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THE FORUM
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20-Apr-23, 08:34:09 AM
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12948
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Other Nature Related Information / General Nature Discussion / Red foxes adapt to life at the New Jersey Shore
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on: 07-Sep-11, 08:04:26 AM
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OCEAN CITY, N.J. - It's just before 6 a.m., and the red fox is waiting by the tollbooth. And no, it doesn't have exact change.
The fox is small and sleek, an inarguably gorgeous creature, its delicately pointy-nosed face framed with black lines.
When Dave Turner is taking tolls at the base of the Ocean City-Longport Bridge on the Ocean City side, he's ready with a biscuit or two. Other times, it's Eddie Andress, whose bushy gray beard is an amusing counterpunch to the red fox's bushy tail, and who is known to bring chicken.
"I named him Bourbon," says Turner. "He eats right out of my hand." The fox and its siblings have been hanging out in the dunes near the bridge since spring, when, Turner believes, they were born to a pair of foxes that lived in, and returned to, the marsh area across from the bridge.
Foxes are common on the barrier islands, says Christina Kisiel, senior environmental specialist with the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife's Endangered and Nongame Species Program.
"They stay in the dunes, don't need a lot of space, dig a little den," she said. "They use the whole island to hunt. They're pretty adept at getting people's food - they're so cute, people love feeding them. In North Brigantine, the fishermen throw fish at them. . . . If they see a vehicle, they will start running out to check it out."
One recent morning, at the usual appointed hour of 6-ish, Mr. Fox, having been spotted darting around the dunes, approached the bridge and poked an orange plastic traffic cone with his nose to see if it was edible. Optimistically, it sauntered over to the lane in front of the tollbooth to check who was on duty.
Alas, on this day it was Paul Kessel, a substitute and not a fox feeder. "I'm not giving up my ham and cheese sandwich," he says.
The fox lingered, providing a brief transcendent moment to people traveling over the bridge. Then, narrowly dodging a truck, it gave up and ran off.
"They are so beautiful, people should be more appreciative," said a woman driving out of Ocean City. "God bless."
Wildlife specialist Kisiel does not study foxes. She studies endangered birds, such as the black skimmers that nest right near the bridge. Her interest in the foxes is in preventing them from eating the birds she is trying to protect.
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12952
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Member Activities / Puzzles / Re: Puzzle of the Week 245 -Redshank
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on: 06-Sep-11, 08:49:55 PM
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Yes it can be that bad. I'M so happy with the puzzle of the week.But I'm not good at it. It's great fun .And my time is........16 plus.48 classic.Maybe the time ,I almost falling asleep,but try one more tomorrow morning. Thanks Aafke Goodnight Greetings Carla  Don't you mean Good Morning Carla?  |
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12956
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Anything Else / Totally OT / Re: Im Back..an update
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on: 06-Sep-11, 05:09:53 PM
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Hi,Cheyenne was into the vet for one last check,she is now fine and although she will be monitored closely for awhile by Tracy and I. Her foot owie has healed,she is alert and fiesty as ever. This weeks adventure...Kortright Centre where the CPF Raptor Centre is,cut down some trees. Tracy asked for a few of the larger stumps so we could change our birds perches,in their pens. We had hoped to use a machine to do the work,but that didnt work out,instead she and I grunted and made alot of faces to lift them into the bed of Marks big truck! Tracy is small but mighty! We managed to get 4 stumps at least 2 that had to weight about 200-300 pounds! Next week school visits start for our educational birds! The bulk of this week has been spent tiding the barn,pens and getting ready for the school visits to commence. More soon.
Far as I know no reports about Wind recently.
Busy busy your are BF. Way to go keeping your raptors happy! Thanks!! |
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A nice start with a Red Shank!! 
