I could tell something was up because the squirrel, who had been happily munching on the corncob I’d speared to a nail on my backyard fence, started chattering loudly. Yes, in addition to my horses, I feed the neighborhood squirrels.
When I looked up from the garden bed where I’d been clearing out the debris of winter, I saw him practically levitate into a nearby tree.
Photo courtesy of istockphoto.com
Before I could turn around to see what might be causing his distress, a red fox sauntered through my yard. Right in front of me! She wasn’t at all disturbed by my presence.
Woman? What woman?
This wasn’t the first time I’d seen her.
A few days earlier, when I was doing the debris- cleaning thing in my front flowerbed, she loped across the street into our yard. She actually walked right on to our neighbor’s porch. My husband and I were stunned. Again, she seemed to not notice us.
People? What people?
This wasn’t good. This little red fox was much too comfortable around humans. Having her hanging out in our green space did not bode well for the neighborhood cats and small dogs.
We guessed that she has a den somewhere close, probably complete with kits. She was likely doing a grocery run. It’s just that we didn’t want our cat, or our neighbor’s cat to be the first course.
Being up close and personal with a red fox was an exciting event for me. It connected me to an ancient wildness hardwired into my soul. My heartbeat quickened; I felt energized. My “fight or flight” response was probably kicking in.
I wasn’t afraid.
I was thrilled.
I recognized the feeling. I’d experienced it other times when I’d encountered an animal in the wild. It was a cross between fear and exhilaration. My body coursed with adrenaline. I was pumped.
Somewhere around the end of March and the beginning of April, I’d set an intention to be more connected to nature. On two separate occasions, I’d been in the audience, listening to women who make their living writing about and being connected to the natural world. Page Lambert and Terry Tempest Williams are amazing women, and outstanding writers.
What they had to say deeply moved me. For one thing, it inspired me to start this blog – something I’ve been talking about for at least two years.
I spend entirely too much time tethered to my computer. I began to think I was losing an important part of myself. I figured telling you my stories about Bud and Pepper and me would help me remember my wildness.
What you focus on expands. Right?
Seeing the red fox made me curious. What was her message to me? I looked up fox symbolism on the Internet, where you can find everything you ever wanted to know about any subject. I love it!
Here’s what I found: “Overwhelmingly, cultural consensus on fox animal symbolism deals with cunning, strategy, quick thinking, adaptability, cleverness and wisdom. The Celts believed the fox to be a guide, and was honored for its wisdom.”
Urban foxes have been in our community for a long time. It’s just that I’ve never seen one – until now, when we locked eyes for that moment.
I’m choosing to believe that she’s guiding me toward my wildness. I feel blessed.
Blessed by a fox.
Two Old Horses and Me 
8 comments
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May 5, 2010 at 9:10 am
sarah fishburn
In the Medicine cards, Fox also represents Family. And of course that makes total sense, qué no?
May 5, 2010 at 9:23 am
jeanmcbride
Totally makes sense.
May 5, 2010 at 9:58 am
Laurel
I see a fox almost every day in my neighborhood, too, and always feel that same thrill, Jean. I’m so grateful to live in a place that has an abundance of urban wildlife.
A couple of years ago, just after a huge blizzard, there were two foxes standing side-by-side in our backyard. Their bright orange fur against the shimmering bright white snow was breathtaking. I’ll never forget the image.
May 5, 2010 at 10:18 am
Jean McBride
I agree that we are lucky to have the connection to all the urban wildlife. Sometimes life becomes too climate controlled – too sanitized and we need to be reminded that we share this planet with so many beautiful creatures.
May 5, 2010 at 12:32 pm
Jane Sullivan
I, too, have been blessed by the fox recently. Every evening, at about 7:30 p.m., she comes through my back yard. My only problem is that my two puppies – yorkie poos (who don’t weigh any more than 10 pounds) decided to chase the fox one day. Oh My! I guess they didn’t realize they were the prey not the hunter! All’s well that end well, and Phoebe and Izzy are just fine!
May 5, 2010 at 1:43 pm
Jean McBride
I’ll have to highlight the two Yorkie Poos soon 🙂
May 6, 2010 at 7:47 am
Serene
Hi honey, I just want to let you know – the foxes don’t kill or eat small dogs. They eat rabbit, squirrel, mice, birds – and of course hens in a hen house. The coyotes and wolf will, but not foxes. Also, about the cats – I still find this Very Hard to believe, but there is some strong information that says they don’t eat cats, either. Which would explain how, for four years – since the emergence of our neighborhood foxes, we have scrambled in terror realizing that one of our cats, Stormie, is still out at dusk only to find her squat in the driveway watching the evening fall and the foxes roaming. We felt blindly lucky until I read that foxes don’t eat cats.
It would also explain the story from our neighbor, who created a cat shelter (with heating pad) for a “wretchedly old, feral cat” and eventually began leaving cat food for him. Well, it Was him, until it became him and a fox. Many times, she saw the fox cleaning out the cat’s food and was amazed at the old cat’s apparent luck and street savvy as he Still Remained Alive. Then, last winter in a cold blast, she looked out the patio doors to see cat and fox sitting two feet apart, looking in her dining room door – apparently waiting together for dinner! I don’t know. Experience and the only credible, published, wildlife source which mentions anything about foxes and cats say foxes don’t kill or eat cats – but, my gut is still quite nervous about the whole thing…
May 6, 2010 at 8:07 am
Jean McBride
Serene – You have the most amazing stories. I love the image of fox and old cat sitting side by side waiting for dinner. Kind of like Rick and me. Well, maybe not… And I’m glad to know that cats aren’t on the menu. So will our neighborhood cats.