Author: Daft Old Duffer
Daft Old Duffer: Ventnor Vapouromiter No 6
Wednesday, 27th January, 2010 at 5:29 pm, Isle of Wight
Opinion Piece, Tourism, Wildlife, Writers
A neighbour of mine was walking his dog through Los Altos Park recently when the dog spotted a fox lurking by the fence that lined the railway.
Of course it gave chase. Whereupon the fox slipped back through a gap in the fence and darted up over the track.
The excited dog followed. And died on the electrified line.
It may have been luck that the fox escaped unharmed.
But I don’t believe so. I believe the fox knew – from experience – what happened if you touched the wrong piece of track and had deliberately used the knowledge to aid its escape.
How else do you explain why the railway is not littered with the corpses of foxes – and rabbits for that matter?
One of the ways proposed by our scientist brothers to control those perilous CO2 emissions is to line our highways with ‘artificial trees’ – gadgets on poles that will suck the awful gas from our atmosphere and store it somewhere safe.
Not being a scientist, and therefor not having attended any of those science courses where, it seems, any semblance of common sense is seen as a handicap I feel free to pose the following question – Why artificial trees? What’s wrong with real ones?
Count our blessings
I got talking to a couple on the bus yesterday. They were from Bedford and were on the Island for a short break (I think the guy said a day trip – is that likely from Bedford?).
Whatever, they told me how much they were enjoying the break from weeks of snow back at home, that they’d come to the Island on the same trip the previous year and hoped to be returning the next.
They said how nice it was to take a walk or two in the sunshine, jump on a bus to see other parts, to simply sit on the seafront with a coffee or a beer.
Listening to them I thought – here on the Island – Ain’t we lucky?
Image: Mike Baird under CC BY 2.0
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Simon Thanks for the Creative Commons use of my fox image and use note – nice article!
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It’s a great shot, so we’re happy to.
That’s one of the great advantages of putting photos under Creative Commons – your shots can be admired the world over.
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i cycle on the sea wall between yaverland and shanklin, i often stop and enjoy the view looking out to sea watching the tankers going about there business, its very relaxing, no kids, no phones, no work to bug me, then a pint in the castle on the way home, and back to bedlum…..i wouldnt want to live anywhere else.
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Thanks Michael. I suspect however that Simon used my piece as a reason to put up your foxy shot.
No moans from me if he did.It’s a mystery to me how guys like you capture these moments -but we’re all glad you do.
And while I’m on the subject Simon and Sal;I’m sure I’m not the only one who appreciates the photos you put alonside the articles.They make all the difference.
Now -to change the subject. Has anyone thought to do a survey of the density of the fox population alongside the electrified railway compare to elsewhere? I’m sure there must be whole generations addicted to quick-fried rabbit and bird.
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That’s why they say,’As crafty as a fox’.
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