Parkour!

[rydra_wong]

Sadly, I didn't have a phone on hand to try to get a photo.

But I just found out that a startled fox on a London balcony will, if feeling cornered, drop two storeys onto the top of a garden wall, bounce off that onto the ground, land with somewhat less dignity than it had intended but apparently without injury, and trot off hurriedly.

In my defense, I really didn't mean to make the fox feel cornered; it's just that my immediate, automatic response to "unexpected furry cat-sized creature" is "stay still, make crooning noises at it, try to edge a bit closer." Had I fled, it would have been able to go round to the other side of the balcony, where you only have to drop down half a storey to an adjacent roof.

ETA: I can't help noticing that there is a very well-chewed yellow foam ball on my balcony, which I did not put there.

Also, by way of apology, I have left a dish of water out on the balcony, because it is a heatwave.

Comments

[annofowlshire]

On the balcony, wow! We have a couple of neighborhood foxes (also in London) who hate being seen but seem to want to come out during late commuting times when there's a lot of foot traffic in the area and they get spooked and run around and do mad dashes. They also like the area next to our house for hiding. Example:



This shot is taken level from my second story balcony. The only thing up there is the roof of the neighboring building and our enclosed garden. We know they're not going into our garden, so I guess they're heading for the roof?

[yourlibrarian]

Wow, I didn't realize foxes climbed like that! We have spotted a few in our area over the years but they're usually so quick or distant, we've never been able to get good pictures.

These are the only fox photos we've gotten, of two juveniles out with their mom that we saw while on a walk:

[rydra_wong]

Wow, I didn't realize foxes climbed like that!

Yes, you wouldn't think they were built for climbing, but they are enterprising:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/weird-news/london-fox-spotted-napping-on-second-floor-window-sill-in-notting-hill-how-did-it-get-there-10453979.html

(Actually, that's quite near me: I wonder if the foxes in this particular area have been honing their buildering skills?)

[rydra_wong]

Thank you for your photo!

Last year, I actually surprised a fox (don't know if it was the same fox) inside) the house:

https://rydra-wong.dreamwidth.org/439420.html

The ones around here don't seem to give a shit about being seen, as long as they don't feel trapped or think you can get them. I've seen groups of cubs playing under streetlights on more than one occasion, and they seem very unbothered by security lights snapping on.

[annofowlshire]

Inside the house would freak me out. Honestly, I'm worried that our foxes will someday decide to drop down into our garden. They might be able to jump the lowest bit of the wall in a panic (about 3 meters? And that might just put them in the neighbor's garden), but near as I can tell, the only reliable way out of our garden is through the house....

[yourlibrarian]

I went up the stairs somewhat faster this time, and was greeted by the sight of a large fox ricocheting back into the room (it had evidently bolted for the doors then discovered they were shut), flailing, then leaping up onto my desk and exiting through a window.

Ok, that is wild. I think I would have been rather freaked out by that.

[rydra_wong]

Most of my freakage was over "am I about to encounter a human burglar in my house?", so I was relieved that it was the fox, and also delighted and amazed by the general surrealism of the moment.

[yourlibrarian]

That's true, it's all relative!

[dhampyresa]

That fox is clearly an Assassin's Creed aficionado.

[ranunculus]

**LOL**

Exactly

[rydra_wong]

*g* I suspect all inner London foxes are.

[rydra_wong]

The really fascinating thing was that it had to jump diagonally down-and-left to hit the garden wall, and I could see it sizing up the jump and aiming itself.

[ranunculus]

Animals are amazing. Tazlina once jumped over a wall. It was about three feet high on the side she started on, but 12+ on the downhill side. She limped for a step or two afterward but then seemed fine.
Smart animals like foxes, and our western coyotes are certainly making a comeback in heavily human populated areas!

[alatefeline]

Awwwww poor fox. I would also have had the same reaction as you.

[lavendertook]

It's always awesome to see foxes. The water bowl is a nice apology. (-:

[peoriapeoriawhereart]

If not that fox, I'm sure some wee beastie will appreciate a drink.

Even somewhat overfed cats seem to have no problem jumping up onto a short fence and then hopping down onto the other side.