Wakefield - Avoid the Bowl - Fox Den

[Trailcreep]

On the top of hill in the Bowl area of Wakefield there is a fox den, the den is between the two upper most trails less than 6 feet from the trail. This morning there were 5 or 6 kits (baby fox) in the trail. Luckily the mother fox was not around when I was there, I did see her near the stream. Mother fox can be very territorial and protective of their young. Since avoiding this one trail effectively prevents you from riding a loop you might want to avoid the Bowl completely. The park has been notified and may post signs in the area, Please warn any riders you see on other trails or in the parking lot.

The Bowl is the wooded area behind the new ballfields on the right as you enter the park.....between the ballfields and 495.

Mike

[rodnreel729]

Thanks for the heads up Mike!

[cjled]

I have seen the little foxes a few weeks in a row, and have been going slowly by the den so as not to run over one of them. I had also been wondering where the mom was...that was seemingly answered Thursday night, when descending down the middle of the three trails that head down from the hilltop. I wasn't that close to the den but must have startled the adult fox as I heard the growls right next to me and turned to see the silhouette and reflection of my lights on its eyes as it ran off. Scared the crap out of me. If in the area I will try and make more noise so as not to sneak up on it again...

[Jackson]

Anyone have an update on this? I've kept my rides away from the bowl completely b/c of this. Wanted to know if the critters have moved on and/or the bowl is ok to ride again.

[Dirt]

Anyone have an update on this? I've kept my rides away from the bowl completely b/c of this. Wanted to know if the critters have moved on and/or the bowl is ok to ride again.

Someone on the Moderate- ride went out there on Tuesday, saw the kits and turned back.

Pete

[Jackson]

Gracias, Senor Dirt. Ese lugar será prohibido.

[Trailcreep]

You can still ride the bowl. I would reccomend going in on the 495 trail, crossing the stream then work your way back to ridge on the interior trail. We taped off both ends of the trail that has the fox den, the den is only about 20 feet from the tape at the top of the hill. You can still ride the trail that cuts across the ridge at the top of the hill but I would try and get out of the area of the yellow tape as quickly as possible. The kits seem to be getting pretty mobile and hopefully they will move on soon.

[Xtgirl]

We had the good fortune to have a fox give birth to seven pups underneath our porch in the Cardinal Forest neighborhood(near Accotink). Wow it was great watching them play and grow up...of course our neighbor wanted us to kill them because they might attack the children:(We got some great video and were quite close to the mother several times trying to protect her from a cat. They make a noise like a wild bobcat when frightened or protecting the pups. The mom was prly out hunting for the pups during the day.

Our pups and mom finally moved on after about a month, but it was a great month. You should see the pics we got from leaning out our front window!