@Ingrid: They might be something like the foxes around Cape Girardeau, MO (my hometown); so used to people that they’re not very shy. They are known to sometimes carry rabies, so I certainly wouldn’t push my luck with one.
I was driving through the west side “suburbs” (very leafy and woody area with lots of critters) a while back and saw a mama red fox watching its kits play on the spacious front lawn of a mcmansion. My car passed within twenty feet or so and, other than following me with a suspicious gaze, she didn’t seem to be concerned.
Great shot of a lovely subject. Recently I read some research supporting the idea that fox had been semi-domesticated long ago. They certainly become comfortable around people if treated with respect and kindness.
@Ingrid (and others), they are not tame, but they are not very scared of humans either. This was on a railway embankment overlooking some allotments, and they are quite happy to sit up there and watch what is going on around them.
We don’t have rabies in England, so at least you don’t have to worry about that.
British urban foxes aren’t very scared of h7mans. I live in a city near a railway station, and sometimes see a fox walking down the street at night (probably from the railway embankment)
William and Chris – interesting, I didn’t know they could be half-tame; I only know foxes as being wild. This one is really a beautiful creature! It must be really interesting to be able to observe what they do (I’ve only seen them in woods running away as fast as they could).
While living in Beirut Kim Philby bought a female kit from an ailing old man. She was taught to use the toilet and adapted well to apartment life. Philby wrote an article about her, “The Fox That Came to Stayâ€. She died untimely after falling off the balcony ledge. (Since she could balance on it quite well suspicion fell on the maid, who didn’t like her.)
{ 15 comments }
jsrtheta 01.16.22 at 4:01 pm
Great shot. Where did you take this?
Ingrid 01.16.22 at 4:08 pm
Someone’s looking at you, Chris…
Pretty amazing that the Fox didn’t immediately ran away when it saw you.
At what distance were you standing?
Alan White 01.16.22 at 4:32 pm
Another great entry in your fox series!
Donald A Coffin 01.16.22 at 7:30 pm
How close were you able to get? That is a terrific photo.
William S. Berry 01.16.22 at 9:09 pm
@Ingrid: They might be something like the foxes around Cape Girardeau, MO (my hometown); so used to people that they’re not very shy. They are known to sometimes carry rabies, so I certainly wouldn’t push my luck with one.
I was driving through the west side “suburbs” (very leafy and woody area with lots of critters) a while back and saw a mama red fox watching its kits play on the spacious front lawn of a mcmansion. My car passed within twenty feet or so and, other than following me with a suspicious gaze, she didn’t seem to be concerned.
notGoodenough 01.16.22 at 9:35 pm
This is the sort of Fox News everyone can enjoy…
Thanks for sharing!
Dr. Hilarius 01.16.22 at 10:35 pm
Great shot of a lovely subject. Recently I read some research supporting the idea that fox had been semi-domesticated long ago. They certainly become comfortable around people if treated with respect and kindness.
Eszter Hargittai 01.17.22 at 2:00 am
Wonderful!
Chris Bertram 01.17.22 at 8:25 am
@Ingrid (and others), they are not tame, but they are not very scared of humans either. This was on a railway embankment overlooking some allotments, and they are quite happy to sit up there and watch what is going on around them.
SusanC 01.17.22 at 9:53 am
We don’t have rabies in England, so at least you don’t have to worry about that.
British urban foxes aren’t very scared of h7mans. I live in a city near a railway station, and sometimes see a fox walking down the street at night (probably from the railway embankment)
Ingrid Robeyns 01.18.22 at 10:47 pm
William and Chris – interesting, I didn’t know they could be half-tame; I only know foxes as being wild. This one is really a beautiful creature! It must be really interesting to be able to observe what they do (I’ve only seen them in woods running away as fast as they could).
JRLRC 01.19.22 at 12:42 am
Great shot!
notGoodenough 01.19.22 at 12:25 pm
Ingrid @ 11
While it isn’t quite the same, and perhaps you are already aware of it, I just thought I’d mention the reports on domestication of silver foxes:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domesticated_silver_fox
As it is a bit outside my field I can’t comment, but I remember hearing about it a while ago and filing it under “huh, sounds interesting”…
Ingrid Robeyns 01.20.22 at 9:23 am
notGoodenough @13 – hahaha, this is interesting indeed – never heard of this!
Suzanne 01.20.22 at 9:43 pm
While living in Beirut Kim Philby bought a female kit from an ailing old man. She was taught to use the toilet and adapted well to apartment life. Philby wrote an article about her, “The Fox That Came to Stayâ€. She died untimely after falling off the balcony ledge. (Since she could balance on it quite well suspicion fell on the maid, who didn’t like her.)
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