Author: John Pictrona

This (female I think) coyote came through this morning. Looking healthy!

Red Tailed Hawk

 

A male mallard duck fly by.

Pair of swans fly by.

Turkeys on riverbank.

Blue winged teal drake.

Sandhill Crane.

Gray squirrel.

 

Here are some video captures of momma and babies.

There are eight kits to feed. Kits are nursed and fed regurgitated food in their first days and weeks, then small animals are introduced. The first sightings of these kits appears to be 3 to 4 weeks old.

Both the mother and father hunt, but mostly the male will provide food. If food is scarce, both will hunt. In this case, it appears two females have shared this den. I see many deliveries of mice, rabbits, groundhogs, and other unidentifiable “lumps” carried in every day. When they get to the den entrance, they will drop the meal and make some high pitched squeals to inform the kits to come and eat.

Red fox will capture and store food in their dens and burying it.  Kits learn to find food buried in the dirt near the den.

Red fox home range varies. There was another fox family in a den within 200 yards of this den. It isn’t inhabited this year. I’ve read that fox have up to 15 mile ranges. I think that depends a lot on the local resources. These fox live along a river, where there are plentiful resources.

 

It appears that two females shared a den – I’ve counted eight kits so far.

What appears to be a family of fox consisting of a male and two (siblings?) females have a den near a swamp. I’ve been watching them bring food for a few weeks. Here’s some video of the new babies. Red fox mate for life.

A family of river otters showed up Jan 16th. There were four that I counted, being harassed by a young eagle who was interested in getting their fish. Only got a couple of okay photos before they swam up river.

Pilleated Woodpecker

 

Chipmunk

Blue Jay

 

This mama deer had her twin fawns in the misty river this morning.

Acorns! Groundhog eating acorns off ground.

 

Humming bird at the feeder.