February 28, 2015: Just past 4 o'clock and an amazing sight outside my window! There at the base of a tree in a bare patch of ground surrounded by snow is a fox. Just as I spotted the fox, he was grooming, washing his fur before curling up, nose in fur, and going to sleep. Reddish fur, black ears, white-tipped tail. I found my father's old binoculars so I can see the fox quite close up. I don't think I have ever seen such a sight--it must be quite rare.
He wakes every few minutes, looks around. There is white under his chin. He scratches, then tucks his nose back into his fur and settles into sleep again. For a brief moment the sun warmed his fur and set it ablaze with golden light. Now, once again, the fox nestles in the shadow of the tree, blending into the dark patch of earth.
It's been an hour and he still sleeps. Now his black paw comes out and covers his eyes and nose. A few minutes later he gets up, stretches. He is quite large. He settles back down, lying on his other side facing the tree, tucks his nose back in his fur and sleeps again. Every once in a while I hear a far off dog and wonder that the fox is not startled.
5:40 pm and still he sleeps. The sunlight is long gone. If I did not know the fox was there, all I would see would be a patch of bare earth at the base of the tree. Will he stay? What will wake him? Will he steal away in the night? It's 23 degrees outside, but his thick coat must keep him warm.
6:02 pm. I've been watching the fox through my binoculars and he is getting harder to see as evening descends. Suddenly, he is up and dashing across the snow--a dark silhouette for a moment before he disappears.
