Post by leper on May 1, 2011 5:09:58 GMT -7
Over the yrs, I've spent a good deal of my hunting time. Wanting to learn more about predators[observing vs killing]. About coyotes & Red Fox specifically.
Where they den, where they hunt, where they bed & how they use terrain & wind. As well as learning about their hearing & vision abilities. Along with observing their daily habits.
Some differences between Red Fox & coyotes have become obvious to me. I started out spot/stalking both canines on Iowa's rolling foothill cropland. This terrain is very open & can be viewed from many angles.
Typically the terrain is 1-square mile land mass's, surrounded by roadways[gravel roads mainly]. These small sections are ideal for observing with binocs or a spotter scope.
Red Fox spend a good deal of their day, holed-up. Vs the coyotes. Red Fox will often hole-up in a roadway culvert tube or their [old] den hole. During the daytime hrs. They will use both often, on/off all yr around.
Sunny days with light winds or no wind, are the best days for seeing Red Fox outside. Although I have seen them laying out on bitter cold Winter days. Even bitter cold, overcast days.
Before the coyotes moved in, circa; 1968 & beyond. The Red Fox use to den/bed near the center portions of these sq. mile land mass's. Once the coyotes established themselves. The Reds started to den/bed closer to man. As the coyotes took over & occupied the center portions of the mile sections.
The Reds are at ease with loud farmsted/acrege noises nearby. Vs the coyotes which prefer more distance from man. Once in a great while, they'll bed out near the 3/8-1/2 mile areas.
Although I believe Red Fox's hearing is as good as a coyote. Reds tend to dismiss many ambiant noises. Reds tend to become more alert with high pitched abrupt noises[such as squeeks or snaps].
So when a Red Fox is sleeping, some refer to them as being "heavy sleepers". Not totally true in reality. But it is obvious, they dismiss some noises, even some loud noises. A hunter might make when drawing near a sleeping Red, that is bedded down.
Flipside is, the coyotes tend to pay close attention to every noise. Dismissing very little of them. Very little.
A Red Fox also does not have the sharp vision of a coyote. I've been within 15' + from a Red, as I was out in the wide open in plain sight. As I was wearing white cammo[head to ankle] on snow cover. While I was lying prone crawling near, or kneeled down for a shot.
I've also been close to many other Reds as well. None of them seen? me or beome alert. As I was stationary when they looked my way. Some stared hard & long at me. But I never moved a muscle, so they dismissed me as a threat & would curl back into a ball to sleep.
A coyote on the other hand, could pick me out from long range. Even while I was stationary. I believe the coyote can pick out the color variences of my "whites" vs the grounds snow cover. Et they realized something was [out of place or not right]. So I'm convenced a Reds eye sight is not par with the coyotes.
Where they den, where they hunt, where they bed & how they use terrain & wind. As well as learning about their hearing & vision abilities. Along with observing their daily habits.
Some differences between Red Fox & coyotes have become obvious to me. I started out spot/stalking both canines on Iowa's rolling foothill cropland. This terrain is very open & can be viewed from many angles.
Typically the terrain is 1-square mile land mass's, surrounded by roadways[gravel roads mainly]. These small sections are ideal for observing with binocs or a spotter scope.
Red Fox spend a good deal of their day, holed-up. Vs the coyotes. Red Fox will often hole-up in a roadway culvert tube or their [old] den hole. During the daytime hrs. They will use both often, on/off all yr around.
Sunny days with light winds or no wind, are the best days for seeing Red Fox outside. Although I have seen them laying out on bitter cold Winter days. Even bitter cold, overcast days.
Before the coyotes moved in, circa; 1968 & beyond. The Red Fox use to den/bed near the center portions of these sq. mile land mass's. Once the coyotes established themselves. The Reds started to den/bed closer to man. As the coyotes took over & occupied the center portions of the mile sections.
The Reds are at ease with loud farmsted/acrege noises nearby. Vs the coyotes which prefer more distance from man. Once in a great while, they'll bed out near the 3/8-1/2 mile areas.
Although I believe Red Fox's hearing is as good as a coyote. Reds tend to dismiss many ambiant noises. Reds tend to become more alert with high pitched abrupt noises[such as squeeks or snaps].
So when a Red Fox is sleeping, some refer to them as being "heavy sleepers". Not totally true in reality. But it is obvious, they dismiss some noises, even some loud noises. A hunter might make when drawing near a sleeping Red, that is bedded down.
Flipside is, the coyotes tend to pay close attention to every noise. Dismissing very little of them. Very little.
A Red Fox also does not have the sharp vision of a coyote. I've been within 15' + from a Red, as I was out in the wide open in plain sight. As I was wearing white cammo[head to ankle] on snow cover. While I was lying prone crawling near, or kneeled down for a shot.
I've also been close to many other Reds as well. None of them seen? me or beome alert. As I was stationary when they looked my way. Some stared hard & long at me. But I never moved a muscle, so they dismissed me as a threat & would curl back into a ball to sleep.
A coyote on the other hand, could pick me out from long range. Even while I was stationary. I believe the coyote can pick out the color variences of my "whites" vs the grounds snow cover. Et they realized something was [out of place or not right]. So I'm convenced a Reds eye sight is not par with the coyotes.
