The benefits of not mowing
Between rainstorms yesterday afternoon, the foxes came out to play in the field of flowers and grass. This is a field and not a lawn because I choose not to mow it. The kits were practicing the signature fox lunge. They will use this skill to pounce on prey in the future. Pairs of bobolinks were scoping out nesting locations in the tall grass, soon to have offspring of their own. Fox and bird coexist in the proper habitat.
Our family was watching their family when Cinnamon decided to break up the party. He ran at the group, and just like last time he tried this, mother fox charged him until the kits had safely returned to the den. Then she lured the dog out to the road for a test of wills. She barked and snarled fiercely, which caused Cinnamon to skulk back home. He only likes to chase; he doesn't like to fight.
I recorded a short video of the fox before she had to turn and run because of a car driving down the road. You can view it here.