The Toad and the Fox

A brief update on the previous post: last night a large toad appeared on the walkway between the house and barn. I've seen them there before and think it curious; there doesn't seem to be anything to bring them there. I tried to shoo the toad away and he hopped a few times, but settled down next to the wall of the barn, not far from the light. To my surprise, the next time I went out, hours later (to run some balls off the pool table, which is my way of getting up from the computer and not sitting for too long at a stretch—and Butters likes it out there too) he was still there, but would not hop when I nudged him with my shoe. I assumed he was being affected by the cold. This morning, the toad is gone, but right next to where he was is the distinctive scat of the fox! And yes, foxes do eat toads. They are opportunistic omnivores and eat all kinds of things.

Circumstantial evidence at best, but it appears that an old toad made lethargic by the cold became the dinner of the fox I saw, although it would never stand up in a court of law.

Mike

'Golden Oldie' Books o' the Week

I was going to link to The Life of a Photograph by National Geographic ace Sam Abell, the book version of Sam's video talk we've been discussing, but guess what? Sold out since we mentioned it the other day. You can still score one of the few remaining copies of the 4-volume Sam Abell Library from 2013, but buy it directly from the publisher—they still have it at the $75 publication price (I called them in Santa Fe to check), and Amazon is already charging four times more. We need a reprint of Sam's classic Stay This Moment!

This book link is a portal to Amazon. You're very kind use our links, as they help support the site.

B&H Photo

Original contents copyright 2020 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:

Comments

[Kenneth Tanaka]

And from such anecdotes countless (useless) Asian proverbs have been born.

[Omer]

Supposedly there are fox in Arizona, though I've not seen any. The ubiquitous coyote we have, which will make a meal of just about any animal smaller than it. Recently on a morning after a storm I found the remains of a wild duck on my front yard.

Cats are a favorite and anything domestic(small) will do but a wild duck?

Yeah, we have all kinds of hawks and owls but the very few remains suggest a larger predator. I mean, the neck and head were the only whole parts untouched. Literally.

Baby dragons? Yeah baby!

[David Dyer-Bennet]

Light attracts some insects, maybe the toad is hunting in your pool of light? (And so was the fox maybe!)

[That door next to the light does attract a wide variety of insects, you're right. --Mike]

[brian]

had to smile at your post title,

being an ex pat it sounded very much to me like a great name for an old english public house.

can imagine such a place set in the cotswalds
complete with a river running past it, thatched roof and all and of course warm beer!

[Not THAT Ross Cameron]

Following on from Brian’s comment, does the shed / pool hall have a name yet? :~)

[Not really. I tend to call it "the pool table shed," because "the pool shed" tends to confuse people--I think it puts them in mind of something having to do with a swimming pool. --Mike]

[H Bernstein]

Toads secrete a nasty poison from the two large glands behind their heads. Dogs can’t eat them, I’m surprised that foxes can.

[Phil]

Why not MY POOL HALL ? Simple and honest.

[Patrick Dodds]

I don't imagine raw toad tastes too good.

[Richard Parkin]

Like H Bernstein I would be surprised if foxes eat toads. Dogs drop them immediately and then foam at the mouth — I have plenty of toads in the garden so have seen this several times over the years.

[Tony McLean]

Or you can call it, The Pool Vestibule.

[Chico Ruger]

“The Billiard Box”?

[Jim Arthur]

You should probably just refer to your billiard room as the place to be.

[Not THAT Ross Cameron]

“The Fox and Toad” has a certain ring to it.
Cheers,
Ross

[Scott]

Another vote for “The Fox and Toad”.

[John]

Many years ago, during my misspent youth, a girlfriend and I would collect real English pub names, while also making up our own.

A satisfyingly actual name was the 'Beetle and Wedge', on the river Thames.

Beetle in this instance, not being potential food for a toad, but a large wooden mallet. Combined with the wedge, it was used to split logs along their length.