All Creatures Four Legged And Small

Living in a rural setting provides the perfect backdrop for nature’s wildlife. For example, every year our property is visited by a rambunctious family of foxes.

At first, my husband and I thought it was so exciting to see a fox peer through our window. Then on subsequent visits, he or she brought along a friend. Now we had two foxes peering through our windows. The excitement was building.

Yes, it was indeed fun at first, however, it soon developed into a complete mayhem—the type of trouble you might encounter when your rebel without a cause teenager hosts an unchaperoned late-night party.

I don’t know which particular fox sent out the evite stating, “Party at the Lanier’s.” Nor do I know who chose our back patio for their social get together. The festivities of which were captured on our game camera.

Word soon spread where we had a raucous party on our hands, with torn sun cushions, chewed upon wicker furniture, pillows carried out to the forest, and a messy cleanup to boot. Oh, it was a regular laugh riot—for the foxes.

Through our innocence, my husband and I learned a quick lesson on how to outsmart a fox. We are now seasoned veterans and much wiser concerning our four-legged friends. The moment we spot a fox getting a little too close to our patio furniture, my husband will yell in a stentorian sounding voice, “HEY!!”; the sound of which makes me quiver and wish to hide. But that seems to do the trick.

My husband and I have agreed that the foxes can play, as they do, in our backyard. But they cannot approach our furniture. “Rules, boundaries, and limitations” apply, as Cesar Millan, the Dog Whisperer would say.

Next up, the inside of our home was visited by a maniacal mouse. Oh, the little stinker. Somehow or another, this mouse managed to Riverdance his way all across the top of our king size bed. No doubt, there were several encore performances, as his mouse prints were everywhere! Up, down, left, right and all around. It was dizzying just looking at my beautiful plush king size blanket.

However, his performance did not stop there. What began as a lively dance soon transitioned into an eventful night at the Cirque du Soleil.

Upon awakening one morning, I gently drew back the shower curtain, only to reveal a completely shredded shower lining. Also in view was a now unusable bar of soap. However, these fantastical feats alone were not enough to satisfy the little fellow. His final act for the night involved chewing several holes in my newly purchased cotton bathmats. Crazy as a fox, I say.

In moments of quiet reflection, I have to remember that our creatures in the night were here first. We have invaded their space, without so much as considering their habitats. And this is why my husband and I do all that we can to offer our wildlife a safe refuge on our land.

I have learned so much by observing nature, and in return, nature is learning how to respectfully live and trust both my husband and me. The word is out—party!