He's walking on the path Meade created for people to walk and mountain bike. I was just calling it "The Bunny Trail" — the place referenced in the old song "Here Comes Peter Cottontail" — because I saw a big rabbit using it. And — as if on cue, to top my joke — a big fox takes the same route. I had a dramatic reaction, but no camera at hand. Five minutes later, the fox was back, and he stopped right in the middle of the yard, as if he knew I'd wanted to get a shot of him. Actually, he seemed a little slow and confused, and we worried that he was sick. Then he ducked down the alleyway between the two garages.
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Great shot! Yeah, wonder if he was alright. Nice to have some wildlife roaming around. We have a hawk that frequents our area and makes a bombing run occasionally.
Handsomest fox I've ever seen.
One morning a year ago, I was telling my wife what time it was. She was still in bed when I looked out the window and saw a bobcat the size of a mountain lion walking through the back yard, which is fenced with a brick wall. By the time I got my camera, he was gone, right over the wall.
TO THE HOUNDS
SOUND THE BUGLE
CHARGE/TALLY HO
We have fox in our yard from time to time, rarely though. I spoke to a local Audubon person that said fox are primarily nocturnal but it is not unusual to see them in day time, usually dusk and dawn.
The big question though: have you seen the rabbit lately? ;-)
Treat all wild animals, especially foxes and raccoons as rabid. Particularly if they look lethargic or disoriented. Professional virologist here.
"Actually, he seemed a little slow and confused, and we worried that he was sick."
Our neighborhood is adjacent to Hoyt Park. We see a lot of foxes, and there is mange in the population. Presumably, the same population that would show up at your house.
We enjoy watching the foxes. They are very tolerant of humans. More than once I've been just a few feet from one and we just sat and looked at each other.
We have foxes in the area (SW Milwaukee), I see them quite often. Lots of rabbits, squirrels, mice, and when they are tearing up roads and sewers....rats to eat. Also lot's of place to have dens...under decks and porches.
"have you seen the rabbit lately?"
"the rabbit"
There are SO many rabbits.
There are lots of beasts around here that eat the rabbits. Some are perching in the trees. Some spend the night indoors with the humans.
The fox would probably prefer the chipmunks. We've got lots of them too.
Nice! It's great having wildlife around.
Animals have definitely adapted. When I was growing up, you didn't see much other than robins and squirrels, but in our neighborhood we have foxes, turkeys, geese, ducks, the occasional coyote and a snapping turtle the size of a Samsonite briefcase.
Nature red in tooth and claw. Foxy hunters like their rabbit very rare. Madison must have an ordinance against wild things.
We have dozens or hundreds of vultures roosting in nearby trees. The one dog hates them, so he and I chase them out of our trees so the neighbors can enjoy more vulture-shit, which turns the street white in some places.
He saw Aunt Mary coming and he ducked back in the alley.
If he seems slow or disoriented its probably distemper. Very common in foxes.
Maybe you should rename the trail to honor the red guest. Call it the Foxy Loxy trail, per the Chicken Little story.
This Easter you could buy some dyed baby chicks and raise them until the neighbors complain about the 5:00 AM rooster calls.The first Free range chickens raised in Madison. You will be infamous.
Fox Run is better than Bunny Trail for a mountain bike path.
Many of the foxes around here have rabies. A former co-worker's brother was bitten by one, waited too long for medical attention, and died.
Big fox at morning, blogger take warning.
Big fox at night, blogger's delight.
True story!
Wild Turkeys suddenly popped up in neighborhood park 5 years ago, and now seem to own the place, strutting around with in all their glorious turkey turkiness. Thankfully, unlike geese they don't seem to leave much poop or maybe they go in the bushes. No Foxes yet, although a Turkey dinner awaits them.
We've never had a dog that killed a rabbit. They just chase them, knock them down, and run over them. Its more the thrill of the chase, then a kill thing. But then our dogs are mild manner breeds. Retrievers and mutts don't have much blood lust.
"He saw Aunt Mary coming and he ducked back in the alley."
Actually, he was lookin' for a new friend.
"We've never had a dog that killed a rabbit."
How do you know?
What about the baby bunnies?
We had a fox den in our neighborhood two years ago. Before that, the big HooHah was over the nesting owls.
Cool that you got a picture of it.
"We've never had a dog that killed a rabbit."
How do you know?
Because they weren't nothing but a hound dogs.
"What about the baby bunnies?"
Anythings possible. Our dogs living a double life, a secret dark side.
"We've never had a dog that killed a rabbit."
Dogs are not allowed in the public forests and Audubon properties in my neck of the woods, leashed or not, because they are a threat to the wild creatures.
Not sure when it was I first saw this video of fox hunting (fox hunting for food not being hunted for sport), pretty awesome:
https://youtu.be/D2SoGHFM18I
Did you just assume its gender?!?!
Just kidding--neat photo, thanks for sharing!
Treat all wild animals, especially foxes and raccoons as rabid.
A second to the motion from a former fox hunter (an unspeakable in pursuit of an uneatable, yeah, that kind). Urban foxes (there are many more "in town" than most people would suppose) are very nocturnal. Any urban fox seen in daylight is to be strongly suspected of rabies.
We had baby foxes in our yard one spring and it was the cutest spring ever!
We used to have a half-dozen foxes living in a large field behind our house in L.A. They would come right up close to us for hot dogs or chicken legs. All I had to do was whistle and they would come out of the brush and congregate in front of us. Then some coyotes moved in and killed them all off. I don't like coyotes, the animals or the human kind. The foxes kept their distance and never invaded our space, but the coyotes would come right over fences and into our yards, killing pets. My neighbor had chickens in a coupe in his yard. The foxes never went for them, but he had many face to face encounters with the coyotes stealing chickens right in front of him.
Chicken Little (Disney, 1943)
Foxy Loxy does his thing Maddow-style.
Will Inga and Company™ take the message?
Don't make me laugh.
Seriously, be cautious - rabies is widespread in fox populations.
On a lighter note, is Meade ready to stand his ground and release his inner Atticus Finch? In Madison, what would be the repercussions if you actually shot a rabid fox in self-defense? I foam at the mouth just thinking about the outrage.
It's probably too late to trap him (or her) for the pelt; my Siberian is in full shed mode.
You could name him Carol, but David Sedaris in Calypto already took that name for his pet wild fox.
Nice a spirit fox, we used to see them in our neighborhood before construction destroyed their den.
"What about the baby bunnies?"
My first cat used to bring home baby bunnies by the nest full. Among other animals.
I also had a fox in my yard this morning about 11 am. Beautiful animals. Yesterday, I saw an albino robin for the first time, it was also beautiful.
".....ducked down the alleyway"
Lookin' for a new friend?
You ain't nothin' but a hound dog
Cryin' all the time
You ain't nothin' but a hound dog
Cryin' all the time
Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit and you ain't no friend of mine
Foxes are quite beautiful and very smart AND deadly.
Small pets like dogs, cats and chickens are very likely to be killed. Foxes will kill the chickens more for fun than for food.
The foxes gang up and ambush the cats and dogs.
Don't be fooled. They are not really "nice" animals. Plus as noted: if seen during daylight hours and alone, they are likely to be sick or rabid.
Stay away. City foxes always carry rabies.
I would never go near a fox. I was indoors and upstairs.
I have been outside when I’ve seen a fox, maybe 30 feet away. Can’t say I was afraid, but it didn’t seem interested in me.
If a fox bit me, of course, I would seek treatment.
Yard Wild Kingdom is fun. Things caught on my front yard camera: squirrel, crow, bunny, too many deer, raccoon family (dad is huuuge), armadillo, bobcat, dog riding shotgun in the golf cart of a nosey neighbor riding down my driveway.
City foxes always carry rabies.
Not "always," but often enough that a fox that appears to be confused should be considered dangerous. Then again, perhaps he was confused because there were enough rabbit trails that he couldn't figure out from the scent which way to go next.
You see fox on the golf course on occasion. Some of them like playing with golf balls. Snatch and run. In Sun Valley a most beautiful silver fox sits patiently by the patio trolling for handouts. A scruffy little brown one waits sheepishly with the beverage cart girl.
In the 90's, a cat made a trail across the back lawn. I couldn't figure out why there was a narrow stripe in the grass until I saw him on his circuit. Now there's one leaving paw prints in the pollen on my hood and windshield to sleep on the black roof, but at least he hasn't peed in the air intakes like a previous one did.
Foxes live in almost every habitat on Earth, yet are so shy and sly that their rarely seen by humans.
If a fox bit me, of course, I would seek treatment.
A bite is a serious matter, however, rabies can be contracted through other forms of contact with an infected animal.
My son saw and photographed a coyote loping down the street in broad daylight in Seattle's U District this morning. Not one of the ones that lives under the overpasses.
If a fox bit me, of course, I would seek treatment.
Treatment for a potentially rabid bite is surprisingly expensive. It can run into five figures.
That's better than a horrible death, but still.
Ideally you could kill or capture the critter and have it tested, but that probably doesn't happen very often with a wild animal.
There is a guy on youtube raising minks and using them to hunt rats and muskrats. Strangely entertaining, but extremely violent.
That’s a pretty healthy looking fox. The ones I’ve seen are drab and almost mangy.
rabies can be contracted through other forms of contact with an infected animal.
True. Don't have unprotected sex with one, or even sloppy kisses.
@ gahrie
That's pretty cool. Wow, they're quick.
The mink must get vaccinated. That guy should too. He has a higher than normal risk. Vets generally get vaccinated against rabies.
Any excuse to link the Sweet.
Fox on the Run
I broke up a fight between a rabid fox and my previous dog a few years back. I had watched it traverse my property throughout the day. A fox is a vicious animal, and can jump a fence as easily as a cat. Outside of dusk or dawn, if you see a fox it is likely rabid and you should call the police or animal control.
I am a longtime lurker, Ann, but broke my silence so you won't be forced to undergo the rabies vaccination course the authorities made me endure. You can thank me by revealing here who you voted for in 2016!
You can thank me by revealing here who you voted for in 2016!
I'm guessing she'd rather be bitten by a rabid fox.
You can thank me by revealing here who you voted for in 2016!
Isn't it enough that she posts the fox news?
We're not so sanguine in the country; I'd be more concerned about the top of the predator chain than rabies.
It might be interesting to set up a wildlife cam.
Fox sightings are the best. I've only had three in my life.
Not related to Foxes, but I had a place once on the banks of the Kankakee River infested with burrowing chipmunks. Was advise to fill a 5 gal pail with water and dump quaker oats on top, then place next to the steps. They smelled the oats but thought the water was solid ground and gruesomely marched to a watery grave one after the other. I was ashamed but did not break my ankle in a burrow hole either.
Wow. We don't have many foxes in my part of MA, but see an awful lot of coyotes, raccoons, opossums. On one hand, the siting is kind of neat. On the other, Not Happy at all, as it might mean increased population / nuisance issues / etc.
Best of luck with that business!
We don’t have a lot of foxes ( in a Steve Martin way ) in Chicago but we have a lot of illegal immigrants. On one hand they are mowing my lawn cheap, On the other, Not happy at all as it may mean increased population and nuisance DUI issues, all the same.
I have been outside when I’ve seen a fox, maybe 30 feet away. Can’t say I was afraid, but it didn’t seem interested in me.
Do you think you could have hit the fox at that distance with your CCW? If not, that would be a good marksmanship goal for you to aspire to, especially with your new eyes. If not for yourself, think of poor Zeus if he tangled with a rabid fox while you were walking him.
Speaking of self-defense, that low fence behind the tree is probably where Chuck will make his move. In that application, I suggest Claymores. 700 steel ball bearings at 4000fps would make even a Michigan election lawyer vote for President Trump. Only $119 apiece. Two should sweep the kill zone effectively.
Late to the party but:
He ducked back down the alley
With some roly-poly little bat-faced girl
By the only guy who can push Dylan for "Best pop lyricist of the 20th century".
Needs a ‘Fox News’ tag.
People are always like keep your pets in, the foxes will kill them oh my god. My neighborhood is next to state lands and while I see foxes while I'm hunting, no fox in their right mind would enter our neighborhood because everyone lets their cat out. Who wants to tangle with an angry 16lb ball of claw? There's no good payoff there under any condition. A fox is there to get the mice and voles, and if there is a bonus rabbit so much the better.
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