Fox in the Meadow by Artist Penny Winn

Fox Portrait by Wildlife Artist Penny Winn

Painting the fox. I do love the paint the fox he is clever and exciting. He is always looking for things to get into. He can live as easily in the city, forest, or the desert. For me the fox is the coy trickster from my storybooks as a child. The survivor, maybe a little like me.

There are so many interesting facts and ideas about foxes that I thought I would share a few with you.

Did you know that different varieties of Foxes live on every continent except Antarctica and thrive in cities, towns, and rural settings. But despite being all around us. Did you know they use magnetic north to hunt and that they can actually see it? That they are more like a cat than a dog and use their whiskers, and their whiskers are very sensitive.
 
Foxes are known to be friendly, playful,  and curious. They play among themselves, as well as play well with other animals, like cats and dogs do. They love balls, which they will steal from backyards and golf courses. Although foxes are wild animals, their relationship with humans goes way back. In 2011, researchers opened a grave in a 16,500-year-old cemetery in Jordan to find the remains of a man and his pet fox. This was 4000 years before the first-known human and domestic dog were buried together.

The fox has been in all types of folklore. The sly trickster fox from Native American lore; and Aesop's "The Fox and the Crow." The Finnish believed a fox made the Northern Lights by running in the snow so that its tail swept sparks into the sky. From this, we get the phrase "fox fires". 

I am just so fascinated by the fox I don't want one as a pet, although I have read that you can now have a domesticated fox for the mere penitence of $4000 if this is what you are wanting to pay for a pet! I guess anything can be had for a price. I will keep my wonderful Great Pyrenees and Border Collie they are wonderful companions and are enough trouble! One day I will have to paint them! Have a great day!    

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