Red Fox and 'Friends'

Carol Clarke wrote: Nicely spotted Axel - it could be a very different tale in warmer weather.  Foxes prefer to take nesting birds, their eggs or ducklings on land and will not go into water in winter cold unless they are very hungry, and even though I don't see snow, no doubt its quite cold?  If they get their fur wet at this time of year it will drastically reduce their ability to keep warm and survive through the colder night.  The ducks perhaps realise they are pretty safe as long as they stay on the pond! 

Carol.

Axel Hildebrandt wrote:

Carol Clarke wrote: Nicely spotted Axel - it could be a very different tale in warmer weather.  Foxes prefer to take nesting birds, their eggs or ducklings on land and will not go into water in winter cold unless they are very hungry, and even though I don't see snow, no doubt its quite cold?  If they get their fur wet at this time of year it will drastically reduce their ability to keep warm and survive through the colder night.  The ducks perhaps realise they are pretty safe as long as they stay on the pond! 

Carol.

Thanks, Carol. It was not very cold, about 8 degree Celsius at the time but the nights can be frigid and without dry fur, things might get tricky for the fox. I was most surprised all the ducks and geese congregated to look at their visitor. 

Carol Clarke wrote: Axel Hildebrandt

Carol Clarke wrote: Nicely spotted Axel - it could be a very different tale in warmer weather.  Foxes prefer to take nesting birds, their eggs or ducklings on land and will not go into water in winter cold unless they are very hungry, and even though I don't see snow, no doubt its quite cold?  If they get their fur wet at this time of year it will drastically reduce their ability to keep warm and survive through the colder night.  The ducks perhaps realise they are pretty safe as long as they stay on the pond! 

Carol.

Safer than turning their back on it........  keep your predator in plain sight...