Turkey Thief

[Ben]

I grabbed the turkey carcass from yesterday's turkey dinner, and a game cam, and gave it a night. This guy came by around 2230 last night (ignore the image date and time):



He has what's left of the turkey carcass in his mouth. Pretty sure it's a red fox:



I knew I had foxes around here, but have not seen one yet. I've been baiting a couple of game cams to see what comes around at night. Interestingly, none of the coyotes I always hear at night have shown up on the cams.

[RoadKingLarry]

We've seen several this year in the backyard and garden, less than 100' from the back door.

[Hawkmoon]

I'm a bit surprised that you have both foxes and coyotes. I thought coyotes tended to wipe out the fox population within their range.

[Ben]

I'm a bit surprised that you have both foxes and coyotes. I thought coyotes tended to wipe out the fox population within their range.

My understanding is that we have a robust population of red foxes in the state, as well as the robust coyote population.

There's a chance it's a kit fox. They are somewhat rare in the state, but according to DFG, my area would be a place you might see one. I think the ears are too small though.

[Hawkmoon]

Another failing of our language. Baby foxes are called "kits," but there is also a species (or sub-species) called the kit fox. So what's a baby kit fox, a "kit squared"? "Kit^2"?

[230RN]

Then there are "Fox Kites."  (This is a real thing --kites shaped like foxes.)



So if you had one like a baby kit fox, you'd have a kit kit kite.



Terry "Just emerging from my fourth childhood, so be patient with me," 230RN

Pic credit in properties, but as usual, it was probably stolen from somewhere else anyway.

[RoadKingLarry]

And then there is this kind of Kitfox

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGj_oi7UUEE

[Ben]

Another failing of our language. Baby foxes are called "kits," but there is also a species (or sub-species) called the kit fox. So what's a baby kit fox, a "kit squared"? "Kit^2"?

Idaho Kitfox (Dammit! RKL beat me by 10 seconds!):

[Northwoods]

So far the only effective predator of the turkeys in my yard has been, well, me. 

It amazes me how quickly they calm down and actually relax when pinned down but before the knife cut.  And for some reason the toms never seem to thrash as much as the hens after being bled out.  The fat layer on the one I slaughtered today looks pretty glorious.  He’ll be dinner on the 30th when some friends come over (NOT A PARTY - it’s a protest/funeral).

[Devonai]

Funny that the Japanese word for fox is "kitsune."  Unfortunately the word for an adult fox is not "kitlater."