Mr. Handsome is back in his finest winter coat.
Oct 20, 2017 10:39:29 #
This is a male Gray fox that I have been feeding for 5 (almost 6) years, along with his mate. I had begun to worry that something had happened to him & his mate, because I hadn't seen either one in a couple of months, although, I have seen his off spring a few times. I was happy to see the whole family last night looking hale and hearty. His diet of soaked dog food and whole wheat bread must be agreeing with him. No ribs showing on this fellow. Get a load of that tail!
Oct 20, 2017 10:48:40 #
mas24
Loc: Southern CA
That's one handsome fox. He looks healthy, thanks to your feedings. Nice shot too.
Oct 20, 2017 10:52:54 #
cameranut wrote:
This is a male Gray fox that I have been feeding for 5 (almost 6) years, along with his mate. I had begun to worry that something had happened to him & his mate, because I hadn't seen either one in a couple of months, although, I have seen his off spring a few times. I was happy to see the whole family last night looking hale and hearty. His diet of soaked dog food and whole wheat bread must be agreeing with him. No ribs showing on this fellow. Get a load of that tail!
A fine image of a healthy looking fox.
Oct 20, 2017 10:58:35 #
cameranut wrote:
This is a male Gray fox that I have been feeding for 5 (almost 6) years, along with his mate. I had begun to worry that something had happened to him & his mate, because I hadn't seen either one in a couple of months, although, I have seen his off spring a few times. I was happy to see the whole family last night looking hale and hearty. His diet of soaked dog food and whole wheat bread must be agreeing with him. No ribs showing on this fellow. Get a load of that tail!
I kind of have mixed feelings about this. I understand both sides of the story about wanting to feed wildlife, but they are just that, wild. Nothing good in the long run usually comes from feeding wild animals. They get too used to humans and become dependent on them. Sometimes they end up biting someone or getting ran over since they are in close quarters with people or whatever. Nature can be cruel at times, but that is "Natural". Great looking animal and a great photograph as well. Just so people don't go off on me, I leave whatever a person does, to them. I don't condone nor condemn. Cheers.
Oct 20, 2017 10:59:58 #
mas24 wrote:
That's one handsome fox. He looks healthy, thanks to your feedings. Nice shot too.
Thank you mas24. I imagine he gets a few mice,voles, etc., but apparently, the part grain fed diet isn't hurting him.
This was taken well after sundown from over 150' with a high iso, so the quality is lacking somewhat.
Oct 20, 2017 11:02:51 #
photophile wrote:
A fine image of a healthy looking fox.
Thank you Karin for looking and commenting.
Oct 20, 2017 11:22:41 #
flathead27ford wrote:
I kind of have mixed feelings about this. I under... (show quote)
I understand, and I wouldn't want to do anything to hurt him or his family. These foxes are extremely wild and suspicious of humans. They have no idea that they are being photographed. I am in a blind from about 200' away. They reside on my property along with posted, bordering property that is over 60 acres of woods, and a long distance from any roads/traffic.
I would NEVER want them to become tame or accustomed to me or any human.
The male and his mate are over 6 years old. They were adults when I first started "seeing" them. It was another year so before before I got a camera and started photographing them. I don't know what the average lifespan is for foxes in the wild, but these may have exceeded that. I appreciate your concern and wish more people cared about wildlife in their natural state and not on a wall. Cheers, also.
Oct 20, 2017 11:24:17 #
Oct 20, 2017 12:30:45 #
flathead27ford wrote:
I kind of have mixed feelings about this. I under... (show quote)
You make them dependent on humans for food, and bring them into an environment where everybody may not be as thrilled having them in their backyard. Great picture, but practices are not healthy for the critters.
Oct 20, 2017 19:29:06 #
Oct 20, 2017 21:05:02 #
rgrenaderphoto wrote:
You make them dependent on humans for food, and bring them into an environment where everybody may not be as thrilled having them in their backyard. Great picture, but practices are not healthy for the critters.
Fortunately, this isn't the case. If it were true, then most of the wildlife we are familiar with today would cease to exist.
My next door neighbors are a pain in the posterior with their motorcycles, but they won't shoot the foxes.
There is an "old wive's tales" (it might be "old husbands") that started many, many years ago, that feeding wildlife would cause them to forget how to hunt and fend for themselves. This has long since been disproved. If you were to raise an animal from infancy to adulthood, then set it out to fend for itself, it would surely die from starvation or be caught by predators. These were adult foxes when I first saw them, so their instincts will never leave them. Their wild and suspicious nature will remain until they die from natural causes or disease. If someone were to shoot them, it wouldn't be because they were tame or trusting. They are extremely wild and skittish and they will remain so.
Oct 20, 2017 21:26:50 #
Oct 20, 2017 21:32:55 #
Swamp-Cork wrote:
Excellent image of this beautiful gray fox!
Thank you Swamp-Cork. Wish I could take credit for his beauty. There was a higher power involved.
Oct 20, 2017 21:38:54 #
Oct 20, 2017 22:00:12 #
jeanbug35 wrote:
What a beauty.
Thank you jeanbug35 for looking and commenting. Glad you liked him.
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