Fred is on the fence!

Fred has been in its burrow.

Fred July 5 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I love the phoebe getting into the shot! Still no sign of little Freds.

Fred continues to be a mystery. After making a nest, they continue to hang around. I've not see any evidence that they have had pups. They were out by the water fountain. You can see the fence after the leaves were down in the fall. The fence begins on the other side of the ditch, on the right, and continues off to the left. It is covered in wild grape vines, and further covered up by the serviceberry bush. 

In the fall, 2021

July, 2023

 They are pregnant a month or so, and the kits are the size of a matchbox toy car at birth. Babies are blind, pink and hairless, and are called pups, kits or cubs. They have 3 - 6 pups, but can have up to 10. Their ears are folded closed, and they don't have eyelids to open, yet. About the size of a matchbox car, they become mature in three months. Then they take off. They drink mother's milk for three weeks, and at 4 weeks their eyes open. Mother will bring in grasses and flowers for snacks. They are weaned after 44 days.

And while Animal Facts says they line it with grass, I've seen Fred take dead leaves back to their cette (pronounced set) for what must be a nest. They are pregnant for a little over 30 days, according to Phoenix Wildlife Centre.

June 11th, I captured them on the trailcam with leaves in their mouth, headed for their cette.

There are a couple of large, flat stones across the ditch. Fred ambled across to get to the clover. I am sure there is another burrow beyond the fence, in the gully. They've dug one under the wood in the shed, another under the wood behind the house, another behind the propane tanks. There must be a safety burrow in the forest.

Groundhogs can climb trees, I read. Fred decided to climb up on the fence! I'm somewhat wobbly filming, as the sun was reflecting off of the videocamera viewfinder.

Fred on the fence from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Fred sure has been entertaining!