Tundra Winds Images by Donna's photostream  

Papa is such a sweet father fox. He has played with, babysat for, and brought food to three generations of foxes I've entertained at my window. Last summer he was hurt in what looked to be a gun shot wound. This fall he has not been around much, but sometimes I've seen him with Foxie in the evenings. He has slowed down, and doesn't jump onto my deck any more. Always wary, he seemed to keep Mama's trusting nature neutralized in the younger generations. I have so enjoyed this wonderful Papa Fox. What will happen in the upcoming mating season is anyone's guess.

For some time a fox has lurked around the edges of my known fox family. I mostly see him when Sadie is around, but always nearly mistake him for Mama Foxie, until I see his wary behavior. Foxie is never like that! He is a larger, male version of Foxie, and a real new situation for me and my foxes (I have lived here nearly 4 years and have known Papa to be the only male fox on the territory. Two years ago Audie stayed on until October, when Papa "encouraged" him out). I've never seen another male this long after the litters have grown. I am certain this is the single male pup that Mama nursed & brought up. I am quite certain Sadie and the other three are siblings are out of Bashful (one of Foxie's daughters). I am fairly certain Papa is the father of them all since he babysat them, brought them food and played with them all. This is like untangling a soap opera, but I am fairly sure I have it worked out. The next question is: how is Papa? I have not seen him since before Thanksgiving, and while he was no longer limping from what looked like a shot wound from last summer, he didn't jump onto my deck. I wonder if Mystry, as I am now calling him, will be the next patriarch......or if there will be a nasty encounter during the fox mating season, which begins later this month....(I doubt that would bode well for Papa).

It remains to be seen if "Mystry" will be the next papa on the territory.....mating with the younger girls? I am not sure of how inbred foxes are within their territory, but it looks as though I am learning about it. This shot of Foxie & Papa's son, who has been a lurking "mystery," was taken this afternoon as snow was falling.

She is passing along the animal trail at the back of my property. Giving me the eye as I photograph from my back deck.

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Sadie passes through on the animal trail the deer and elk follow along the back of my property, giving me "the eye".

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