Fox kit time is so much fun, but this year there were all sorts of interruptions and differences. The first difference was the number of unleashed dogs in my neighborhood. As a result, the kits were kept away, rotated in small groups, and now only one, or maybe a couple, reside under my deck. The second difference was my own unavailability due to losing my job and needing to network and apply for jobs rather than spending my time photographing wildlife after school.
On the bright side, I had a recent amazing weekend with all six kits in residence. Even better, it was over the Memorial Day holiday, and I had photographer friends visiting who got to share in the fun of observing and photographing the fox family.
That weekend was so much fun that we spent very little time enjoying the out-of-doors on my backyard deck. Instead, we were holed up at the windows in a sort of blind situation, watching the coming and going of babysitter yearlings, Mama, Papa, and lots of puppy personalities.
I hope you enjoy the photos of our “Kit Enkounters”!
The kits are nearly as big as their babysitter, yearling sister, “Sadie”.
“Kit Antics”
Yearling sister, “Goldie,” babysitting from a distance.
Our favorite kit quickly became the small, but brave littlest girl. She was very tame, like her mother, “Foxie,” and she could tell off those kits much bigger than she.
Playing “tug-o-war” with a magpie that was brought for food, and as a play-toy. Kind of gross to our eyes, but well within the realm of “being a fox”.
The little girl, and one of the much bigger kits sitting side-by-side on the rock wall.
This is the “kit left behind”, and I thank Foxie and Papa every day for allowing me to see and enjoy this one kit at my window!
The kit who seems to have stayed behind , perhaps alone, or perhaps with another of the shyer of the group. The rest of the litter was taken to other hideouts around the neighborhood. This boy/girl is sweet, and I am so glad he’s still here……but I hope the entire brood has one time together under my deck before the summer is over.
