When I actually lived on my farm there was lots of wildlife. Fox would dig burrows in my fields (Interesting design, see below). One time Mamma fox thought I was plowing too close so I watched as she carried her babies to the woods nearby. She left one behind, my pet.
A WILD animal, a great pet (most of the time), just like a dog or cat but very independent. I often let Sly into the house to spend the day. While watching TV she'd climb up on my shoulders, wrap herself around my neck and sleep. Sometimes she'd sleep on my lap and would want to be petted.
BUT
Occasionally, for no apparent reason she would bite me viciously and draw lots of blood. Then just minutes later, it's back on my lap for more petting. I was glad she wasn't a pet wolf. Sly lived in the front yard in a dog house. I always had 6-10 dogs loose and they all got along.
My all time favorite pet was a seagull (Diddy, future blog, a fascinating extremely intelligent pet). She got along well will all the animals too, but ... Seagull was boss (Picture, about to attack cat). Seagull don't get their adult feathers until about 4 yrs old.
Diddy was 6 months old in the picture.
Diddy was 6 months old in the picture.
When I fed Sly (fox) her dish of cat food, Diddy Seagull would zoom over to the fox while it was eating, Peck Sly on the head then proceed to eat all the foxes food while Sly would stand back and watch.
My dog Martha, and the seagull were friends.
My dog Martha, and the seagull were friends.
One day Sly just disappeared, never saw her again. Found a mate? an accident? Got pecked on the head too often? Dunno.
Fox burrow design.
It was a 50 foot triangle in the field about 1 foot below the surface with an emergency exit at each corner (I dug it up just to see the layout). Midway between two of the points there was another burrow heading directly to the center of the triangle. That's where the den was, where the young were raised.
A fun pet... but not a sensible one. Too dangerous for kids and people.
If Sly were pure white, he would look just like my American Eskimo, Cicely, that we lost a few years ago. Everyone remarked about how much she resembled a snow fox. Now I understand why. They must be related. Both are beautiful animals.
ReplyDeleteKinda' breaks your heart when they leave though! They still carry a part of you with them, as you do them!
ReplyDeleteBut great for chickens : ) Loved this blog, Bert. Sly was beautiful!
ReplyDeleteSly was a beauty! I think most "wild" pets, if not imprisoned, usually return to the wild once they reach adulthood, if they haven't been spayed/neutered. The call of nature is usually stronger than any bonds they've formed with humans.
ReplyDeleteMuch as I love critters, I don't think I'd have allowed Sly around my neck. Her tendency to occasionally bite would have given me trust issues. You are a braver person than I.
lowercase - I'd guess your dog was bigger. I think the fox was about 20-25 pounds, not very big. Love the coat though.
ReplyDeleteduchamp - Kinda like raising kids...when they leave the house for good.
tint - The fox never killed any of my Chickens... but then... I made sure the fox was well fed.
varainy - Fox are beautiful animals, and.. so smart. Wild animals almost always remain wild, even when raised as pets. They just tolerate humans if it benefits them. When Sly came to me for attention, she was always sweet. Any other time... watch out.
I never, for minute suggested she ate chickens. I think you'd have mentioned that, but seein' as you're a chicken 'n all... she's obviously not dangerous for chickens ; )
ReplyDeletetint - I know you didn't... but it sure seems likely that she would go after chickens, but she didn't. But I would never trust her and the Chickens together very long. Same with my cat Tuna and the Doves, only under my supervision, that cat instinct is still there I'm sure. Tuna has sniffed the Doves feathers, then walked away.
ReplyDeleteAs 'Animal Farms' go, It is never a good idea to let the Fox guard the hen house!
ReplyDeleteThat may be the reason our government is so messed up!
Yes, the instinct is always there, though oddly enough, we had far more trouble with our non-hunting dogs than the cats, "But I was just playing with it!" The cats were fine around the chicks. Can't speak for foxes though : )
ReplyDeleteduchamp - I think the key is close monitoring... else... ? ? ? (applies to Government too. The problem with government is that it's run by humans).
ReplyDeletetint - So far I've only had problems with neighborhood cats (and a hawk or two), stray dogs cannot get into our yard. I was so proud of Tuna Cat, We found him staring at the ground by his feet... it was a baby robin fell from the nest right above, he seemed to be protecting it, never touched it. How un-cat-like.
LOVE the story of Sly........my son enjoyed it too!
ReplyDeleteSuch a neat experience! A seagull would be fun. I'm supposing Sly went off to experience the wild life on her own. What became of Diddy? How did you come upon her? I would love to raise a crow or raven. Thanks for sharing these great stories!
ReplyDeletevery cool story Bert! They have those gross (in my opinion) dead foxes that ppl hang around thier necks.. yours was just like that ... only real!
ReplyDelete"People are more violently opposed to fur than leather because it's safer to harass rich women than motorcycle gangs."-Anon.
ReplyDeleteLaurie - Sly was a fine and interesting pet... but... don't think I'll have another.
ReplyDeletechickie - 99999999999998888888 <----(Dove). Diddy was an amazing creature, so much fun. After about 2 years we went away for a week and when we came back, Diddy didn't answer my call.. looked and looked, found a pile of feathers and fresh coyote tracks right next to the house. I suppose she thought she could intimidate the coyote too? A crow/raven would be very similar to having a seagull, very smart and clever... and you can teach a crow to speak...simple single words. They are cousins to Magpies which can talk in sentences. A friend of mine had a pet crow and it was nearly like my seagull, clever, mischievous, etc. I would LOVE a pet crow if you should ever find an extra chick. I don't think it's legal ? to have them in captivity, but... loose outside = ok.
love2 - I can see the attraction though... such a very beautiful coat.
duchamp - Fur and leather = renewable resource.... Synthetics = often made with non-renewable petroleum products.
Motorcycle gangs are not known to be tree-huggers.
:(
ReplyDeleteI hate it when that happens.
This is a quote from a post by Xanthi M on Yahoo Answers: UK and Ireland, answering the question, "Can you have crows as pets?"
ReplyDelete"If you are in the United States, it is illegal to keep an American crow (or any other native bird) as a pet under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Zoos, wildlife rehabbers, and wildlife educators can get permits to keep and display native birds, and, idiotically, you can shoot crows in most of the US without a permit, but you can't get a permit to keep a native crow as a pet."
Here is another point of view from www.shades-of-night.com/aviary under Raising a Corvid:
"Let me make this clear before I go any further: Crows and Ravens are wild animals, and are not pets in the same way that cats and dogs are. It is unfair to keep wild animals in captivity, and (unless you have the right facilities) can border on cruel. It is also illegal. Wild birds are protected by most state laws, and you can be charged or fined for keeping a wild bird in captivity.
However, many people have had great experiences raising orphaned birds, or befriending an injured bird and nursing it back to health. Some people go on to rehabilitate and release the bird. Others choose not to (especially if the bird has a broken wing and will never fly again) and instead keep them as 'pets'.
Before you decide you want a crow or raven as a pet, please ask yourself why you want one. "Because it would be cool" is a very poor reason, and more than slightly egocentric. Birds (especially corvids) require a lot of care, a lot of freedom, and a lot of your time. If you really love and admire these birds, enjoy them from a distance - let them stay free!"
They suggest that learning how to care for these birds with wildlife sanctuaries or rehab places is a good way to prepare for the possibility of raising one should an injured or orphaned bird be found. The goal is to let them back into the wild if possible. Having a "tame" one who hangs around your yard and is free to come and go would fit the bill, if it really wants to stay around.
Faye reminded me of an injured Golden Eagle that our platoon adopted, ministered back to health & released down at Ft Benning, Georgia in '73! It was probably illegal, but the right thing to do!
ReplyDeleteChickie - That's about what I thought but wasn't sure, thanks. "kill them but can't keep them as pets"...? ?? ? ? doesn't make sense does it.
ReplyDeleteI kind of figure is if you must cage it or restrain it, then it's NOT a pet (Unless it's for their safety as in Doves, would die if freed). On the other hand... "ALL dogs and cats must be kept on leash or restrained" (city ordinances)... ? ? ?
My seagull was always totally free to leave, but liked canned cat food.. (One+ Large can per day, much more expensive to feed than a large dog).
duchamp - Sometimes... the right thing to do... IS illegal... (illegal ? is that a sick bird <---- bad pun).
LoL! ILL-Eagle - illegal! Good catch!
ReplyDeleteI just read that there's a season on crows in MN, but they can also be shot anytime that they are causing damage. So saying, I found a roadkill crow today, its left wing and leg were broken, but its otherwise in good shape. It shall do well in our 4H wildlife program. Or portions of it will.
ReplyDeleteTechnically Duch, you should have called the DNR, but you nursed it back to health and let it go. An extended family member came upon an injured Bald Eagle and kept it "contained" in a shelter for a few days so it could recover, then he opened up the door and the eagle went out on its own and took off. Sometimes you just have to do what needs to be done at the moment.