The Red Fox
The Red Fox is a mammal. It is a member of the canine family. It is related to dogs, coyotes and wolves. The Red Fox depends on its keen senses of sight, hearing and especially smell to find food. It is a very sly creature.
Imagine that you are a Daddy Red Fox. You have a luxurious reddish- brown coat of long fur that keeps you warm in the cold winter months. You have a pointed snout and rounded but also pointy ears. Your long thick white-tipped tail follows you wherever you go. Your slender legs have black “stockings”. Your paws have sharp claws. You have sharp teeth. You look like you’re really smart … because you are!
You are sleek in appearance. You are stealthy and graceful in your movements. As you wander about, your senses are all attuned to every sight, the softest sound, the faintest smell, and the slightest movement. You are at your cautious best. You have to be. You are searching for food.
Suddenly you spot a red pine squirrel. You know that the squirrel is smart, attentive and quick. If he runs up a tree he will be out of your reach. And so you use all your wily skills to sneak up on the squirrel and you corner him. After a few minutes of “cat and mouse” you pounce and the squirrel is yours! You carry him home, delicately but firmly grasping him with your teeth, as you proudly return to your den to feed your family.
When Mommy Red Fox sees you she starts to wag her bushy tail and then she gives you a quick sharp little bark. That’s her way of saying: “Welcome home! Good job honey!”. You proudly lay the squirrel at her feet for her approval. She nuzzles you, as a show of affection and appreciation. She picks up the squirrel and calls the pups to come out of the den to feed. Once they’ve eaten the pups will come out of the den to play and frolic in the sun. When they get tired they will lie down with Mommy and Daddy to curl up together and have a snooze in the warm sunshine.
Red Foxes are quite sociable. NatureMan has been lucky to have several Red Foxes become his friends over the years. They are not afraid of NatureMan because they have become accustomed to seeing him and have learned that he will not harm them.
