This morning’s photo isn’t the last flower of summer, on this, the first day of autumn, but in a field that only a month ago was filled with brown-eyed susans, it is now the last one blooming. The days and nights are cooler. The cabin is filled with plants again, and only my very large fig tree remains outside. Bringing that in is a major project, and I just ran out of time this weekend.
I continue to see and be followed regularly by one of the red foxes. I’ve figured out that walking with a dog is what makes the fox less wary. Yesterday, the fox came within 20 feet of us in the early pre-dawn almost-light. The fox sometimes sat down and watched us, once even lay down under a tree for a few seconds. Then it padded behind us, sniffing at Dog’s footprints. So far, it’s been only Dog and not Baby Dog that brings out this behavior in the foxes. Perhaps it’s because Dog strains so much against the leash that he gasps for air, which sounds a little bit like a fox’s bark. Perhaps it’s because he looks like a very large fox himself with his bushy tail, pointed ears and fawn color. Perhaps it’s a gender thing, as he’s male. Perhaps it’s because Baby Dog barks, and the fox doesn’t like that. I don’t know.
In any event, I have decided that for the safety of all concerned, I will not walk Dog in the mornings for a while. I will walk him in the evenings when it is still light and the fox will not be out and around. Dog may enjoy a daylight walk more anyway, and I can sleep a bit later. On some level I will miss the close encounters with a fox, but it’s for the best
Posts
2 comments:
I have two late brown-eyed susans in my garden. I have only seen one fox in our area but have seen several coyotes this summer. I do have concerns about taking our dog on some trails.
Ruth, I think it's funny that it's only Dog and apparently not Baby Dog that attracts the fox.
Carolyn H.
Post a Comment