Native Californian, biologist, wildlife conservation consultant, retired Smithsonian scientist, father of two daughters, grandfather of four. INTJ. Believes nature is infinitely more interesting than shopping malls. Born 100 years too late.
You have some outstanding clips in that video. The clips of the skunks facing down the foxes are really humorous. I have a real affection for the gray fox that live on the hill above the house.
Thanks so much for posting these two wonderful gray fox videos. It is so very rare to get to watch the beautiful movements of this species. I studied gray fox and ringtails mucho years ago. Both gray foxes and ringtails seem to gracefully "flow" over the ups and downs of the landscape. I'd like to had a comment on climbing ability. The literature has always said that gray foxes can climb trees and I used to think that meant sloping trunks. Not so. On a mammalogy field trip to the Nature Conservancy's North Coast Range Preserve, my students and I watched semi-tame gray fox zip straight up a redwood for about 20 ft. This tree was about 2.5-3 ft in diameter. It went up to the first limb just like a house cat. And similarly, looked back down in what I can only say was dismay. However, it backed down half way and then just jumped to the ground. Gene R. Trapp
4 comments:
You have some outstanding clips in that video. The clips of the skunks facing down the foxes are really humorous. I have a real affection for the gray fox that live on the hill above the house.
Thanks Woody. I feel the same way about them, especially after seeing them in action.
Thanks so much for posting these two wonderful gray fox videos. It is so very rare to get to watch the beautiful movements of this species.
I studied gray fox and ringtails mucho years ago. Both gray foxes and ringtails seem to gracefully "flow" over the ups and downs of the landscape. I'd like to had a comment on climbing ability. The literature has always said that gray foxes can climb trees and I used to think that meant sloping trunks. Not so. On a mammalogy field trip to the Nature Conservancy's North Coast Range Preserve, my students and I watched semi-tame gray fox zip straight up a redwood for about 20 ft. This tree was about 2.5-3 ft in diameter. It went up to the first limb just like a house cat. And similarly, looked back down in what I can only say was dismay. However, it backed down half way and then just jumped to the ground. Gene R. Trapp
Thanks for your comment, Gene. I am a fan of your papers, and would love to meet to chat California mammals if you are ever in the Chico area.
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