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Foxes content living in downtown Tempe!
Posted: Sep 28 2010 8:05 am
by chumley
I live in an adjacent neighborhood and haven't seen them on any of my travels, but I think its really cool that they've found a home here. Sort of like the breeding bald eagle pair living in the light towers by the Tempe Marketplace.
Excerpt:
At first, some thought it was a strange-looking cat with an unusual tail. Others thought it was a small dog with big ears.
But after a few double takes, residents in a quiet central Tempe neighborhood realized the fuzzy four-legged animal darting across streets and into oleanders was neither.
At least two foxes have settled in a tree-lined residential community south of University Drive and west of Mill Avenue.
The neighborhood is next to the bustling urban environment of downtown Tempe and Arizona State University and is characterized by established homes, green landscaping and a pedestrian-friendly atmosphere.
Apparently they are living off roof rats and other vermin, and the residents are very protective of them. One of the commenters describe the foxes: "They are beautiful and appear to be the size of a large stout cat with a very long tail with a black stripe down the middle."
http://www.azcentral.com/community/temp ... s0925.html
Re: Foxes content living in downtown Tempe!
Posted: Sep 28 2010 10:38 am
by Alston_Neal
That's pretty cool and the fact that eating roof rats is a big bonus.
Re: Foxes content living in downtown Tempe!
Posted: Sep 28 2010 1:43 pm
by airic
Are those eagles nesting there at Tempe Marketplace, or are these the Dobson pair perching over there?
Re: Foxes content living in downtown Tempe!
Posted: Sep 28 2010 1:50 pm
by JoelHazelton
Wow, I live less than a mile from there. I've heard nothing about foxes, but next time I go run I'll go that direction and keep an eye out.
Re: Foxes content living in downtown Tempe!
Posted: Sep 28 2010 2:04 pm
by chumley
airic wrote:Are those eagles nesting there at Tempe Marketplace, or are these the Dobson pair perching over there?
They're nesting in a light tower. The swamp (eh, fertile riparian habitat) under the 101/202 interchange is apparently quite the avian sanctuary.
There was even at least one bald eagle chick documented this spring/summer from the nesting pair.
Of all the Tempe Marketplace attractions, they prefer to visit King's Fish House.
Re: Foxes content living in downtown Tempe!
Posted: Sep 28 2010 2:19 pm
by big_load
chumley wrote:The swamp (eh, fertile riparian habitat) under the 101/202 interchange is apparently quite the avian sanctuary.
Eagles care less about aesthetics than we do. The biggest concentration of them I ever saw was picking away at a garbage dump in Alaska.
Re: Foxes content living in downtown Tempe!
Posted: Sep 28 2010 2:25 pm
by hikeaz
When I'm on the ASU campus I see foxes all OVER the place..... ;)
Re: Foxes content living in downtown Tempe!
Posted: Sep 28 2010 2:27 pm
by Alston_Neal
big_load wrote:chumley wrote:The swamp (eh, fertile riparian habitat) under the 101/202 interchange is apparently quite the avian sanctuary.
Eagles care less about aesthetics than we do. The biggest concentration of them I ever saw was picking away at a garbage dump in Alaska.
Really, eagles are highly over rated. They're like crows except more photogenic.
Re: Foxes content living in downtown Tempe!
Posted: Sep 28 2010 2:53 pm
by airic
@chumley
Ok thanks. Interesting. There's a documented nest about a mile away from that location that failed this past breeding season if I recall correctly.
Re: Foxes content living in downtown Tempe!
Posted: Sep 28 2010 3:09 pm
by BobP
@hikeaz
:GB:
Re: Foxes content living in downtown Tempe!
Posted: Sep 28 2010 3:19 pm
by Alston_Neal
hikeaz wrote:When I'm on the ASU campus I see foxes all OVER the place..... ;)
Are you the guy that posted seeing all the cougars at the Phoenix Open?
Re: Foxes content living in downtown Tempe!
Posted: Sep 28 2010 5:48 pm
by Tough_Boots
azpride wrote:Wow, I live less than a mile from there. I've heard nothing about foxes
I live in that neighborhood and this is the first I've heard of it. I guess the loud 20 yr olds next door must keep them away!
Re: Foxes content living in downtown Tempe!
Posted: Sep 28 2010 9:25 pm
by JimmyLyding
Foxes live in Tempe and cougars live in Scottsdale.
Re: Foxes content living in downtown Tempe!
Posted: Sep 28 2010 9:30 pm
by Tough_Boots
Jim Lyding wrote:Foxes live in Tempe and cougars live in Scottsdale.
Re: Foxes content living in downtown Tempe!
Posted: Apr 29 2021 2:12 pm
by chumley
While I believe that the well-known Tempe Murder Fox lost his race for city council last year, there's a much friendlier and cute one that makes regular appearances on my street (sometimes
two of them
). Today I found it napping in the tree in my front yard.
). Today I found it napping in the tree in my front yard.