Lucky Turkey

[ctgoldwing]

There is a dry water course on our property within 50m of our house. For years the foxes return to the den they have burrowed into the side of the bank. They have their kits there and hang around a couple of months. This year I set up cameras to monitor the goings and comings. There are 3 adults and at least 2 or 3 kits born this year - hard to tell without name tags.

This turkey wandered out of the woods solo (we usually see from 4-12 together) and crossed the dry water course right next to the den at about 7:30 in the morning. Prime time for the foxes to return. Just a lucky turkey!


Turkey in tough neighborhood

 

[Parley]

If you get pictures of the foxes please post them.

 

[Podagrower]

Not a turkey expert, but looks like a male to me, which in my area are almost always solo, with the females and babies grouped up in larger groups.

 

[beepsilver]

Looks like he was headed to a formal dinner with that tie--and quite late to the party from the looks of it!

 

[ctgoldwing]

If you get pictures of the foxes please post them.

lol - I get at least 10-20 clips a day of them. This is from an hour ago. That 'dry water course' is about 10' deep where they have their den. You can see other entrances besides the one this young fox comes out of. The turkey crossed it where it's only a few feet deep - about 40' from that broken tree.

going in
View attachment fox_going_into_den_water_course.20200515_070250_1.mp4

















coming out
View attachment fox_emerging_from_den_water_course.20200515_092431_1.mp4

 

[ctgoldwing]

The foxes aren't quite as colorful under IR

a few hours earlier - I believe this is one of the adults.

View attachment fox_water_course.20200515_015316_2.mp4

 

[Parley]

Thank you for posting those videos.

 

[lulu5kamz]

Do the adult foxes bring food back to the den? The reason I ask is I've been seeing foxes carrying small animals in their mouths heading in a particular direction at night. I suspect they may have a den somewhere nearby.

 

[ctgoldwing]

Do the adult foxes bring food back to the den? The reason I ask is I've been seeing foxes carrying small animals in their mouths heading in a particular direction at night. I suspect they may have a den somewhere nearby.

lulu that's a great question because I have been watching for that in the clips but haven't seen any. Between 2-5 am there is regular inbound and outbound traffic to the den. There is also a fair amount of activity right about dusk and from sunrise to sunrise + 2 hrs.
One thing I see though, they don't seem to like the rain. On the nights where it is raining I very seldom see them out.

 

[lulu5kamz]

Here is an example of why I asked about foxes possibly bringing back food to the den. Here is a frame from this morning. A fox is carrying what looks like maybe a gopher in it's mouth. This is about the third time I've seen this. They are always heading in this direction. The video has a lot of motion blur because they are always moving pretty fast, but it clearly has something in it's mouth.



Here is another from this morning. This deer seemed to be in a bit of hurry.

 

[ctgoldwing]

I think our foxes are more interested i just hanging around

FOX

 

[djernie]

I think our foxes are more interested i just hanging around

FOX

Really nice, maybe they take the food in another entrance?

 

[djernie]

Here is an example of why I asked about foxes possibly bringing back food to the den. Here is a frame from this morning. A fox is carrying what looks like maybe a gopher in it's mouth. This is about the third time I've seen this. They are always heading in this direction. The video has a lot of motion blur because they are always moving pretty fast, but it clearly has something in it's mouth.

View attachment 61938

Here is another from this morning. This deer seemed to be in a bit of hurry.

View attachment 61939

Ha yeah that deer is moving. Something spooked it.

 

[beepsilver]

I wonder if the adults hesitate to bring food to the den because the scent might lure other animals in? But that begs the question how the young are fed when they're incapable of feeding themselves.

 

[ctgoldwing]

I read that the kits do stay in the den until they are able to go out with the adults for 'hunting training'. In past years we have seen the little ones on top of the bank playing with each other but venturing no further. Momma is always close by. They are fed by the adults in the den. At night there is regular traffic in & out of the den by the adults.

 

[djernie]

I read that the kits do stay in the den until they are able to go out with the adults for 'hunting training'. In past years we have seen the little ones on top of the bank playing with each other but venturing no further. Momma is always close by. They are fed by the adults in the den. At night there is regular traffic in & out of the den by the adults.

That's good to know the coyote hasn't run them off.

 

[lulu5kamz]

Here is another one with a fox carrying something. In this one you can see a pair of legs and the eyes look like they may be open. Not sure if it is carrying a young fox or maybe a kill. Seems to be headed in the direction of it's den.

 

[ctgoldwing]

In previous years I have seen an adult carrying a kit that way. I think if they decide to move their den it may be the way they get the little ones to go.

 

[djernie]

Here is another one with a fox carrying something. In this one you can see a pair of legs and the eyes look like they may be open. Not sure if it is carrying a young fox or maybe a kill. Seems to be headed in the direction of it's den.

View attachment 62619

If it was just that one you saw then it may have been a kill. I would think if she was moving the family she would have passed two more times with kits. hmmmmm

 

[lulu5kamz]

If it was just that one you saw then it may have been a kill. I would think if she was moving the family she would have passed two more times with kits. hmmmmm

I did see a single fox head out by itself 2 hours earlier in the opposite direction. It was not carrying anything when it left.