Saturday 29 September 2012

Foxes and a badger

Down the garden again to check on the latrines, found the first one had been used again. On to the fence to check the wire netting, if this is the entry or exit point then there may be badger hairs caught on the fencing. There was just one, definitely a badger hair, this was the proof I needed.

At 6:00 p.m. I put out the fox food, and realised that the broccoli put out last night had gone, knowing the foxes have never eaten broccoli I guess it was the badger.

The light faded and no animals had yet appeared, we gave up watching so closely. Suddenly at 7:30 pm we heard the high pitched screaming of foxes, not once but several times, we went to the kitchen window and looked out, from the light shining through the lounge windows we saw two foxes and the unmistakable black and white striped head of a badger. At last! the badger who looked surprisingly small beside the foxes, was hoovering up the food and at the same time keeping the foxes at bay.

The foxes obviously hungry and expecting to eat, were trying to close in on the food, but unsuccessfully. Each time they neared the badger he ferociously dashed at them, warding them off and causing them to scream.

The badger stayed for twenty-eight minutes and then trundled off across the lawn, toward the greenhouse. Tomorrow we will spread the food further across the lawn, so both badger and foxes can enjoy it.

I was on the telephone at the time to our son in America, and he was able to share in our pleasure and excitement, which was a bonus for all three of us.

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