I hate the look of chainlink fencing, but I'm hesitant to do anything about screening off my view of the chainlink fence that borders the east side of the garden. It's not my fence, although I could put bamboo fencing in front of it. I haven't because then I wouldn't be able to see the wildlife on the other side, such as the Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets, and this morning's drama of the fox.
I love the fox. When I started this blog during the summer of 2007, the rabbits were squeezing into the back garden to feast, and I found myself chasing after them with a shovel in a bizarro version of Mr. McGregor chasing after Peter Rabbit. Since the Squirrelhaven version of Mr. Tod moved in the following year, I've had no rabbit problems. We didn't see our fox until last summer, when I caught a quick glimpse out front. Then VIS saw it one evening. A week ago, the girl and I got our first good look at the fox trotting across the frozen pond out back. (The fox has since been christened Vulpes, in honor of a book she just wrote a report on, Vulpes, the Red Fox, by Jean Craighead George.)
This morning, I opened the curtains to find Vulpes lounging on the bank of the pond under a Weeping Willow, scratching and basking in the sun.
Vulpes sat there so long I was able to take a few photos through the window. (I was sorely missing my old SLR film camera with its super-mega zoom lens. If I had batteries for it, I would have taken photos with it.)
Vulpes sat there so long I was able to take a few photos through the window. (I was sorely missing my old SLR film camera with its super-mega zoom lens. If I had batteries for it, I would have taken photos with it.)
I finally figured out what Vulpes was up to, when I noticed the gray squirrel Cherry sneaking down the side of the willow. Clearly, Vulpes had treed Cherry and was waiting for it to make a break for it. Although Vulpes was looking the other way, Cherry didn't get two steps from the tree before Vulpes sprang up and lunged for the squirrel.
To Vulpes' dismay, the squirrel made it back safely to the tree.
I felt so bad for the fox when Cherry finally figured out how to get from the Weeping Willow to the Boxelder and then safely to the ground on the Squirrelhaven side of the fence. Vulpes gazed at it sadly for a little while,
then gave it up as a lost cause.
To Vulpes' dismay, the squirrel made it back safely to the tree.
I felt so bad for the fox when Cherry finally figured out how to get from the Weeping Willow to the Boxelder and then safely to the ground on the Squirrelhaven side of the fence. Vulpes gazed at it sadly for a little while,
then gave it up as a lost cause.
Having to look at an ugly fence is a small price to pay for the privilege of watching such a beautiful wild creature. What wildlife have you seen from your house?
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Please join me in the Great Houseplant Census, on Tuesday. I really want to know how many houseplants you have.
30 comments:
Totally agree, view the wildlife first! We don't have red fox. Only grey; or at least no red in my garden.
Oooh... what a fun visitor! I'm glad that you were able to catch such great photos of Vulpes in your garden. :)
I expect you hardly notice the fence when you are used to looking through it.
A couple of years ago we were amazed to see a fox jump with ease from the pavement right up to the top of a garden wall at the end of our street - and disappear down onto the other side.
We also had a young fox begging chips from us on the beach!
Lucy
I have seen a fox across the street from our house. We also have a fence up around the back to keep the dog on our property. It also keeps out stray dogs. An occasional possum or racoon strolls through the garden from time to time. The fence doesn't deter them.
Fascinating visitor! I love how you told the exciting tale. :)
We've seen several deer, rabbits, raccoons, a skunk, woodchucks galore, and one night a coyote who raised the hair on the back of my neck with his wild, wild gaze.
This has been quite a change for me, since a little over a year ago, I was living in the inner city. Living in the forest is lonelier but better, I think... and for that reason, I say keep the view through the chain-link fence. (Altho you could grow some patches of annual vines up it, something that you could still generally see through perhaps, like morning glories?)
Good thing you don't have a hen house. Your beautiful fox would love your chickens and eggs too. Yes, the fence is a small price to pay. I barely noticed it when I was at your house. The water is breathtaking.~~Dee
Hi MMD~~ I'm happy to hear that your Vulpes, as majestic as s/he is was unable to have Cherry for lunch. I know what you mean about chain link fences. I've got a Hall's Honeysuckle slithering through mine. As for wildlife, a few months ago a fawn, complete with spots darted in front of me as I drove along a nearby road. Inches from disaster, I was SO glad the poor little daredevil made it to safety. Hopefully a lesson learned.
As for houseplants, I'm a total loser. They don't like me.
I loved that you were able to get pictures of this event
Glad the squirrel out foxed the fox
I had a red fox in my yard this week..right up against the house...what was he hunting I wondered?
He was gone in a flash as I opened the patio door...He saw me first
The fence is fine...your view is fabulous..I wish I had a pond to look at
What a funny vignette to watch from the house! I only catch occasional glimpses of rabbits, and of course squirrels. I'm looking forward to the houseplant census--numbers have been changing around here lately.
I wouldn't camouflage the fence, either! The fox is beautiful, and you got great photos. :-) I haven't seen our resident fox yet this Winter. I usually see him cutting through our yard periodically. They make the oddest noises in the Spring. That was the subject of one my very first posts in May of 2007. :-)
I was inspired by the post you made of your hyacinth bulb. How is it doing??
How wonderful was that story! Beatrix Potter indeed..She would have blogged probably exactly the way you blogged this wonder. Remember Squirrel Nutkin and Mr. Owl? Squirrel's always seem to be taunting other creatures. My cats always try to lunge at them, much like Mr.Todd and they too always miss.
Thank you for this blog,loved it!
Wendy
Great sighting. That makes your fence a non-issue, MMD. In our yard we've seen deer galore, armadillos, woodpeckers (esp. lately) and numerous other birds, squirrels of course, and a few unmentionable rodents. We hear great horned owls and screech owls regularly but have yet to spot one here.
I saw two squirrels the other day, on my bird feeder, but there was no fox to eat them, darn it.
We have a den of Foxes that live in our way back woods. They come up in the yard in Spring and play...I wish they would eat our squirrels..We can see 20 or so squirrels at any given time around here. I'll joing tomorrow although I'm sure my offering won't change the numbers very much...
We have the same fence...but, we haven't your great view with all the delightful wildlife. Those squirrels are too smart. Maybe Mr Fox will have better luck next time! gail ps thanks for the bamboo idea, I am going to cover the fence behind the birdhouses!
I love foxes but hardly ever see them. I agree that having to look at the chain link fence is a small price to pay for such views outside!
I've done my Houseplant Census, will post tomorrow :)
How lucky you are to have a fox. About the only ones left in this area live right in town. They catch some rabbits and chipmunks but mostly the people of the neighborhoods feed them dog food. The coyotes have eliminated them from the farm areas.
Marnie
Can we borrow Vulpes for a few weeks? We are over-run with squirrels who drain the birdfeeders within a half hour of our filling them!
It would be nice to have a natural balance of wildlife in the garden.
Cindee
Wow, I can certainly understand why you leave that fence uncovered. How neat to be able to see all that. Wish I had a little fox to deal with my squirrels. :-)
What a story! And with pictures! I felt myself like a kid while reading it. Thank you!!!
Helen - around here, we call gray foxes "coyotes." ;^)
Blackswamp Girl - I have to admit, foxes are much more fun to watch than deer.
Lucy - the fence can be obtrusive when I'm trying to take photos of plants and the sun is glinting off it.
Lisa - having a fence is good when you have a dog, although they can still get into trouble with the possums. I'll bet that fox is taking care of the rabbits for you too.
Meredith - that's a lot of wildlife, but if you really are in a forest, they should be more of a joy than the pain they can be in suburbia. Most of the fence is in afternoon shade, which is difficult for most annuals. A wild grape grows on part of it. While it's very vigorous, I've left it for the screening.
Dee - no chickens allowed here, so my feelings for the fox are entirely positive.
Grace - I used to be a complete failure at houseplants, but if you're a chronic overwaterer, it could be hard to change.
Suz - foxes are very shy, you were lucky to get a glimpse. I keep telling my kids how lucky they are to be able to observe wildlife from their family room. The pond is such a draw.
ROR - I hope your numbers are increasing.
Shady - I don't think I've ever heard a fox. Or if I have, I didn't know what it was. The sad little Hyacinth bulb didn't make it because I forgot to maintain the water level.
Thanks, Wendy, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Squirrels are the only creatures that managed to evade the jaws of my late Borzoi.
Pam - don't you love the sound of the owls? Rarely we hear them, but like you, we've never seen them. (I'm not willing to bundle up and head out in the middle of night to go owling like the Jane Yolen book "Owl Moon.)
Carol - lookout, the squirrels have found your garden. There's nothing that can stop them now.
Darla - I'm so jealous! I'd love to see foxes playing. They are so cute. I don't think squirrels are a regular part of the fox diet, unfortunately.
Gail - if you don't have the view, the bamboo is a good solution. I hope it works out for you.
Diane - The foxes probably know there's a really fast dog around.
Marnie - that stinks. I usually don't have a problem with coyotes, but if they're eating foxes, I'm not happy about them. I haven't seen any coyotes on my street in a couple of years, but that doesn't mean they aren't still around.
Cindee - sorry, I don't think Vulpes will solve your squirrel problem. The squirrels here are undaunted and bold as ever.
While I hate the look of a chain link fence, and have planted evergreen to cover ours for the most part, getting to have that view of wildlife that you do is a more than valid reason not to block it. I feel zero for the squirrel, Cherry, and wish Vulpes the best of luck in future stakeouts. We see skunks, racoons and oppossums here, and way too many squirrels and rabbits and the occasional snake. A regular habitat. :-)
Frances
No foxes from my house, but we have seen plenty of moose and bald eagles. I usually cringe when I see the moose rather than lunge for the camera...they tend to tromp through the garden and eat/bust up the young trees. Do stray cats count as wildlife? Plenty of those passing through, unfortunately.
Christine in Alaska
Dear Mr.McG's D, I have so enjoyed looking at your sequence of pictures showing Vulpes and Cherry and reading your tale. It is refreshing to see foxes in the wild, so to speak. Strangely, they are to be seen in greater and greater numbers here in London.
I love watching the wildlife in my garden - as long as they pass through & don't feast on my garden. :) Squirrels I can live without because they eat almost all of my tomatoes every summer.
Last summer I watched a doe raise twin fawns & a fox with four babies all summer long. We also have lots of squirrel, rabbit, groundhog & even the horrible armadillos. The opossum & raccoons don't show themselves as often but I know they are here. We have skunk, mud turtles, box turtles, lots of different kinds of snakes & all different kinds of birds including eagles, pileated woodpeckers & beautiful owls.
Isn't he beautiful? The wildlife here on my corner of Katy is limited to squirrels. We've heard of coyotes being spotted on the edges of the neighborhood.
Frances - Vulpes tried again the other day, but the squirrel once again escaped.
Christine - I'll take deer over moose any day (and that's saying something). I'd love to see the eagles, but they won't come this close to town.
Edith - the foxes probably moved to the city to avoid the hunt. I can't imagine they have any riding through Piccadilly Circus.
Jenny - your garden sounds like a wildlife sanctuary, what a treat that must be.
Cindy - better keep Loki inside if there are coyotes about.
Very cool visitor! I've had raccoons, possums, turkeys, grouse, deer, and of course lots of squirrels and chipmunks. A black bear took down my birdfeeder a few years ago, but I never saw him (just the big toothmarks in the feeder!) I say the chain link is a small price to pay for the view. (Plus it's a trellis :)
A great story! We have both red and gray here, but only catch glimpses if we're pulling into the drive at night.
Cameron
I enjoyed the story of the fence, the fox, and the squirrel. What a treat to get to witness!
I had to laugh that you don't like the look of chain link. Not only do we have chain link around our back yard, but we also have picket fencing part way up it, making the fence higher so Heidi doesn't jump the fence. Actually, I just came across the photo we took of her arm pit stitched up after trying to jump over the picket fence. I am glad she seems to have learned a lesson not to do that again. The fence is not so pretty, but I would rather put up with what we have than have a privacy fence in our small yard.
I wish I would see more than rabbits, squirrels and the few birds I've seen in our yard. We also see an occasional garter snake.
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