on our patio right outside our door. Woke me & the missus up, & scared the bejeepers out of the cats, who were crouching on the stair landing growling.
So-called climate scientists say that Arctic ice decreases mean warmer temperatures and the Arctic Fox population is losing ground to the invading Red Fox (see Wiki).
To be fair, if you filmed them every hour of every day you'd see them killing all kinds of things which wouldn't be great.
But if you lived in the area and started feeding them dog food, they'd swiftly lose interest in hunting and killing things (which takes work) and be totally on board with eating food just left out for them. In which case they'd just be cute. Though they'd still eat your pet cat, because they're cute, not domesticated.
I spent a few years in the High Arctic. The little rascals can be cute--at certain times of the year. When they start to shed the fur comes off in large patches and you get to see how very skinny they are. You definitely don't want to get close to them since about half of them were rabid where we were. As someone mentioned earlier, they will stalk you from a relatively short distance. Say 20 yards or so. But if someone starts feeding the little bastards they will become a serious threat. They will run right up to you and start snarling right at your feet. If there is only one you can try to kick him and make your escape. If several are circling you have a real problem and had better be caring a hefty walking stick. I recommend a shillelagh appropriately sized.
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26 comments:
I don't like being filmed either.
I prefer the Artic Monkeys myself..
Thank Goodness! A post that isn't about Harvey Weinstein.
Around here, some foxes have rabies.
March of last year, 4:30 in the morning we had a red fox calling on our patio right outside our door. Woke me & the missus up, & scared the bejeepers out of the cats, who were crouching on the stair landing growling.
This is what a red fox sounds like.
The southern equivalent in Patagonia has a comically huge and fluffy tail. They’re curious and track you at a distance.
Weinstein foxes, tearing him a new asshole...
Fox Supremacists.
Another disgusting display of vulpine privilege.
I blame Hillary for the Fox's behavior.
Hatee-hatee-hatee-ho!
Episode queued itself up on the new Apple TV. Watching tonight- no spoilers!
Arctic, not Artic.
What Sen said. Arctic, with two c's.
Sean, my apologies for misspelling your name in the course of correcting a typo!
YoungHegelian said...
This is what a red fox sounds like.
When they're far away they sound like someone screaming.
This one screams @22 seconds after the dog he's been playing with goes in the house.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBpZTo1dlPM
"Arctic, not Artic."
Thanks. I know, but never would have noticed.
So-called climate scientists say that Arctic ice decreases mean warmer temperatures and the Arctic Fox population is losing ground to the invading Red Fox (see Wiki).
But it just ain't so.
(I had to re-post to fix my spelling, sorry.)
Fernandinande said...
YoungHegelian said...
This is what a red fox sounds like.
When they're far away they sound like someone screaming.
The power of the Althouse Blog! I was just sitting here wondering,
What does the fox say?
A Russian biologist domesticated some of them over about 20 generations. Lots of “discards” but dog-like foxes.
Fox News!
So soft. Beautiful collar on a winter coat.
A wonderful segment.
To be fair, if you filmed them every hour of every day you'd see them killing all kinds of things which wouldn't be great.
But if you lived in the area and started feeding them dog food, they'd swiftly lose interest in hunting and killing things (which takes work) and be totally on board with eating food just left out for them. In which case they'd just be cute. Though they'd still eat your pet cat, because they're cute, not domesticated.
Any way,
Lucien's 1:20 comment tickled me.
I am Laslo.
"exiledonmainstreet said...
Fox News!"
You were so close, but "Fox news!" is what you needed.
Kawai.
I spent a few years in the High Arctic. The little rascals can be cute--at certain times of the year. When they start to shed the fur comes off in large patches and you get to see how very skinny they are. You definitely don't want to get close to them since about half of them were rabid where we were. As someone mentioned earlier, they will stalk you from a relatively short distance. Say 20 yards or so. But if someone starts feeding the little bastards they will become a serious threat. They will run right up to you and start snarling right at your feet. If there is only one you can try to kick him and make your escape. If several are circling you have a real problem and had better be caring a hefty walking stick. I recommend a shillelagh appropriately sized.
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