Bold Fox Observed Barking In Daylight | The Courier | Ballarat, VIC

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VideoView real estateMy RegionPress Releases from AAPContact usHelp CentrePrivacy PolicyAbout usBendigo AdvertiserThe StandardThe Advocate - HepburnThe Courier's complete view of propertyHome/Noticeboard/Our PeopleBold fox observed barking in daylightBy Roger ThomasDecember 26 2019 - 4:30pmBy Roger ThomasDecember 26 2019 - 4:30pmSaveShareFOX FACTS: Surprisingly, many foxes have been found to cover more ground in the day than at night. But their barking is usually more likely to be heard after dark.

A recent encounter with a barking fox in lightly timbered grassy forest was different because the animal was barking during the day, rather than at night-time.

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The wild bark came mid-morning from within 30 metres, and it continued. Closer than that, a third-grown fox cub grasping a young rabbit was seen running away while the barking went on.

Although its bark was higher-pitched, this fox was reminiscent of a dog barking at an intruder.

It was soon located by its call and was observed barking - boldly facing the human intruder - for a minute before it moved slowly away and out of sight.

The fox appeared to be barking mainly to alert its cub, as well as at the human in its territory. The daytime barking was unusual, as was the fact that the fox did not immediately turn and run, as foxes mostly do upon sighting a human close by.

Foxes have several different calls, including barks, screams, growls and squeals. Barking calls vary from short and sharp, to an extended wild screaming bark.

Some of the screaming calls are often mistakenly attributed to owls. Some could be mistaken for a screaming human.

One call sounds more like that of a bird than it does a fox. These calls are mostly given at night.

Although foxes bark and scream year-round, they seem to do so more frequently in autumn and winter. These sounds can be quite far-carrying on a still night, when their wild quality is emphasised.

Foxes have home ranges of up to seven kilometres radius. They will regularly travel between forest and farm, and are active both at night and during the day.

At night they spend more time in disturbed habitats, but during the day they move around less-disturbed places. Surprisingly, many foxes have been found to traverse greater distances during the day than they do at night.

Research has shown that reduction in fox numbers often results in an increase of cats, with cats taking the role of top predator once the foxes are gone. Most fox calls are heard at night.

TWO EAGLES

Soaring high above the corner of Howitt Street and Creswick Road in Ballarat was a white-bellied sea eagle, its white front and short pointed tail distinctive, even at a distance.

While that bird was being observed, another was seen higher in the sky.

This second bird was a wedge-tailed eagle, with its dark plumage and longer tail helping to identify it. Binoculars helped to confirm its identity.

Both these birds are rarities over Ballarat. The sea-eagle is locally scarcer than the wedge-tail.

UNUSUAL: A white-bellied sea eagle and a wedge-tail eagle were recently spotted flying near each other over the skies of Ballarat.

I found an unusual insect in the garden. It's the first time I have seen it. A web search tells me that it isn't an ant, but a wingless wasp.

J.R. Invermay.

Yes, this is commonly known as a blue ant, although it is a wingless female wasp. About 25mm long, it looks like a stunningly iridescent metallic blue ant as it walks jerkily on the ground in search of young mole crickets, beetle grubs and other prey.

It has a very painful sting - said to be more painful than that of a bee or European wasp or jumper ant.

Some people have an allergic reaction to it.

The male is quite different, being much smaller and winged. He is dull black without any trace of the metallic blue.

There are three white stripes across his abdomen.

This wasp is found in natural and urban areas.

• Questions and photos are welcome. Send to Roger Thomas at The Courier, PO Box 21, Ballarat, 3353, or email to [email protected]

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