Foxes safe in their den
April 21st, 2009 by admin
It’s one of the best photos we’ve seen in a while, and it’s matched with a great story. Last week, workers at Greenwood Cemetery, a municipal cemetery operated by the City of Orlando, spotted five young red fox kits playing among the headstones. “They were all out on the grass rolling around, biting each other and playing,” Greenwood sexton Don Price told the Orlando Sentinel. According to the article in Saturday’s paper, “Price called the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to see if the foxes could be relocated. He was told that under a state policy for nuisance animals, a trapper would have to euthanize the fox family.”
To his great credit, Price could not let that happen. Instead of calling a trapper, he put up signs asking visitors to the cemetery to keep their distance. “If I can keep them happy for three or four months, they’ll go off on their own,” Price said.
Please send Mr. Price a quick e-mail to thank him for his compassionate decision.
E-mail: Don.Price@cityoforlando.net
Congratulations to Orlando Sentinel photographer Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda for a great photo!
Saturday July 18: What a surprise, I went out to the family plot to clean up flowers and weeds. Life was beautiful to see two of the fox’s playing around the family plot in “B” Section and drinking water at the base of the Magnolia Tree we planted. Don had put a water tube to help it grow but he also has help the fox’s.
I sat in the car and watch them like small kids playing hide/ go /seek behind the tombstones and then running out and jumping on each other with loud noise.
My thanks to Don for help in protecting the wildlife and bringing life and enjoyment to a place to many is so sad. Thanks Don. I hope to catch you in person next week and share my joy!
I will send him a copy also.
Linda -
I happened upon this story while looking for info about red foxes for an Animals And Art class I’m teaching. It’s a sweet story with a happy ending! Thanks for sharing it!!
Nancy M.
Boston, MA