Never A Dull Moment Around Here

**pollypurebred39** · 12-13-2009, 02:13 AM

I was packing away the cookies I baked today today to take out to the garage when I hear a fox just outside our back door. Our big cat is outside and the fox being so close worries me, so I go out the side door and call for the cat. The fox hears my voice and loses it, if you've never heard a fox before they almost sound like a baby crying, unless their upset and then they kind of screech, loudly. So this fox is screeching and our big cat, the beast that he is gets very protective of me and tries to run him off. Well, all **** breaks lose, the fox backs down, but is still out there lurking, somewhere

Our big cat comes up on the porch and smooths down his ruffled fur, but continues to gaze out into the dark, ever vigilant. I still have cookies to put away in the garage, nervous about going outside with that fox lurking. I'm guessing they've discovered that the dog has died and she's not here to scare them off anymore. Oh JOY, this should be a fun Winter.

**frugalfranny** · 12-13-2009, 02:41 AM

Gees, didn't know that foxes were that brazen!

Amazing and interesting!..........you best get out and get a huge dog....soon!

**Palooka** · 12-13-2009, 02:42 AM

Lol, just about funny. Yes I know that sound of foxes. They are more scarred of you. Glad the kitty is okay.

At least the squirel was not involved in this one.

**pollypurebred39** · 12-13-2009, 03:04 AM

Well, I'm not sure really. We've got a lot of them around here. You hear them all night long, crying like babies. When we first moved in they were free roaming up to our house, after we got the dog they kept their distance. Makes me kind of nervous this one was so freaked at the sound of my voice...Rabies??? Scary thought. We've had a few rabid animals in the area caught these past few years.

Palooka,
I sure hope all that was just because it was scared of me. Geesh, I'm scared of it. and yeah, glad there was not a squirrel involved this time. lol!

**Palooka** · 12-13-2009, 03:25 AM

Originally Posted by pollypurebred39

Well, I'm not sure really. We've got a lot of them around here. You hear them all night long, crying like babies. When we first moved in they were free roaming up to our house, after we got the dog they kept their distance. Makes me kind of nervous this one was so freaked at the sound of my voice...Rabies??? Scary thought. We've had a few rabid animals in the area caught these past few years.

Palooka,
I sure hope all that was just because it was scared of me. Geesh, I'm scared of it. and yeah, glad there was not a squirrel involved this time. lol!

We have foxes in our back field. Trust me they are more afraid of you. When was the last time you've heard a fox attack a human? I'm being serious.

I'm sure your dog scarred them and cats are hunters/canivores so it only makes sense.

I know that sound is creepy but the sound of Turkeys freak me out more. I swear they are in my driveway some nights. lol

We have a raised ranch house and the driveway goes into the back. There is a field that I love for the wild animal sounds but since they starting building houses back there(gah I was mad but it did slow down due to the economy)i've dealt with several animals.

But I am an animal lover so only some things freak me out.

Like do a search from madhens snake taking pics, I think in the green living forum, and it freaked me out but we've had them enter our house and my daughter is not afraid of them. Gah.

**pollypurebred39** · 12-13-2009, 04:10 AM

Oh I know the wild turkeys, we've seen a few. We've got a lot of land around here, but it's true when they build they take over their habitat and there's going to be critters wandering closer then ever before. We have more then our share of skunks, possums, racoons, just to name a few. But what freak me out are the bats! Hundreds of them! they come out at night and fly really low. I know they are very good for Summer skitters, but they just give me the chills!

I'm not partial to snakes myself, not at all. Nothing in the reptile family really. We are loaded with toads, big giant ones that come up on our breezeway on Summer nights. I've had a fright or two from them hopping towards me in the dark. We even had a big box turtle crawl into our basement. (kids left the door open) He was HUGE, at the time I had no idea if it was a snapper or a box so we used a snow shovel and scooped him up and brought him outside. not really afraid of him but I did not want a finger biten off if he was a snapper. And you're right I've never once heard of a fox attack on a human, still...I don't like them so close. I love nature, but like it at more of a distance, ya know? Even the herd of deer here are right up to your door. Got the fright of my life one night when I discovered that the herd was using our breezeway as a pass to our apple and pear trees. I stepped out on the porch, arms full, headed for the garage in the pitch black and I walked right through the deer crossing over our breezeway. It was dark, I didn't see them (at first!!!) but they saw me and there was a stampeed on the flagstone, hooves stomping, deer wizzing by me. I about peed my pants! LOL! Funny now, then not so much.

**ladytoysdream** · 12-13-2009, 06:55 AM

Maybe the fox is looking for the squirrels as a meal ?

We have them here too. When we first got this house set up, we had a good scare one night. Several fox babies came up to the front deck and then down the driveway. Just a crying / screaming....they had lost mom. Hubby figured it out after we both peeled outselves off the bedroom ceiling.

Had a rabid raccoon in the yard. It was under one of the trucks in the driveway and started up hubby's leg. The black lab gave chase and treed it on a post on lower lawn. The hubby was able to shoot it. Asked the county to do a test on it and they said it was not necessary , it was not rabid. After we demanded it be tested, it came back positive. We ended up with 4 shots apiece. I would have been okay, but the dog decided to lick my hand as we were trying to confine her in the garage.

We have had 10 turkeys at the bird feeders real close to the house often. Rabbits bounce across the lawn and laugh at the 2 dogs on the deck / fenced in yard barking at them.

Deer walk across the lower lawn. Wild turkeys. Etc

**frugalwarrior2** · 12-13-2009, 06:57 AM

Well for goodness sakes Polly. Never heard of such a thing. We have possums. One year the backyard was ice covered from our dogs running and pounding down the snow. So at night our beagle (polite for coon hound more like) corners this possom (the biggest I have ever seen).
So I go out in my slippers,flannel nightgown and robe w/ a broom. I whack my beagles butt and the possum snaps at his nose. This went on for about 10 minutes. I am slipping and sliding on the ice and trying to keep an eye on the possum because all you can see are glowing eyes and a giant maw snapping. All I can think of is rabies and vet bills because those teeth are awsome and sharp. Finally the beagle gives it up. I back into the house w/ my broom.
All the time grumbling about dogs and possums and chaos. I am sure w/ a little raw venacular thrown in too.
I am so glad UTUBE was not popular back then. All I needed was curlers and a cig hanging out of my mouth.
I am sorry you are having trouble w/ foxes. Would a deer flood scare them off??

**frugalwarrior2** · 12-13-2009, 07:02 AM

ladytoysdream-We get take out but never "walk up". Turkey,deer and rabbit yum.

**ladytoysdream** · 12-13-2009, 07:44 AM

I like animal stories / tales

We have snakes too. Hubby says they are harmless. He was playing with the ones under the driveway in the drain pipe for the ditch. After he told me one bit him this summer, I am even more careful when I cross the end of the driveway to get our mail on the other side of the road.
Then I found a snake on our deck this summer .........
and me out there barefoot. Not pretty. I very carefully watched the critter run the length of the deck on the side where it touches the house....and slither into a hole at the far end

A few months ago, I heard a bang /crash on the deck. I went into the living room and told the hubby, he better check it out. It was a possum. He got it with a shovel, thank goodness. He said it was a young one....they all look the same to me...lots of teeth....and it better go the opposite direction than I am going.

Yup, our little 2 acres in the country surrounded by farm fields. Must be the critters think we invaded their space

**Jayceef** · 12-13-2009, 02:17 PM

DH and I rented the farm house that I grew up in the first two years we were married. There were always lots of coyotes aroung, but not so much after we moved in with his dogs. He brought one german shepard and two chocolate labs to the mix. When he built their kennels he didn't put a roof on their run. It wasn't a big deal if Magnum our shepard got out as he just stayed home and was not aggressive with anyone. One night Dh was in the garage tinkering when he looked over and saw Magnum jump out of his kennel, when the dog saw him he jumped right back in. LOL DH figured he was either off to kill coyotes or mate with them.

Now my mom tells us the story of the renter that had the house after us. His dog was killed by the coyotes and he got a new dog that he kept on a chain in the yard. Well one night there was a big coyote under one of the pine trees staring at the mans dog. He said he had never seen such a big coyote. I asked my mom if the guy noticed if the coyote was chasing his tail, because that is what Magnum does non stop. We figured it could have been some of his offspring.

So be careful Polly when you get a new big dog he might just mate with those foxes and you will really have something on your hands.

**nancycg56** · 12-13-2009, 03:52 PM

There is a family of foxes living next to the dog park and they make a ton of noise ~ drives the dogs absolutely mad! They are a hoot to watch ~ one day they were teaching the babies to cross the road...too cute!

I hate possums ~ those suckers are mean.

We have snakes ~ poisonous and non-poisonous...I think there is one living in the garage. I tried to shoo it out but I didn't have much luck. I couldn't tell what kind but it had a triangular head and that is usually a nasty one

There are bears that live in the woods behind our house ~ I haven't seen any but others have. We have had deer, quail, ducks, squirrels, bunnies (who apparently live to torment the dogs), lizards, skinks, hunting dogs, etc., in the yard at one time or another.

I don't live in a rural area either ~ there are wetlands behind our house so that may account for the number of critters that come visiting

**Libby** · 12-13-2009, 04:03 PM

Originally Posted by pollypurebred39

Got the fright of my life one night when I discovered that the herd was using our breezeway as a pass to our apple and pear trees. I stepped out on the porch, arms full, headed for the garage in the pitch black and I walked right through the deer crossing over our breezeway. It was dark, I didn't see them (at first!!!) but they saw me and there was a stampeed on the flagstone, hooves stomping, deer wizzing by me. I about peed my pants! LOL! Funny now, then not so much.

HAHAHAHAHAHA Polly - I am sorry but I have to admit I couldn't stop howling as I read this. I'd have died on the spot and totally piddled my panties at this while shrieking. Ironic how it's funny AFTER the fact?

Glad you survived

**mauimagic** · 12-13-2009, 04:46 PM

This is the best thread ever!!! I love all of your stories!! I have absolutely none of my own to share - just wanting to hear more of yours - mahalo!!

**frugalwarrior2** · 12-13-2009, 08:03 PM

We have a nosy neighbor next door that is our age. He used to be in the army and likes to control EVERYTHING around him. A couple year ago my DS and his friend used to camp in the backyard often. We never let them make noise after 10pm. because we are so close to others. We leave the tent up for weeks in the summer but we are fenced in on 2 sides so we don't think it is an eyesore. This same year I decided on growing a garden. It was fenced in and we used composted manure because our nosy neighbor has a pool. He of course claimed he could smell it.
One day we get home and nosy comes over and says his fence is broken. He hints that my DS and friend have done it. They aren't home and haven't been. They are sleeping at the friends house. He eyes me suspiciously. I show my DH. I am mad. My DS never gets into their yard,breaks their things,etc.
My DH takes one look and sees a hoof print on the ground,shows the trajectory to nosy and finds fur floating in his pool. DH gets gorilla glue fixes his fence. Nosy tells my DH what a genious he is and says DH can fix anything. Looks at me and says the deer was attracted to my garden.What?? Last summer he blamed me for his pool filter for clogging because of my dogs fur. Got any neighbors you don't like apparently I can control animals. I must admit to some evil though. One year I did shush a garter snake into their backyard. A girl can't be good all the time.