Earlier in the year I posted a picture of the fox peeking through our garden fence and she’s been a fairly regular garden visitor ever since. When I first got a good look at her she seemed quite sleek and almost plump but more recently has seemed thinner, and thinking perhaps that food might be a bit scarce I’ve been offering her a meal whenever she turns up – she seems particularly fond of leerdammer cheese 🙂
She mostly visits after dark, but for the last few weeks she has been arriving earlier in the evening and sometimes in the early morning too (much to the disgust of the chickens). When she arrives in the garden I open the back door and throw a little food then stand very still and as a result she has come to tolerate me being there, only a few feet away – though always with a watchful and suspicious eye on me as she eats and tensed like a coiled spring ready to run if I make any sudden moves. I’ve no wish to tame or inhibit that wild instinct, it is a well honed survival mechanism and she needs it, but I will offer a small meal now and then to share the privilege of her company.
This morning she visited early and was content for me to take some pictures and while editing them on the computer just now I had a light-bulb moment. Can you see what was spotted in the last blurry picture there? The outline of swollen teats on her belly is a giveaway sign that she’s was fatter and then thinner because she’s just had a litter of cubs!
I’m under no illusion though about why she visits – she’s very clearly focused on the plump and juicy feathered meals strutting up and down my chicken run. But if she’s thrown a little food she graciously leaves them alone for the rest of the day and the chickens remain safe, though unsettled. They only get to forage under supervision now and the rest of the time are safely enclosed in the brilliant chicken run that H built – still predator proof after 10 years. There are definite signs though that the chickens are not happy about the interloper – I’d call this a protest wouldn’t you? …
We also have a lot of small garden birds visiting our little patch at the moment and on occasion larger ones too – I’ve had the pleasure of seeing this heron ungainly balanced on the roof opposite – I think one of my neighbours has a pond that he’s eyeing up. It is such a privilege to have wild creatures as a regular garden visitors and I’m hoping that in a month or so that the fox might bring her little ones along to frolic on the grass – I’ll try and have my camera ready if she does 🙂
Well, I have had a nature filled week and am off to fill my weekend with knitting. Hope you have something nice in store for your weekend x
little cotton rabbits 
Wonderful photos, I do hope you get to see her cubs. We have blue tits in the nest box this year which is lovely, I have been watching them flying in and out all day with an endless supply of caterpillars. As you say, it’s such a privilege to see wild creatures. I hope you have a good weekend. CJ xx
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She is a lovely fox, I feel bad because foxes are hated here by the older farmers, I’ve always loved watching and painting foxes, I noticed her teats and I thought she had probably had her pups close. Such beautiful photos! When your post came up on my blog reader. I was expecting knitted foxes lol
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I love your photos. They make me happy. All I get visiting my garden are birds and squirrels. What a beautiful animal. So glad your chickens are safe though.
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wonderful pictures of that pretty fox, no doubt she is a mama! I bet her littel kits are tucked into a den and hopefully soon she will bring them along… but also hopefully that your chickens stay safe!
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I love your photography and always look forward to your posts. How wonderful that you helped a “fellow” mother with Mother’s Day coming soon. Good for you—everything needs a little help now and then.
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We have been feeding foxes in our garden,every night for the past 3 years! We have a trail camera that we put out each night to watch their comings and goings!The food goes out at 10 pm and within less than a minute they start arriving to feed,they are obviously creatures of habit, We are now feeding 2 vixens that take chicken away for their cubs,2 grown males and 3 of last years cubs, They are all remarkably tolerant of each other although the 2 vixens do seem to be the dominant ones and the others wait until they have finished feeding! Although they can see us moving about indoors they will soon run into the bushes if we go too near to the windows!
It’s a wonderful site each night and even more amazing that they all jump a 6 foot fence to get into the garden….although my husband did cut a hole in the fence aa he didn’t want the pregnant vixens scaling the fence,hope they use it!
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How lovely having that fox visit 😀😀 And I also look forward to seeing her cubs xo
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Lovely pics ! Tank you !
But believe me, pay attention when you’ll have vegetables and fruits.
Very often, those little animals are sick.
Where I live, we cannot eat our strawberries when some small deers or foxes visit our kitchen garden. We put in a fence.
Yet it is a privilege, a chance to see these animals so close to our home without any fear.
I never tire of admiring deers’ grace !
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I’m feeding the foxes Julie, but with a very different meal…. I’m sure you know what! xx
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Your photos are always a breath of fresh air, Julie. I enjoy them so much that I usually forward them to several non-knitters. Sometimes your pics are like having a new episode of Midsummer Murders to watch 🙂
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How wonderful. I hope she brings her cubs to visit too.
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It’s always a privilege to get that close to nature … she is so beautiful. I do hope you get to meet her babies, she obviously trusts you so fingers crossed!
V x
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Thank you for the stunning photos on this Mother’s Day!
She is breathtaking.
Enjoy your day with family,
Mary Kate
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Our local foxes just had a litter of kits as well. There is a local business that feeds them and therefore keeps them at the other end of the road. Late at night, if you are lucky, you can see the little kits running across the road after having eaten their nighttime snack (at the local business). Like you, I know that those foxes are running around our land and would like to make a tasty meal out of our birds. But they are beautiful creatures and those kits are oh-so-cute!
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I have completed my first naked mini rabbit. Thank you the pattern is so clear and detailed it has enabled me to make a very creditable rabbit. Next a dressed one, then a bear and then and then a proper cotton rabbit and the ultimate an elephant! Thank you .
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What a special treat! Here in America foxes may carry rabies so a close sighting is rather scary. I live in the middle of town and there has been such an extreme amount of growth that I am now seeing them where I live! Last night I saw two raccons across the street from my house. I initially thought there was a small dog running around lost because of the barking type noise that I heard but it was raccons.
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Oh how wonderful! I just love your little fox! Have you given her a name yet? I certainly hope she will proudly show off her little family soon so we can all admire them! Also I have finally made my first bunny from your pattern! I am so pleased with myself and I cannot wait to make a mouse next! But I may have to make your fox pattern very soon!
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Oh, you lucky girl! I saw a fox dart through my yard early one morning years ago — how I would have loved to have seen it more regularly. And how quick-eyed you are to spot her nursing status — I sure hope she’ll come visit with her babies. I know you’ll keep the girls safe too!
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