Friday, May 27, 2011

Guess who's moved in......................



Not snowing today - just using this photo from last December for want of a current one showing the gazebo from this angle!  Away from home for the past couple of weeks, the garden continued to grow during warm and wet days. The blanket of white is now many shades of brilliant green, the shrubs and grass are in desperate need of mowing and trimming, and general cleanup is calling...................this weekend requires many hours of gardening in oppressive heat and humidity.

HOWEVER............................

Look whom we've discovered living under the gazebo!
  

Mama grey fox apparently gave birth here, perhaps a month or so ago from the size and activity of her offspring.  Yesterday was quite a shock when four of the cutest kits crept out from their den at the base of the gazebo and starting playing on the deck.

  
Then Mama appeared, at first sitting off to the side watching them, then joining in, walking across the deck - unfortunately I didn't get a pic of them all together as I was so excited trying to shoot through the blinds without disturbing them - and then taking them into the garden to play.


This is some homecoming!  We had two litters a few years ago under our neighbor's shed, but never this close to our house.  We will be a little wary when outside and will follow the guidelines for dealing with wildlife living in such close proximity.  In order to have them removed a permit has to be granted by North Carolina Wildlife, something we may not bother with as this family should disperse within the next month.


Just a Nature break I had to share..........I'll be back with more stories and photos from my UK trip very soon.

13 comments:

  1. What a Joy to have them! I read how in Russia
    Dmitry Konstantinovich Belyaev thru years of breeding for a less vicious fox for fox farms in Russia discovered the changes of the foxes coat colour and how they became tame. Wouldnt that be something to own one if it were ever possible?! ox

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  2. WOW, Mary what a surprise is right!! They are cute! I'm glad you will be wary because if Mama Fox feels that her babies are threatened things could turn very nasty quickly. Thanks for sharing!

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  3. I have a rather ambivalent attitude I am afraid, having just read John Gray's blog in which a fox sneaked in during the night and snatched his hen off her chicks! However, I have to say that they are very beautiful and you will get hours of pleasure watching them grow up. Just hope none of your neighbours have hens or ducks.

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  4. Oh my goodness! They are the cutest, but would not be welcome here with my chickens! So I'll enjoy looking at yours....great photos!
    Take Care,
    Ulrike

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  5. What sweet faces they have...though I do know they are wild creatures and must be treated as such. They certainly are beautiful. I would fear for the cats in the neighborhood though....

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  6. Just lovely dear! I'm so glad I was able to see them while visiting you yesterday. It was a fabulous day! Everything was perfect! Thank you dear! Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow! Love, Vanessa

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  7. Mary, you got some amazing shots considering you were in the house peeking through the blinds. ;-)
    We have fox families who live in our neighborhood as well. They are fun to observe when one gets the opportunity.
    Glad you are safely home. I look forward to more photos of the trip. ~ Sarah

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  8. O Mary, what a wonderful home coming.
    Great pics - keep 'em coming.
    BTW, I aim to be back on Pink Saturday tomorrow so please give me a mention if you can.
    Our pond was almost empty today - a leak on the new filter. Thank goodness I found it when I did but we have had to pipe in tap water as the butts were almost dry. Still no rain and things looking desperate.

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  9. That certainly is a homecoming. How sweet they look!

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  10. What a delightful homecoming. They are precious!

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  11. Wildlife is just sometimes a little too wild - and a little too close!

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  12. Hi Mary Sweetie...
    I have so missed you. Through luck I found you again. My darn dashboard was stolen from Blogger over 5 months ago. It just did not come back. Out of the blue it appeared today, and I am trying to reach out and touch my friends again. I have missed visiting you.

    I see you have been traveling as well. I love seeing your beautiful photos and the wonderful places your feet walk. So beautiful sweet friend.

    How exciting to be so close to nature and have a dear family of foxes, though like you said you must be careful. Momma's are quite protective of their young. I am so tickled you were able to get photos to share today. I love it sweetie.

    Many hugs sweetie and so much love, Sherry

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