The eat-out area in the soy field around this groundhog was so large I did not feel the slightest bit of hesitation about a mid-field dig despite the fact that the beans are still on. This fellow had made a virtual parking lot around his den site!
This field groundhog was initially located by Mountain, but Mountain never reached it due a turn in the pipe,and a lot of debris pushed back into the pipe by the groundhog.
After sinking a hole and clearing out the debris, Gideon bayed and bolted it, and he came away without a scratch.
I walked the groundhog over to the edge of the field where the fox patrol, and left it right next to a bit of fox scat. It will not last long as the fox too are bulking up in preparation for winter.
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6 comments:
NICE!! Gideon looks proud of himself - and a bit tired!
PS - thanks for the shout out! :-)
Looks like you guys had too much fun. I can't wait to get out to the fields myself.
D.
Hooray, Gideon!! Way to go, big man!
What a happy, proud, fulfilled dog you have there, Patrick. I think the two of you will teach each other many things in the years to come.
It's always interesting to see how fulfilled dogs are who are worked well at what they do. A terrier who's been to ground, a herder who's herded anything successfully, a retriever who's delivered something to hand... that photo of Gideon should be one of those motivational photos above the word fulfillment.
Wow, that looks like a handsome-sized 'hog! Gideon is certainly proving himself in the field, good boy. :)
The fox kits are growing well on our place. We have two that we see regularly, but only one at a time. My neighbor reports they are eating seed from his bird feeders, as a pair. I'm interested to know about the fox eating carrion. I wonder how long it can be dead and have them still feed. Any ideas?
Seahorse
It depends on the weather and what it is. If it's frozen or pretty cold out, a fox will still be chewing on a deer carcas shot in November as late as mid-February. If it's hide or sinew-leg, they'll also work it a long time. If it gets maggoty, however, a fox will try to find something better. Basically, if a hungry dog might eat it, a fox probably will. There are limits, but the limits are not human decorum. Roadkill is fine feeding for two or three days after it has been hit.
P
Fascinating. As much as I think I know, my Disney-esque notions get in the way of reality sometimes. Thanks, Patrick.
Seahorse
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