By Meg Peters
Review Co-Editor
One Orion Township family has witnessed a particularly creative use for a storm drain located in their Hi Hill Subdivision backyard.
Within the concrete pipes, they noticed, lives a family of red foxes, the mother, father, and five kits.
Karl Wirth, and his wife Mary Anne, have been keeping a close watch of the skulk, or family, for the past several weeks, delighted in their choice of den.
‘It’s as if the foxes allowed us to witness their behavior and intimate family life,? he wrote in an email. ‘I feel the need to slow down and look a bit closer and observe what other wondrous and beautiful creatures live in our yard and across the road.?
According to Hannah Schauer, Wildlife Technician for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), this behavior’nesting in a storm drain’is common for the red fox.
‘It’s not unusual to see them in any environment, particularly in urban environments where they have adapted to surviving in close proximity to humans,? she said.
One key ingredient to attract wildlife, whether purposely or not, is the presence of food outside. This could include bird feeders, garbage and gardens to help sustain an animal family. ?
Red fox also are great for rodent control, hunting smaller animals in large, open territory.
Breeding season for the red fox typically ranges from January to March, depending on the weather, where the red fox will find a mate, a den and work together to establish a territory.
Pup rearing season lasts between March through summer, where activity around the den will slowly taper off as pups, or kits, grow older and explore beyond the home range.
By late summer or early fall, the family group usually disbands, Schauer said, as they spread out to use their full territory again.
Wirth has already notices less activity around the storm drain, however he has sensed the family qualities of the group.
‘The fox and vixen would take the kits one or two at a time into the woods where we assume they were being taught ‘survival skills,? he said. ‘Although weary and constantly on the lookout, the adults allowed us to watch them and their family with little concern.? ‘When the adults sensed danger, they barked.? Immediately the kits would scurry into the storm drain and fox or vixen bolted into the woods.?
Wirth and his neighbors have been watching the family for weeks now, as joggers, cyclers and outdoor enthusiasts passed by the storm drain, not knowing what was beneath them, Wirth said.
‘The little ones ran, chased, stalked, pounced on one another, and wrestled endlessly.? Our neighbors, guests, and my wife and I were entertained for hours watching the kits.? It was quite easy to conclude that they were actually having fun.?
Aside from the fox, which the Wirth’s have seen on occasion over the past 30 years, deer, turkeys, pheasants, raccoons, opossums, rabbits and others have passed through Hi Hill’s ‘edge? habitat. Edge habitats are defined where a forest meets a field, Hi Hill being a good example so close to the Bald Mountain Recreation area.
‘It makes me appreciate this area and its diverse wildlife so much more.’We still see them but less frequently and I hope they use the same den next spring,? he wrote.
For more information on how to reduce potential conflicts with the red fox, visit the MDNR website Michigan.gov/dnr and search for red fox.