Project Black Take Eight: As Black as the Inside of a Fox's Den

A neighbour dropped by the other day to tell me that there was a Red Fox with two kits in an old groundhog burrow down by the railroad tracks. It was just a short distance away so we went to have a look. We were curious for he had said he had seen the kits around the den opening.
We went down by the tracks and located the den site. We didn't see any Fox or young kits playing outside around the den. After I was back home, downloading the pictures, words kept running through my head like " sly, crafty, wily "; and then on a hunch I zoomed in really close to the fox hole in one of my photos and lightened up the area. There it was!! Looking out at us from inside its den!

So, that would explain the several fox sightings I have been seeing lately! Earlier this week I had met the fox while walking down the tracks. It had been on the other side of the railroad bridge with a Crow in its mouth and it seemed to want to come across the bridge towards me but hesitated, changed its mind, and then ran away down the tracks and off into the brush at its side. I understand now that I had been between it and its young kits. It also explained the reason why the Fox kept running in the same direction diagonally parallel towards me the other evening as I watched it crossing through an open area down by the river. Its behaviour had kind of puzzled me as I knew it knew I was there as I stood on the hillside above the flat by the river. I realize now I had been standing only a few meters above its den.Well now, Mama Fox, don't worry about me. Now that I understand the situation I won't worry you any more and I'll make sure I keep my distance away from your precious young.

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If you would like to know more about Project Black you can check it out at Anna's blog by clicking right HERE. You can also find lots of other interesting Project Black postings there too.