Who’s a lucky fox then

I think I've learned why we've been seeing less of the foxes in the garden this year. As a rule foxes will explore where there's food, and will return regularly to favoured hunting grounds. In a semi-urban environment that means a mix of real hunting grounds (rabbits, birds, rodents, fruit, and bugs) and friendly gardens where food is available. Our garden is only of moderate interest. I don't leave quantities of food out for them to find, just handfuls of sultanas and an occasional egg. Enough to keep them coming back or hold still for the camera, but not enough to make them remotely reliant on me for feeding. And of course they do hunt the smaller animals that share the space.

Having glimpsed the nicked-ear vixen last night I set up this evening in a determined attempt to photograph her. The lure was an egg. I hid myself away at the far end of the garden with a long lens and flash at the ready. After about 20 minutes I saw a face appear in the camera viewfinder. I managed one shot, and she was gone. It was when I looked closer that I saw why she's less than impressed with our garden.

I've no idea where she found that chop, but I doubt that our local butcher was open at this time of night 😀 Someone else around here likes foxes!

Camera note: photo taken with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.

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This Post Has 11 Comments

  1. UrbanExtension

    11 Apr 2008

    God,that's hard to compete with! Not even I leave out chops for them… like you I tend to stick with sultanas, eggs and honey sandwiches (there favourite) …. oh and tonight they have left over pasta (hope they like spinach and ricotta!). But chops… no way! I saw a very straggly vixen yesterday. Very thin and bedraggled. Looks like she's having a hard time with the cubs. Hope she puts some weight on, otherwise she won't survive. Jane

  2. Dudley

    11 Apr 2008

    I've no idea where she found that chop,

    Or it was taken from someones backyard picnic table! 🙂

  3. cakkleberrylane

    11 Apr 2008

    A spoiled little vixen – she looks very happy with her dinner!

  4. Vulpes vulpes

    12 Apr 2008

    My, what a brave hunter she is!! 😀

  5. ALLY_G

    12 Apr 2008

    And you didn't get an invitation to the dinner? 😀

  6. gdare

    12 Apr 2008

    😆

  7. gdare

    12 Apr 2008

    Or someone else left the kitchen opened 😀

  8. SittingFox

    12 Apr 2008

    This is mine, my own, you are NOT having it!

  9. Words

    12 Apr 2008

    Unbelievable isn't it! But it's good healthy food for them and I'm sure they appreciate it. 😀

  10. Flying Red Fox Blog

    16 Apr 2008

    Haha 😛 Its good that more people like Foxes, hopefully they like yourgarden just s much hehe.

  11. Words

    16 Apr 2008

    I think they have it quite good round here. We're far enough away from livestock but not too crowded, and thankfully not much traffic.

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