You're very welcome. Unfortunately, there are not that many people here in most parts of Calif who choose to wander into the woods around us, or look for the various wildlife that surrounds them, unless they become 'pests' to them in their own surroundings.
There are many among our wildlife everywhere that have lost much of their own habitat to the encroachment of human expansion. So naturally, we will be seeing more of them closer to our own living areas.
And this could be said of many different species of wildlife:
True, but, that does not have to be the case. All living things on earth depend on one another for survival on this planet. As the wildlife suffers, so shall mankind. The more Mother Earth suffers, so shall mankind.
We are all connected on this planet, and mankind alone cannot survive.
It's the 21 century the animals don't stand a chance
Don't bet on it guys. Mac's back yard is a park well within the city limits of Philadelphia. If wild predators can adapt to that, they can live anywhere. Except for some, like the big bears, there are wild animals all over.
Some years back, I was driving on I-96, just outside the northern city limits of Grand Rapids, MI. Looked up on a hill right next to some houses, and saw a Bobcat sitting on the skyline. He wasn't half a mile from downtown. Usually people, certainly in urban areas, just don't see Bobcat. They are known as very shy animals and most people think that they must live very far from civilization of any kind. Not so at all, they are there all right. We do live outside the city in farm country and we see wild predators all the time. Mostly, humans, particularly those living in cities, don't see them, not because the animals aren't there but because they're very good at staying out of sight . Also, people , again particularly those living in cities, simply don't know what to look for or how to look.
I've spent a lot of time hiking and camping but have never seen them.
Stevie,
When you get out there, try to find a game trail (Deer trails are the easiest to spot and are usually between feeding areas and open water). Move downwind of it, find a comfortable spot and wait very quietly and without moving much for several hours. You'll see them. With herbivores, the best time is at sunup and sundown. With most carnivores, you're most likely to spot them at night. If you're walking, no matter how quietly you seem to be moving, they can hear you and you won't see much.
We used to have fox wandering thru our yard years ago, but I haven't seen one in quite a while. They disappeared right around the time my idiot neighbor moved in. He's constantly shooting at something in his backyard
OMG!!! Just too cute!! What an amazing catch Mac. I hope they pay you a lot of visits so we can enjoy your little friends.
I still have not seen any, which is a bummer because I know they are around.
Of course the troop of clowns... I mean racoons we see all the time.. They even come up to the sliding glass doors and check out Wally and vice versa. and the proceed to trash our trash, no matter what garbage pail we put it in (we have racoon proof ones that couldn't stand up to their nimble fingers)
So beautiful. In Maryland as a child, I was playing on my swing set with a friend when some baby red foxes came out of the woods and just sat there, watching us. We wanted to catch them and keep them as pets, but our parents were smarter than we were and said no. We had grey foxes back then too (not as many as the red ones), but after rabies hit the area, the grey foxes seemed to vanish. Red foxes are still doing fine around the mid-Atlantic, though.
Today, I saw a pileated woodpecker in my woods (after hearing them for the past week) - what amazing birds! And I saw a grey squirrel with a red tail; that was a first.
A huge "THANK YOU" to all who have commented and posted pictures.
I have more of these kit and the mother (vixen) as well and I will be out in the woods tomorrow. I found an old decayed tree stump near the den and I can partially hide myself behind it, and, rest my camera on it as well
At the end of this week, I hope to head up to the Pocono Mountains and do some fly fishing and maybe get lucky with Black Bear pictures.
I know I am blessed to be able to have the family, life, friends, and the opportunities to be in Nature virtually every day.
Lots and lots and LOTS of squirrels, a few raccoons, a possum or two, but the best is when this Great Horned Owl decides to visit our big oak at night and talks for a few. The conversation he/she is having with the distant "Hooting" we hear is mesmerizing at times. I just sit on the porch and listen.
We've also been getting a Red-Tailed Hawk that's starting to show up in our yard alot. I have a feeling the few mice we've seen running around the shed have something to do with that new appearance.
Oh! Happy Day!
Very very cool. The only place I've seen wild foxes is in Alaska. I don't think we have them here in Cali.
Yes, we have 4 species of wild foxes here in Calif;
Gray fox, Urocyon cinereoargenteus (harvest)
Island fox, Urocyon littoralis (endemic)
Red fox, Vulpes vulpes (introduced)
Kit fox, Vulpes macrotis ( )
Thank you for that information! Very good addition to the discussion.
You're very welcome. Unfortunately, there are not that many people here in most parts of Calif who choose to wander into the woods around us, or look for the various wildlife that surrounds them, unless they become 'pests' to them in their own surroundings.
There are many among our wildlife everywhere that have lost much of their own habitat to the encroachment of human expansion. So naturally, we will be seeing more of them closer to our own living areas.
And this could be said of many different species of wildlife:
So true and so sad.
True, but, that does not have to be the case. All living things on earth depend on one another for survival on this planet. As the wildlife suffers, so shall mankind. The more Mother Earth suffers, so shall mankind.
We are all connected on this planet, and mankind alone cannot survive.
Don't bet on it guys. Mac's back yard is a park well within the city limits of Philadelphia. If wild predators can adapt to that, they can live anywhere. Except for some, like the big bears, there are wild animals all over.
Some years back, I was driving on I-96, just outside the northern city limits of Grand Rapids, MI. Looked up on a hill right next to some houses, and saw a Bobcat sitting on the skyline. He wasn't half a mile from downtown. Usually people, certainly in urban areas, just don't see Bobcat. They are known as very shy animals and most people think that they must live very far from civilization of any kind. Not so at all, they are there all right. We do live outside the city in farm country and we see wild predators all the time. Mostly, humans, particularly those living in cities, don't see them, not because the animals aren't there but because they're very good at staying out of sight . Also, people , again particularly those living in cities, simply don't know what to look for or how to look.
Thanks Raven Wing. I wasn't aware of that I've spent a lot of time hiking and camping but have never seen them.
Stevie,
When you get out there, try to find a game trail (Deer trails are the easiest to spot and are usually between feeding areas and open water). Move downwind of it, find a comfortable spot and wait very quietly and without moving much for several hours. You'll see them. With herbivores, the best time is at sunup and sundown. With most carnivores, you're most likely to spot them at night. If you're walking, no matter how quietly you seem to be moving, they can hear you and you won't see much.
You're very welcome. They are very skittish when it comes to humans. They likely saw you coming and went into hiding before you could see them.
Beautiful.
How cool is that.
Extremely cool.
BTW, I haven't forgotten the Native American portraits from the museum …
… just busy chasing foxes.
Still more Fox pix on the memory card to open … and I'll be back in the woods later.
We used to have fox wandering thru our yard years ago, but I haven't seen one in quite a while. They disappeared right around the time my idiot neighbor moved in. He's constantly shooting at something in his backyard
Fabulous!
You MUST give us a new photo every day!
Very kind of you to ask that … I will comply.
Got more this afternoon … will post them later tonight or tomorrow.
OMG!!! Just too cute!! What an amazing catch Mac. I hope they pay you a lot of visits so we can enjoy your little friends.
I still have not seen any, which is a bummer because I know they are around.
Of course the troop of clowns... I mean racoons we see all the time.. They even come up to the sliding glass doors and check out Wally and vice versa. and the proceed to trash our trash, no matter what garbage pail we put it in (we have racoon proof ones that couldn't stand up to their nimble fingers)
So beautiful. In Maryland as a child, I was playing on my swing set with a friend when some baby red foxes came out of the woods and just sat there, watching us. We wanted to catch them and keep them as pets, but our parents were smarter than we were and said no. We had grey foxes back then too (not as many as the red ones), but after rabies hit the area, the grey foxes seemed to vanish. Red foxes are still doing fine around the mid-Atlantic, though.
Today, I saw a pileated woodpecker in my woods (after hearing them for the past week) - what amazing birds! And I saw a grey squirrel with a red tail; that was a first.
A huge "THANK YOU" to all who have commented and posted pictures.
I have more of these kit and the mother (vixen) as well and I will be out in the woods tomorrow. I found an old decayed tree stump near the den and I can partially hide myself behind it, and, rest my camera on it as well
At the end of this week, I hope to head up to the Pocono Mountains and do some fly fishing and maybe get lucky with Black Bear pictures.
I know I am blessed to be able to have the family, life, friends, and the opportunities to be in Nature virtually every day.
Peace to ALL.
If you're careful (and lucky), pictures is all you'll get. Bears get a bit grumpy this time of year.
This series is likely to be a fun one. Much like the one that Kav had when the Geese built their nest in his boat a few years back.
Love the foxes! All I got in my back yard is snow and junk -
He's not junk! He's a loving companion!
He just had a checkup yesterday. He's old and falling apart. LOL!
awww....we have somethiing in common, then. Me and the dog that is
You're a loving companion.
Not according to Mr Giggles....
Ummm...he probably just needs to get to know you better....or quit irritating you. LOL!
I can relate.
Call him any thing you want, just don't call him late for Happy Hour
What's In Your Backyard?
Lots and lots and LOTS of squirrels, a few raccoons, a possum or two, but the best is when this Great Horned Owl decides to visit our big oak at night and talks for a few. The conversation he/she is having with the distant "Hooting" we hear is mesmerizing at times. I just sit on the porch and listen.
We've also been getting a Red-Tailed Hawk that's starting to show up in our yard alot. I have a feeling the few mice we've seen running around the shed have something to do with that new appearance.