Foxes and chipmunks



Lunch spot on the way to the Methow

I've been busy adventuring lately. Memorial day and 2 days hence were spent exploring the Methow valley. I traveled up the West Chewuch Road and camped at Falls Creek Falls. I then drove to the end of the road which enters the 2001 Thirty Mile Fire where 4 wildland firefighters died. I discovered the firefighters' memorial and the guardian. The "guardian" was nowhere to be seen until I decided to leave an offering of white sage. Then it was time for him to check everything until he came to mine, discovered it wasn't edible, and moved on ignoring all the rest.The trip up and down the road was filled with deer and elk tracks. No one around on a summer weekday before school's out. The weather was sunny and warm. The river was clear and crisp and the warbling vireos were singing everywhere along the riparian areas. The forest held many singing Townsend's warblers. The balsamroot was pretty much done flowering although I found a few up out of Twisp on the way and at Black Pine lake. Another peaceful empty place on a weekday. The beaver made its presence known swimming the lake as well as some ducks. It was quite cold at night and a tiny bit of snow could be seen in the forest.

Deer track trails

Guardian of the memorial. 





As I was leaving the campground I was bid goodbye (maybe good riddance) by a ground squirrel. I admired his hidey hole, took some photos of arnica, and balsamroot and headed toward home.



This past Friday was go commune with the red foxes on San Juan Island. I wasn't disappointed. They were quite numerous and much too friendly. It was clear that people have been feeding them which may ultimately lead to their early death. I did not give in to their begging. i on;y feed the birds birdseed here at home. Feeding wildlife leads to dead wildlife either because they lack the nutrition they need and die early, are hit be vehicles, or are euthanized by park workers because they become dangerous to humans. I can't imagine causing such a beautiful gentle animal an early death.

They are so amazingly cat-like I almost expected them to meow! I savored every moment with them while I observed them hunting and trotting along through the tall grass. It was clear when I wandered the trails that the prairie is full of voles; their primary food. They'll take the European rabbits too but they prefer the easy small stuff. As I was leaving at 7pm I saw some small black ears in the grass; a kit not yet fed by humans so still wild.

I saw a total of 6 foxes all day. I spent the entire day at American Camp to maximize my time with them.

I love watching them pounce and sometimes jump after their prey. For such a small animal they have a heck of a long jump. They're pretty scrawny, too. I'm assuming all the photos we see are of foxes in their winter coat or farther north. These little guys were all legs and endearing faces. I may have got some great photos but the memories of spending time with their little souls will last much longer.

My next adventure takes me to Grays Lake NWR and back to Yellowstone NP in a week.

"One touch of nature makes the whole world kin."

William Shakespeare