Good News on the foxes Venus and Jupiter

Venus

 2024-03-08

In mid March, Venus was released back into the wild! She has been completely cured of her mange and has regained use of her hind legs after months of excellent care and hard work by her rehabilitators. Now starts a new chapter in her life as a healthy young fox! 

Here is a short video of her release: 

 

Jupiter

More good news!  Jupiter, Venus' brother, was sighted on April 9th looking in good health and running with ease.  He has survived the winter and although his mange is not 100% cured, he is in good shape considering.

You can see the transformation of these two kits by checking out these previous posts:

Venus and Jupiter

Update on Venus in November

The April 8, 2024 Total Solar Eclipse

 

I went out today to experience the solar eclipse but with no intention of photographing it!  I just wanted to experience the darkness while in nature.  In fact I had my back to the sun during the prelude to totality and was focused on a hawk nest hoping to capture some shots of the birds.  However, when the darkness reached its peak and I heard cheers from a group of nearby watchers, I turned to see the glorious sight and got off the shot as shown above.

I was originally blasé about the eclipse but my interest grew when I found out that the path of totality was crossing Montreal Island.  It was a wonderful experience.  It was the change in the color of the light that was most striking to me.  It didn't become as dark as I had expected; instead there was a dim silvery-yellow light.  I watched the shadows of the trees disappear as totality was reached and then slowly reappear.

I saw no change in behavior of most of the birds around me however once the sunshine came back, Ring-billed Gulls were swirling in the skies giving their shrieking cries.  That may have been coincidental though.

We will have to wait until August of 2045 to see the next total solar eclipse.  Events like this make me wish I were immortal.

A Chance

 

Today I found a severed stem

of milkweed, with each pod ajar –

so, like a wand, I waved it high

to help the tufted seeds fly far.

And many sailed into the sky,

but others tangled in small trees,

and so I went to pluck them there

and fling them out onto the breeze.

Were I a seed snagged on a bough,

I'd want someone to set me free,

and have a chance to reach the earth

to thrive where I am meant to be.

November 2020

(from the book Longing For The Light by Doris Potter)

© Doris Potter

 

New Update on Venus

Today, November 16th, I contacted the shelter that took in the little fox, Venus, for another update.  Here is what I received:

Hi Doris!!!

Venus is doing fine, her skin and fur are a lot better, she can now stand on her back legs and she is starting to walk ... one of her back legs is worse than the other, so it is going to take time but I am pretty sure that she is going to recover at least 75%.  Here is a picture of her beautiful face!

Marie-Claude 

November 16th

Compare this to how she looked over the last few months!

July 11th

 (this may be a sibling but they were all in the same terrible condition)

September 30th

 (just arriving at the shelter)

October 16th

Further update of December 18, 2023:

Hello Doris!!

Venus is doing so great!!!!  She is not anymore in the care place; she is now in the "refuge" where she is walking and she started to run!!!!  Her fur is beautiful!!! She does not want me to touch her anymore which means she is going to be able to get back to the wild in the Spring!!!

Marie-Claude

Transformation

A garden, abandoned and wild –

liberated from man's designs –

basks in each summer day.

Then soon arrives November's chill –

and bitter winds and evening frost

mean winter's on the way.

The goldenrod – its treasure spent

in wild and wanton revelries –

retires in shades of buff.

The aster drops its purple fringe –

its yellow center detonates

into a soft, beige puff.

The milkweed's blushing, perfumed blooms

give way to tasseled seeds that sail

above a pale tableau.

Autumnal hues once warm and strong,

fade slowly from the cooling scene,

soon to be blanched by snow.

November 2020

(from the book Longing For The Light by Doris Potter)

© Doris Potter

Update On Venus

I contacted the shelter that took in Venus and got this reply on October 16th:

Hi Doris!!

Her skin is a LOT better!!! At the end of the week she is not going to be contagious anymore [referring to the mange] and we are going to start her physiotherapy for her to get back her muscles in the back legs ... she is a lot too skinny, so for sure is going to be with us for the winter ...  That's the news for now, thank you for helping her.

Marie-Claude Poirier

I then asked for a photo and received this:

The most positive thing to me is that her eyes are wide open!  With the elimination of all her parasites, I'm sure she is feeling much better and hopefully her appetite will improve soon.

Then there was a big surprise in store for me when I returned to the area to try to get a glimpse of Jupiter!  A third fox kit has appeared!!  I call him "Saturn".

That's Jupiter in front (with a redder coat) and Saturn behind (with a straw-colored coat).

Back in July, I was talking to a woman who lives in the area and she said there were three baby foxes.  I only ever saw two together.  We both presumed that the third one had died.  I'm really glad to see that they all lived.  I will be monitoring both these kits and hope they stay in the area in case they need emergency care.

Jupiter

 

I was glad to get a sighting of Jupiter today!  He is, of course, in bad shape from his mange but is still able to get around and his coat is getting thicker.

I am still hopeful that we can capture him (like we did with his sister Venus) so that he can be treated and brought to good health.

This video shows that he can walk and even trot although a close look (especially in other videos) shows that he is favoring his left hind leg.