Red Fox 001

This past Monday I looked out the window and saw a red fox under the bird feeder.

RedFox001

Red Fox 002

It was keeping an eye on the birds.

RedFox002

Red Fox 003

I knew it couldn’t reach the top of the feeder so I was curious what it was going to do.

RedFox003

Red Fox 004

All of a sudden its ears perk up and it hears something. It plunges into the snow but comes up empty handed. The fox moves to the other side of the feeder and slowly steps around a tree like a cat stalking its prey. Every step is slow and deliberate. It stomps into the snow again and uses its mouth to break apart the top crust of the snow. After getting the hard-icy snow out of the way it sticks it’s nose into the hole and sure enough comes up with a mouse.

RedFox004

Red Fox 005

All I can figure is that it smashed the one end of the mouse’s tunnel and then worked its way in on the other end till it got the mouse. It took some time so if that mouse had an open tunnel it would have been long gone.

RedFox005

Red Fox 006

It was fascinating to watch and I felt fortunate to see the fox in action. Unfortunately I didn't get photos of the fox with the mouse or eating it. The fox was to fast for me.

RedFox006