I was told that there was a litter of eleven fox kits denned inside the laberynthine underside of the breakwater of the Union Bay Boat Launch in the Porcupine Mts. I suppose that their housing will work fine until a big storm comes. We saw four kits in varying degrees of rest, activity and recreation.

Interesting and an excellent shot (as usual). Keep up the good work!

What a wonderful picture! Thank you.

Hi Dan:.....they are cunnin and cunning............nice shot, won't be long .....another 10 days and will be in the U.P. till mid October......can't wait. Bee---Sarasota. FL

Are those gypsy moth caterpillars on the beams? If so, how bad are they in the UP?

nice wildlife photo of da foxes. we had two adult fox which we enjoyed watching in our back yard a couple of years ago. they came in for black sunflower seed that we put out for the birds and rabbits; the wild turkeys and yes, even the deer eat the seeds also. always enjoy your photos and interesting stories.

Dan, the caterpillars are horrible this year.I have been fighting them for the last two days, crawling on the side of our house and shrubs.Can't even enjoy a walk as they are hanging
from the trees in the woods also.Yuk. Some places
are so bad that it looks like an alien invasion!
They may be a part of "natures cycle" but she can have them back !
Awww, but the picture, one cute part of nature.
(Hi Bea !)
Alicia

Dan S. -
When I uploaded this picture Wednesday, I didn't even notice the caterpillars. They are really bad here right now. We went on a walk in the woods this week, and you could hardly find a place to step without being covered, as they were swinging from every tree like ornaments.

Black flies are pretty thick this morning, too.

Dan,
They are not gypsy moth caterpillars and thankfully the U.P. (or more specifically in this case, the Keweenaw area) does not have a real problem with Gypsy moths that other areas have experienced. However, monitoring for the gypsy moth does take place in the U.P.
Great pics as per usual!

I assume these are Red Foxes? Are there Grays around as well?

Ya can never have too many critter shots at Pasty Cam, I always say. Thank you, Dan & Charlie!

The caterpillars coming out now are Forest Tent Caterpillars. There are some interesting websites that describe their life cycle as well as methods used to control outbreaks. Experts say the caterpillar outbreaks are about 3 years in length, occurring every 10 or 15 years. The resultant fly that seems to breed out of control during times of heavy caterpillar infestation is a natural way of getting rid of them (the fly maggots eat them at some stage in their life cycle). These types of flies, though, are very pesty. (Last year we walked along the beach for an hour, and when we returned, both of our backs were absolutely BLACK with flies -- and they don't shoo away easily. Of course, we had our winter coats on at the time, but that's another story.) They don't bite like the "black" flies do, and they are different than the cluster flies seen in the fall.

Still, though, it could be said that "A bad day in the U.P. confronted with caterpillars and flies still beats a good day at the office!"

Amen Carol. Thanks for all the info gang. Dan U., I didn't want to take away from the really cool photo of the kits. Keep up the photography!!!

Maybe next time you don't say where these wild creatures are....trappers and idiots abound. I fear for the safety of these little foxes, who help keep the mice pOOpulation (underline that one) down. Nature will balance (like on Isle Royale), but Tinkering Man has to decimate one side, and then the other side- maybe not so nice -gets out of control. If foxes have no food, there will be less foxes, naturally. If mice are NOT hunted...guess what! In your cupboard!

Dan U., just love your pictures, I pick a different wall paper each week, makes me feel "at home" again. Miss the UP, hope some day to come home.

This picture is very cute. They're adorable

The picture is great!! Came across your site, by chance, while looking for a clear pic of the gypsy moth. Am orginally from the UP; have family living in Octonogon, so know the area you got this absolutely wonderful shot!! Have been told the "imported" flies are awful this year!!

hi
this is Julia Mihelcich. I've saw some of those under a barn that I
live by. I love animals. The ones that I saw were silver-back
foxes. They were beautiful!!