A Necessary Boundary

I love my wildlife. I really do. But the last couple of days (especially yesterday) Felicity has tested my hospitality to its absolute limit. She’s become insatiable — coming back multiple times, sitting outside the lounge door staring at me, waiting for more. She’s turned the Wildlife Cafe into her personal all-you-can-eat buffet and I can’t keep up.So I’ve made a decision.From now on, Felicity will get two pouches of premium chicken cat food in one sitting as her main breakfast, along with a couple of bacon sizzlers. That should be enough to fill her up properly in one go. After that, no more food. The hanging bird feeders will stay topped up.To be fair, I created this problem myself by giving her a pouch in two separate sittings, rather than just one decent breakfast the first time around. Clearly she thought if she waited, she'd get another one, and then maybe even another one.So now I have to try to sort this issue out.
Felicity Update: Day Two of the new routine

I gave Felicity her breakfast, but she hung around the garden waiting for seconds.She’s still out there right now, lying peacefully by the hedge behind the shed. I love her to bits — she’s a real scallywag, but she’s lovely. 😊I feel a bit sad and a bit deflated about setting these boundaries, but I have to. I’ve been incredibly generous, but I literally can’t afford to keep feeding one fox at this level, especially when there are so many others who also would like some breakfast. Plus she needs to forage for real fox food. In my stupidity I thought if I gave her a good breakfast then a bird or mouse would live to see another day. But cat food isn't the best diet for her, she needs fresh protein. I’m hoping a firmer routine will reset things.
The Wildlife Cafe isn’t closing. It’s just changing its rules.

Felicity’s 1-Star Google Review for The Wildlife Cafe
(written while lying in the sun trap behind the shed, giving side-eye to the human peeping out the window)

“DO NOT COME HERE. Worst service in the West Midlands.
Turned up for my usual 11-course breakfast. Human gave me one pathetic pouch and two measly bacon sizzlers then hid like a criminal.
I had to do a full 5-hour sit-in protest outside the lounge window. Still no seconds.
The Magpies are rude. The Walters are idiots. The Littlies are tiny and pointless.
I am a beautiful, hardworking single mother of 3 and I expect better.
Will be telling all my fox friends. Also writing a strongly worded letter to the hedge.
☆☆☆☆
— Felicity ‘The Queen’ Fox
(VIP customer, currently available for sponsorship deals)”
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Felicity & The Cubs

I’m a bit worried about Felicity at the moment. She seems to be spending a lot of time in my garden and not much time with her cubs. Even now, in the evening, she's out there laying in the long grass (half way up the photo on the left). I've never seen her in the garden at this time of night before. I assume the cubs are old enough now (around 6–8 weeks) that she’s starting to leave them for longer periods while they learn to forage on their own.I’ll ask Tom tomorrow if he’s still seeing her and the cubs in his garden. It’s making me a bit anxious, but I’m told this is fairly normal behaviour for a vixen at this stage — they start giving the cubs more independence around now.She’s still beautiful and cheeky as ever, though. A real scallywag.

Felicity / Possibly Felix? She’s fast asleep again in her favourite sunny spot in the long grass. Earlier I saw her lift her leg to pee against the Lavatera. I’ve always assumed she’s a vixen (especially with the talk of cubs), but now I’m not so sure. Male foxes are much more likely to lift their leg to mark territory. If she’s actually a “he”, then maybe he’s the dad who’s not allowed in the den and has decided my garden makes a nice bachelor pad instead.I still haven’t seen any cubs yet, so it’s all just guesswork at the moment. Either way, whether she’s Felicity or Felix, she’s become a proper character in the garden — and I’m still very fond of her (or him!).

Felicity, My Garden Dog Felicity is absolutely gorgeous. I love her to bits. I’ve always wanted a dog, but with my mobility issues I wouldn’t be able to take one for proper long walks. So instead, I seem to have acquired a fox who basically looks after herself. She comes and goes as she pleases, has her favourite spots, expects room service in the mornings, and still manages to be completely wild. Win-win, I suppose. She’s my little garden dog now — just one who doesn’t need walks, worming tablets, or trips to the vet. She takes care of all that herself. 💖

Tom told me today there are 5 cubs in his garden and they still look like little puppies. So I guess there’s still time for them to discover my garden and turn it into full Fox Family Resort territory 🤯Whether she’s a vixen with five babies nearby or actually a young male (Felix?) who’s claimed the territory, she’s become a proper little resident here. I’m still very fond of her either way.
Fatima the Comeback Queen
Tom confirmed today that the new leaves at the base of Fatima are definitely hers! After everything she’s been through, she’s pushing out strong new growth from the bottom as well as the top. She’s going to be sooooo bushy and fabulous again soon. I’m absolutely thrilled for her. 😍🥰

The Compost Bin Den Idea

I’m thinking of getting one of those big black Geomax-style compost bins and placing it in a quiet, secluded corner of the garden. I’ll leave the hatch open, fill the bottom with a good thick layer of straw (I’ve already got loads from the strawberry plants), and turn it into a potential shelter for Felicity.

If she wants a proper roof over her head when it’s raining or cold, it’ll be there for her. And if she never uses it… well, at least I’ll have a decent compost bin!  👍