A Path Well Traveled

Posted on by

In viewing the videos and photos capturing the night antics of various critters who visit my garden I noticed that each of the species use the same pathway as they arrive at, and then exit, the pond area. The fox(es) always travel a certain path, through the back edge of a garden, as they leave the pond area for other fox adventures.

While most nights foxes are the main attraction, the raccoons also show up to enjoy the yummy, fishy pond water. When they leave to continue their rounds, they usually follow the fox route.

There are fewer visits from Opossums that are caught on the camera, but they too like traipsing through the winter touched plants, rather than taking a less leafy track.

It’s not entirely clear from the videos, but the back fence is at the far left of the frame. There is a gardener-made path, nothing formal, just a well-worn trail going from here to there, and I would have assumed the nocturnal beasties would use that path as it’s available and easy to travel. But they all prefer ambling through the herbage, sticks and branches and pokey plants their walking companions. My best guess for the walkabout choice is that the plants provide cover and protection and I suppose they feel safer than in an open area. For myself, I don’t like to bumble through the garden too much (unless I’m working). Inevitably, a branch I move aside will pop back to whack me. I guess the low-to-the-ground animals don’t have that problem!

Interestingly, I have seen each species take the start of the back trail and make their way to the open area at the pond, politely skirting the wooden beam.

And sometimes it’s just easier to crawl over the back side of the water fall.

Like humans, occasionally a varmint will shake things up and travel a different path. This fox seemed comfortable in the garden, no doubt having cut through it before.

It’s been a week since I’ve seen a fox and longer since the raccoons were spotted on the camera. The Opossums are still around, though the pond camera hasn’t captured them; I’ve observed them in the early mornings before sunrise, crunching through the fallen leaves and sometimes walking along the top of the wooden privacy fence. Mostly, the rats have been on the camera and I’m not thrilled with that, but they’re out-n-about at night too, so it’s not a surprise. I expect that as I’m pruning many freeze-damaged plants the night walkers prefer areas with more cover. They’re still attracted to water sources though, and my garden provides plenty. I’m hoping that the rats that are now at play will become an inducement for some wily hunters.

14 thoughts on “A Path Well Traveled”

    • It is fun, Eliza! They do look pretty well-fed. I worried a bit about the fox. Overnight on 2/1, the other camera caught him (I do think it’s a ‘him’) walking through the open space with a big, ole rat in its mouth! I didn’t see the fox again until last night–he looks beautiful and healthy and stopped for a sip of water. In the interim, I fretted that perhaps the rat had been poisoned, thus poisoning the fox.

      As if there isn’t enough to worry about theses days…

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply ↓

  2. My possums travel a predictable path around the foundations of the buildings; they clearly prefer the cover provided by the shrubbery that rings the buildings. They’ll truck along until they’re just below my feeders, then they’ll climb up, have a snack, then climb down and head off on their daily rounds. Like yours, they’re most active at night and just before dawn.

    I always enjoy watching for animal paths when I’m out and about. Deer trails criss-cross the woods, and alligator ‘slides,’ where they enter and leave the water, became easy to spot once I knew what they were.

    Even squirrels have their ‘paths’ through the trees. Their running around isn’t random; they have their preferred routes. One of the funniest things I ever saw came when the tree trimmers arrived and took a substantial limb off the cypress outside my window. The squirrel who used it as part of its route needed about two weeks before it stopped trying to run along that familiar but now missing limb. It would sit where the limb used to be and just stare — no one likes to have a routine interrupted!

    Like

    Reply ↓

    • I’ve certainly seen what are clearly wildlife trails when I’ve hiked in green spaces and like you, have watched the squirrels use their arboreal highway system. I guess I was just surprised they wouldn’t take the ‘easier’ route, though who’s to say it’s easier, the gardener or the fox?

      Your poor squirrel, he/she was probably thinking what the hell?

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply ↓

    • It’s been entertaining and instructive how much activity there is on a nightly basis. Until this past week, there was a fox in the garden every night save just a few.

      I don’t really know how much of anything there is. When I see a fox down the street, is it the same one that was in my garden last night? I really have no idea. I’m very surprised that there is so much wildlife in this rather sterile, urban landscape. They’re remarkable survivors.

      Like

      Reply ↓

  5. Thank you for sharing these glimpses into your garden at night, Tina. I imagine that it’s fun for you to review the recordings in the morning to learn about the activities in the dark.

    I know we have black bears and racoons and skunks because I occasionally see them when I’m up early enough, but I’m sure there are many other critters I miss because I’m asleep while they are active.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓

Leave a reply to Tina Cancel reply