Pregnant Gray Fox on the porch (DIALUP WARNING!)

[bertha katzenengel]

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Wow! Great pics!! Did she run after that last shot looking at you?

What is she eating...where do you buy fox kibble...hahahahhaha?
That is just so great!! Hope you get to see the little babies.
EDIT: You must live in a wonderful place to be able to get such cool creatures to come up on your porch for nourishment.

[bertha katzenengel]

9. Nope, didn't run. She's eating cat food.

We are very lucky! Semi-rural Southern Maryland. :hi:

[BrklynLiberal]

16. You must be giving off some great vibes for her to stick around.

[MuseRider]

2. She is one lucky fox

to have you there to assure that she has enough food to deliver healthy babies!

Great pictures. You must tell me how you are able to get these shots so that when I get moved and set up my feeding station I can do it too.

You are WAY cool Ms. Bertha, way cool and I love your pictures.

[bertha katzenengel]

10. My trick: be inside.

;) These were shot through the window.

:hug: TY, M.

[MuseRider]

20. Ahhhh

I guess my "I don't do windows" will have to end then. :)

[RebelOne]

It will be interesting to see if she brings her babies

with her. Make sure you get lots of pics if she does.

[Jara sang]

3. Don't feed her human or dog food.

Don't feed her human or dog food. It is not good for them. It habituates them to eating human food, plus their systems aren't set up for it. You will end up doing her more damage than good.:hi:

[bertha katzenengel]

12. I can't help it. The food is there for the cats.

And I'm pretty sure she won't get used to it. She's very skittish. And she's wild! I heard something becoming dinner last night; I have no doubt that all the wildlife out here is getting plenty to eat that's not coming from me. :hi:

[Lorien]

18. No worries

in Britain and in much of the US, many foxes are urban and eat what raccoons and possums eat-garbage. They're omnivores, so they're systems can handle a lot (foxes are one of my favorite critters-got about a dozen books on them here).

She's a beauty! Hope she brings the kits by someday! :hi:

[Jara sang]

32. That is not true.

When the fox becomes used to humans she will be put in danger, just by her shear proximity to humans. Bertha is "being nice" feeding it, however her neighbor might think of foxes as pests and when the fox goes begging for food there. KABLAMO! Plus processed food for a fox is absolutely not good for it. No lie, it's hair will start to fall out soon. I've seen it many times.

[Lorien]

34. There is almost no place in America that the fox

can go where human sources of food won't be available to it. Provide some documentation for this "hair falling out due to process food" syndrome. I don't have a single book on my shelf that mentions such a phenomenon. Bertha isn't trying to tame the fox, either-she's photographing it from indoors. What would you have her do-starve her cats?

[Jara sang]

36. Never feed wild animals.

http://www.lnt.org/programs/lnt7/

Respect Wildlife

Never feed animals. Feeding wildlife damages their health, alters natural behaviors, and exposes them to predators and other dangers.


http://www.yellowstone-natl-park.com/wildlife.htm

Do Not Feed Wildlife
Feeding attracts animals to roadside areas where they can be injured or killed.
Feeding creates habituated animals - more likely to be a danger to people.
Conflict often results in the death of the animal.
Feeding leads to eating garbage.
Animals eat wrappers, cans, and bottle caps, destroying their digestive systems.
Eating human foods can cause, among other things, tooth decay, gum infections and ulcers in animals.

[mike_c]

4. that is just awesome...!

Wow-- great pics, Bertha. I have regular visits from skunks and raccoons, and heard a fox one night that the neighbors saw, but I've never seen it. Looks like mama fox is enjoying your cat bowl.

[bertha katzenengel]

17. 'Til I moved out here I'd never seen fox, raccoon, not even squirrels.

I'm a beach city girl. I consider myself very, very lucky.

[kedrys]

5. Wow! She's beautiful!

How long does a fox pregnancy take? She looks like she's fairly close to downloading...

[bertha katzenengel]

13. Good question, so I looked it up: 53 days.

You're right, she looks about ready. :hi:

[kedrys]

25. About 10 days shorter than a kitty pregnancy then

Hope she brings the kits by long enough for you to take pictures! :hi:

[shesemsmom]

6. WOW

how did you get that close to her. She looks quite at home there, thanks for sharing

[bertha katzenengel]

14. I shot the pics through the window. No sneakiness here. Just no quick

moves, and make no noise. :hi:

[shesemsmom]

21. Well thanks for sharing

you are lucky to have some of nature to share with YOU:hi:

[kenny blankenship]

7. Very cool

Looks like she let you get very close to her. I know from trying that you can't sneak up on them.

[Blue Diadem]

8. Awwwwwww..

She's beautiful. Looks like she knows you won't hurt her and it's safe to eat at your place.

We see them around here occasionally, never up close though. Last one I saw came out of the corn field down the road and just sat there.

[auntAgonist]

11. Were you able to

get that close or did you use a zoom? Either way those are awesome shots! I hope you get some photos of the young'uns when they arrive. I think wildlife must sense that yours is a safe and caring haven for them.

thank you for sharing.

[bertha katzenengel]

15. I hope I can shoot the pups too, but I hope she doesn't bring them up for

cat food. I don't want wild animal babies to think of what we put out for the cats as a reliable source of food for themselves.

[Misunderestimator]

19. How sweeet!

I hope you'll be able to catch the babies on film too.

[katmondoo]

22. I have one too in my backyard in Central Florida

I do not know if it is pregnant but it was a surprise to see her in my front yard. She scooted across the street when she saw me. I think it must be because her habitant is shrinking. I only hope my rebel neighbors do not shoot her. They love hunting.

[fortyfeetunder]

23. Wow, she is loaded!

She was probably coming in for one last feed before going into the den for a while.

[bahrbearian]

24. Way Cool !

[LosinIt]

26. Hate to put a damper on this, but please be careful

it's not normal behavior for wild animals to be so close to humans. Also, I think that foxes are nocturnal animals. Just be careful that she's not rabid. She does look pretty healthy though. Hopefully, she is just hungry and likes catfood. And you're right, she certainly IS pregnant. Maybe you will be able to get some good shots of the kits.

[bertha katzenengel]

28. I appreciate that. This is the second year she's come to us.

I think she's okay. I posted a few pics of her last year, too. At least I think it's the same fox. :hi:

[Lars39]

27. My dad almost lost his cat to a fox a few weeks ago.

Fox considers cats good eats if they catch them. :(

[bertha katzenengel]

29. I think my kitties will be okay. They've shared the porch with her on

many occasions. :hi:

[Lars39]

31. I think it was a male fox that went after his cat.

Kits will be taught to hunt and kill something, though. :scared:

[Lorien]

35. Coyotes kill cats, not foxes

foxes are generally the same size has most domestic cats; they simply wouldn't risk such a venture unless they were rabid.

Trying to drive off the cat to protect it's kits, on the other hand...

[Zuni]

30. what a gorgeous animal!!

I saw you said that the cats and the fox get along. That is neat.

This fox is a very beautiful animal...just be careful.
:hi:

[bigwillq]

33. How beautiful!

You capture the best pics of animals in action!:yourock:

[FizzFuzz]

37. Is this FOX news?

it sure beats the one on teeeeveee


(should I be whacked for making such a bad joke?)

hope her little foxies are all fine and they have a nice safe place to grow up

:D

[Beware the Beast Man]

38. Wow, she's back!

And again, great pics, bertha.
We onlt get skunks here in the 'burbs :cry:

[KittyWampus]

39. Fox In Daylight Near Humans Not Good. May Have Rabies Or Disease

healthy fox wouldn't be seen.

Take care to avoid and protect your cats.

[RobinA]

40. Tell That To

the red fox in my backyard trying to feast on my chickens. Chased one of them right across the porch the other day. Sits on the other side of our creek on a little rise scoping the place out. First saw it last fall, if it had rabies it would be dead by now. Got a chicken then in broad daylight. Simply going where and when the food is.