Fox story

A few years ago I was doing my usual patrol of my local nature reserve with my camera when I came across this young fox. I soon realised by its behaviour that it had ventured out of it den and could not find its way back. Being black in colour told me that it was too young to be out on its own and knowing where its den was I picked it up and put it back in the entrance and watched it quickly disappear.

 

Several months later walking the same route I came across this young fox. It was startled at first and then settled down and watched me. It was then that I realised that it was the youngster that I had met before and it had recognised me as a friend.

I was able to get quite close to it and get these photographs. I met with it on lots of occasions after that and it just ignored me and often just walked past me giving me just a glance in recognition.

This behaviour I refer to as trust, the animal knows that I am somebody that will not harm it or worry it. I am a fellow creature that is no threat to it.
 

A badgers trust

About twelve years ago a friend learned of my thoughts on animals trust in humans. He invited me to his home one very wet evening to prove my point. He often left food out for a local badger so I sat on his verander at the top of the steps leading down into his garden. He put some bits and pieces in a bowl and placed it at the bottom of the steps. I sat for no more than 10 minutes before a badger appeared out of the shrubbery saw me and wandered towards me.

Totally ignoring me it tucked into the food occasionally glancing in my direction, I was sitting no more than 2m away from it.

As you can see I was using flash which did not bother it in the least

It looked towards me several times but continued to enjoy his meal.

I had never seen this badger before and yet it was quite comfortable in my presence. When it had finished it just looked up at me and wandered off.

My thanks to the late great Mike Hall, a true friend, for this wonderful experience.
 

Freedom for Badgers

Many moons ago I was invited by a friend to watch badgers on a local reserve. I jumped at the chance as it was a privilage to be admitted out of hours. He had scattered some peanuts in front of the hide. I set up auto-flashes that would fire at a signal from my camera, so I sat and waited and what an evening it turned out to be. When they appeared I thought the flashes would scare them off but to my surprise they were totally ignored. One came so close a board was missing by Jacque's foot and she felt it brush her ankle.

My camera equipment then was no where near the standard it is today so I was delighted with the results I got. I believe it was a 100m lens I was using so you can see they got very close and we were totally ignored.

I am afraid this event was a one-off and I never had the chance of repeating it. I have dedicated this post to the news that the government have decided to abolish the badger cull and vaccinate instead. I have put out a feast in my garden this evening for the badgers so they can celebrate.
Thankyou Jake.

Badger returns

 My garden has been very quiet for several months but I always leave a few dog biscuits around just in case someone gets hungry. I had noticed on a couple of mornings that the biscuits had been moved aroundand some were missing so I decided last night to put a camera out. to my surprise I captured this shot. Its a badger thats doing all the calling. So I have got myself something to do during lockdown.

It is not up to my usual standard in photography it was a filthy night with a lot of rain and this is the best shot that I got.

Ratty the water vole

Some years ago I was out walking with my camera when I came to a small stream. I noticed a little movement in the water and saw to my surprise a creature swimming. I realised I has spotted my first water vole. I kept perfectly still and it it carried on feeding and totally ignored me.

I watched it for a good ten minutes while it went about its business of feeding.

It swam up and down as though it was showing off.

In the end it came and sat on the grass not more than a couple of metres away and watched me.

I have had some strange experiences with wild animals but I think this one takes the biscuit. I went back several times over the following years but never saw it again.