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Post by desertwoman on Jul 18, 2019 8:52:14 GMT -5
I guess there's truth to the saying "sly as a fox".
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Post by binnylou on Jul 18, 2019 21:29:23 GMT -5
I went out to the garden to give my newly planted beans a drink and also the squash. Puttered around, enjoying the sunset. I left the garden by way of the north drive, drove around to the south drive and stopped to admire the flower garden. And then I see the fox about 25 feet away from me...catching lightening bugs. He didn’t care that I was there, so I yelled at him, clapped my hands, and barked at him. I thought he had left the yard.
I still needed to turn off the hydrant which is on the south side of the house. And there he is again. After more noise from me, he disappeared, but kitty tells me that he is close. She is in attack mode.
He’s entirely too comfortable.
But, the sunset was absolutely gorgeous.
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Post by SpringRain🕊️ on Jul 19, 2019 9:10:52 GMT -5
Speaking of rabbits, I saw the first one of the season in my back yard this morning, sitting up, checking out the area before moving, then hopping over to the fence area with a lot of cover. Perhaps she/he's discovered my neighbor's garden and was on his way there for his/her morning breakfast.
It's a reminder to create cover in various areas of the garden and yard so rabbits can have sanctuary as they search for their meals, or take their naps.
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Post by tom 🕊 on Jul 19, 2019 10:14:12 GMT -5
He’s entirely too comfortable. I'd tolerate a fox in the yard if it would control rabbits. Fox do kill cats.
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Post by binnylou on Jul 19, 2019 10:49:36 GMT -5
I haven’t seen a rabbit on the yard in a long time. I was surprised to find rabbit residue in the garden. And I’ve only seen one chipmunk this season. Originally, I was attributing this to the owls in the area.
Earlier I think I mentioned that there was a leg bone left behind in the garden. It was gone yesterday, so if Mr./Mrs. Fox did the original deed, he/she came back for the leftovers.
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Post by SpringRain🕊️ on Jul 19, 2019 14:33:16 GMT -5
I wonder if climate change is already affecting the four legged visitors to our yards. I think I wrote elsewhere that I haven't seen many squirrels for a while, nor have I seen rabbits as often as I used to. binnylou, sounds like the fox family is creating a serve yourself cafeteria in your yard.
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Post by binnylou on Jul 28, 2019 0:35:38 GMT -5
Working in the flower garden this afternoon...pulling weeds and grass that has gotten a good foothold...I think that my struggling dahlia has been dug up and is not to be found. I’m blaming the fox. That tuber would be like a sweet potato to a Fox. And the poor cat hasn’t seen the outside of the house for a week. After seeing him close in last Sunday five different times and him not being afraid of me, I’m afraid to let her out of the house. There is a pair plus two kits in the area. Maybe I’m not seeing the same fox.
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Post by binnylou on Aug 4, 2019 15:14:08 GMT -5
I can not figure this guy/gal out. Yes, the fox again. In my flower garden, I use chopped straw (the kind that comes plastic wrapped in small bales) to mulch my annual flowers. I use chipped wood to mulch around the perennials. Fox is attracted to the straw mulch and every night, the mulch gets moved and rearranged. Does the straw invite something that Fox wants (insects, moles, mice). He doesn’t bother the wood mulch.
He’s a puzzle. Should be interesting when daughter arrives with her two yappy little dogs.
If lavender essential oil causes yappy little dog #2 to need a nap, perhaps Fox would be affected the same way?
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Post by tom 🕊 on Aug 4, 2019 15:23:45 GMT -5
I can not figure this guy/gal out. Yes, the fox again. Do you use any fish fertilizer in your garden? Some want fox in their yards, and fish fertilizer is supposed to be a way to attract them.
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Post by binnylou on Aug 4, 2019 15:27:30 GMT -5
No, no fish fertilizer this year. I have avoided it because of raccoons. I have used kelp.
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Post by tom 🕊 on Aug 4, 2019 15:42:43 GMT -5
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Post by SpringRain🕊️ on Aug 4, 2019 19:47:30 GMT -5
binnylou , I wonder if the fox is sleeping on the straw? Your post reminded me of something I've seen periodically in my yard. There's an area where the grasses tend to grow high. Something mashes them down, apparently curls up, and perhaps takes a nap or spends the night there.
Then I saw the same thing at Dad's. Something mashed down leaves of some grasses growing on one side of the house.
They could be made by an adult raccoon, or a slightly larger dog, but I doubt there are any dogs in either of our yards.
Are there any tiny tufts of fur, or tracks, especially after an overnight rain?
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Post by binnylou on Aug 4, 2019 20:10:29 GMT -5
tom 🕊, after reading the first article, it kinda sounds like if a fox likes you, he’s yours.
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Post by tom 🕊 on Aug 5, 2019 5:49:51 GMT -5
after reading the first article, it kinda sounds like if a fox likes you, he’s yours. If I had a fox in the yard, I think I would put up with it because it would protect me from rabbits and other pests.
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Post by binnylou on Aug 5, 2019 7:28:27 GMT -5
tom 🕊, kitty is a feral cat, now mostly house cat. She hasn’t been allowed outside for two weeks (I think). She really wants to go out. She likes to prowl around the flower garden, the windbreak, and the barn. Exactly the same area where Fox is attracted to. I do appreciate the varmint removal service. Fox better not develop a taste for tomatoes.
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