seen from Japan
seen from Japan
seen from United States
seen from Hungary
seen from Japan
seen from United States
seen from Thailand
seen from China
seen from Italy
seen from Italy
seen from Malaysia
seen from Germany
seen from Italy
seen from Pakistan
seen from Canada
seen from Türkiye
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from China
seen from Italy
Elusive 6U8A8986 by Daniel D'Auria Via Flickr: The weekend is nearly over. Like this fox kit slowly stalking some movement on the forest floor, Monday is slowly creeping up on us. A three-day work week sounds like heaven, but just as elusive. I’ve spent a lifetime working overtime and on call. As I enter the sunset of life I would love to spend more time enjoying the beauty that living offers those who take the time to look.
Breaking Free C7A4120 by Daniel D'Auria Via Flickr: Breaking Free Dowe all occasionally feel that smething is holding us back or is it just me? There are a few things I have wanted to do for ages that I never seem to get to. Weekdays are impossible. I have all to do just to make it through the work day and take care of a few of the chores that are necessary before the next day starts anew. Even on the weekends, when I might find the time to tackle a thing or two, I frequently find myself idle. Maybe something has gotten me by the tail or perhaps I just need to take some time to simply do nothing at all? Breaking free will be the task at hand.
Caught Again... 6U8A6888 by Daniel D'Auria Via Flickr: Even through the dense brush, in a hide, and 100 feet away I'm caught again! It's impossible to hide around these foxes. They've given me brief glimpses, at best.
Twisted Brambles 6U8A8500 by Daniel D'Auria Via Flickr: The twisted brambles and limbs of downed trees have been a pleasure and a pestilence. At times they have made it blatantly impossible to see this clandestine litter, at others providing brief glimpses of a world that a cunning mother does not want us to see. My opportunities have been relatively few, greatly outnumbered by bites from ticks and chiggers that also live in these woods. But every second has been worth the wait.
A More Favorable Path C7A0093-Edit by Daniel D'Auria Via Flickr: Mom brought home an unusual dinner. It’s the remains of a large black rat snake. Although headless and tailless, its size suggests that in life it might have easily overpowered any of the small kits. They are too large for it to consume but these are powerful constrictors. A large black rat snake can be hard even for a human to handle. Like a child pushing its peas around on a plate, the kits take only the occasional nibble. Their interest in the snake goes far beyond the meal itself. They toss it and pounce on it as if it were still animated, testing and honing their hunting skills. Statistically, only one or two of her seven or more kits will survive into adulthood. I am hopeful that life will choose a more favorable path for these beauties.
Short Supply C7A2276 by Daniel D'Auria Via Flickr: Many humans can certainly empathize with this fox kit after a long pandemic led to shortages of many products that we took for granted. Toilet tissue was universally in short supply. I have to admit, it wouldn’t have been amongst the first things I would have thought to hoard. But this little guy makes good use of a stretch of ground, answering the age old question of “who wipes?”
Overjoyed C7A8600-Edit by Daniel D'Auria Via Flickr: If happiness could be described in a photograph, this would be it. Although this vixen has been absent or hidden most of the time, when she shows up there is always commotion. The look and activity of her small kit more than describes its elation at her return.
Leap Snake C7A9916 by Daniel D'Auria Via Flickr: When mom brings home a large snake for dinner, what do you do? Jump for joy? Run for the door? Or act brave, since the snake is already dead? Well, it seems the proper fox kit decorum is a bit of all three. The kits took turns leaping over the body of the serpent, turning back to make attack like pass and even grabbing and shaking it. Unfortunately, none of them seemed to be eating it. The following day, however, it was gone. Either consumed or buried along with what I am sure is an abundant cache of delicacies.
