GDG- OT: Red Fox

[Margaret D. Blough]

Peggy,

The critical thing is that they are either keeping a wary distance or fleeing if humans approach too closely.  I grew up in the country, and our property is heavily wooded.  Our parents let us explore pretty freely but one thing we were taught was that keeping a wary distance or fleeing was the normal response of a healthy wild animal.  If the animal just stood there as you got closer, and, even worse, if it seemed to be shivering, stay as far away as possible since it all to often meant a sick animal, and, in any mammal in the wild, rabies was all too strong a possibility.  We weren't taught to be terrified of it or of wild animals, but to treat it like as a risk that could be avoided by acting sensibly.

Regards,

Margaret

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Peggy Rock" <mrock at embarqmail.com> 

> Esteemed GDG Member Contributes: 
> 
> 
> In the last six months, I have seen foxes near Doubleday Ave. and on Culp's 
> Hill and they have seemed quite unafraid -- just keeping their distance and 
> watching us as much as we were watching them. 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Chuck Teague" 
> To: "GDG" 
> Sent: Saturday, April 19, 2008 11:24 PM 
> Subject: Re: GDG- OT: Red Fox 
> 
> 
> > Esteemed GDG Member Contributes: 
> > 
> > 
> > Foxes have lived on GNMP for some time. There was even an albino fox that 
> > roamed in the southern portion of the park for several years, and may 
> > still 
> > be out there. A couple weeks ago I was alone near the Codori Trostle 
> > Thicket 
> > when I spotted one approaching about 60 yards away. I remained still as it 
> > meandered closer, sniffing here and there, urinating, and observing the 
> > ground. When it got within 25 yards it spotted me and bounded suddenly off 
> > into the distance. 
> > 
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