Scribble Picnic - Fox

Wildlife in the garden brings mixed feelings. Of course seeing beautiful animals

 and knowing they actually like coming to your residence is often exciting, BUT
 can also be annoying when they devour plants and perhaps put domestic pets
 in danger. . . . . . . .and downright scary when you suddenly have that feeling
 something is watching you from the bushes when you're on your knees weeding!

For several years we've had grey foxes come through the garden, more recently

 just passing through on the way from the wooded area across from the cottage

 to wherever they go in the neighborhood. However, for three years in a row they came

  to give birth and raise families! There were always five kits in each litter, born twice

 under my neighbor's shed which backs up to my potting shed, and once even

 under our gazebo which was such a surprise being a very shallow space.
How the mother got under and produced five babies who crawled out several times
a day (these are just two of them) to eat and play, will always remain a mystery to us.

Fox kits on my deck - May 2011
Photo edited via PicMonkey - colored with watercolor pencils.

Fox kits reach full size by six months so move on from a garden within a couple
 of months once the parents have taught them how to find their own food.

During that time in the garden the parents would visit, nurse, feed, and even
 have a noon playtime around my potting shed which was awesome to watch.

Although we've enjoyed watching the little foxes we are always cautious when

they're in the garden. Foxes can carry rabies here in North Carolina and people 

have been bitten in their back yards. . . . . . . needless to say we always keep our 

distance.

This is an excellent article if you're interested learning more about the fox.

Be sure to visit Michael's weekly Scribble Picnic HERE today - I'm looking forward

 to seeing what our creative participants come up with for his FOX theme today.