On The Pond Farm: fox

Showing posts with label fox. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

I think I'm Down A Chicken (with Update)

I came home from an appointment this morning to see this in the yard.

I drove the truck up to the pond to see if I could see anything from there, but no.

Two head counts of the hens, only came up to seven.

Not looking good.

The fox? A hawk? Stray dog? Hmm!

UPDATE:

Four hours later, after calling the hens and feeding them bread twice(a treat usually reserved for the fish), we were back to eight hens. I finally saw Number Eight hiding under a bush. I think she was roosting in the large juniper on the island, recovering from perhaps being attacked. I can't say I see any signs of injury, but those feathers hide a lot.

I guess the other hens talked her back down! It was too nice a day to hide, and not come out and play, now that I was around to protect them!

All's well here on the farm!
G'Night!

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Red Fox Sighting (Its Been A While)

The dog and cats and I had just come down from a nice walk, after checking on the goats by the pond.

I had my camera in hand looking for more fall loveliness, when I thought I saw a neighbor's cat on the newly mowed hill.

The gang followed me back for a better look, as I saw a bit of red, and we don't know any red cats.

Yes. Of course. It was a fox.

It watched us as we got closer, and Jock couldn't see over the remaining tall hay to think about giving chase. I said "fox", and he knows the word, and his ears went up. He scanned the hill, but the fox started to move before we got much further.

Here is the clip of him going back up the hill toward the woods.

And you are thinking I am mean to want Jock to give chase. Not true. I am protecting my hens. I don't think the fox would bother the goats unless it was kidding season. I just want the fox to stay on his half of the farm, and let me have my half.

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Mt. Rainier National Park - The Green and Mean Side

We were lucky to have a sunny weekday to explore. Plan to avoid the week-ends if you can.

From the Mt. Rainier National Park site:

The current snowline is around 5000 feet. Due to heavy snowfall this past winter (2010-2011), melt-out is not expected until sometime in August.

For this reason we did not get to hike the meadows, but there was still plenty to do and see. Amazingly, flowers were blooming heartily next to the piles of snow along the roads and trails.