Posted by It is gardening season here. The flowers are coming out. However, sometimes even before the flowers bloom, that my wife worked so hard for, they are eaten already by the wild rabbits that run rampant in our yard. Thus, it is understandable my wife hates rabbits. I know rabbits can look so cute, but for her they are a pest. She called them “Brutus.”
Yet recently, my wife have noticed that there are not much rabbits in our yard anymore. This morning we found out why.
Meet my wife’s new friend.
Yes, that is a red fox. Scientific name: Vulpes vulpes.
The red fox is the largest of all the fox species in the world, standing about 16 inches tall and between 17 inches and 35 inches long and weighing up to 30 pounds. They can be great triathletes as they can run up to 31 mph, jump over 6 ft high fences, and they can even swim. Their bushy tail can be over half of its body length.
Foxes are expert hunters; and even though they have a diverse diet including berries and fruits, they would feast on rodents and rabbits. That’s what my wife appreciate them for.
Until an eagle or a coyote hunt down this fox, or another neighbor shoots him or drives him away, we are keeping him as our yard pet.
Should we name him Popeye, the hero against Brutus?
**********
(*photos taken with an iPhone)
All our bunnies are dead. We saw them at night and the next morning, all that’s left are bits of fur everywhere.. 😭
Sorry to hear that. Who or what killed them? Fox? Hawk? Owl? Neighbor’s dog?
I ❤️ Vulpes vulpes.. We have three visiting us every night! One actually comes quite close to take a chicken wing from my hand! Sadly demonised. Tsk, people talaga..
Oh wow.