Cunning and sly, intelligent and adaptable, the red-haired fox is known for its pointed snout and bushy tail. Don’t let his relatively small size fool you into thinking he’s as innocent as he looks – the fox is agile, stealthy, and generally up to something. You’ll find him in forests, grasslands, deserts, and mountains. He knows how to hunt in the snow.

With a reputation for nocturnal adventures, it was a surprise to see this critter making so many daytime appearances in the Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks, but there he was, waving to hikers during the Friends of Metro Parks Winter Hike Series. Did he make it to all 19 parks? If you had your eyes on the trails you will have seen him, though he was occasionally incognito.

Look closely, to see if he was “sly as a fox,” crafty or dishonest. “If you’re sly as a fox, you are experienced and cunning. You can usually get whatever you want, sometimes by underhanded means.” (Wonderopolis, Where the Wonders of Learning Never Cease)

The best way to blend in, it seems, is to follow along and do all the things the other friends of the parks were doing, getting his own hiking card to tally his hikes and earn stamps from the park rangers. There’s nothing malicious about reading a children’s book along the storybook trail. What’s the harm in playing on the jungle gym, hugging a tree for Valentine’s Day, or posing for a picture in front of forested or city landscapes? These are metro parks, after all, so anyone who makes it to all 19 can experience all these things.

All are welcome, even our friend the fox.

What’s the saying…? “Keep your friends close and your prey closer!”

The fox brought a smile to many faces along the wooded trails, around the post-hike bonfires, and under the twinkling lights of the December evening hikes. Many visitors, surprised and pleased at his appearance, paused long enough to ask him what he had to say…

If you’re not familiar with the hike series, it’s 19 hikes over 3 months, from December 2023 – February 2024, with a big celebration at the end. There were patches, hiking sticks, and medallions (to affix to the hiking stick) to be earned. The hikes are volunteer supported and organized by the Columbus and Franklin County Friends of the Metro Parks — see below for links for more information.

Each park has unique features, some with ponds to hike around, others with natural play areas or obstacle courses for kids and adults alike. The city’s bike trails cut through many of the parks, providing easy access. There are nature centers, outdoor educational areas, art exhibits, and scavenger hunts. The fox discovered a heard of bison, a flock of turkeys, birding blinds, waterfalls, and vernal pools. There are even opportunities to learn to play golf or to practice archery.

Some parks allow dogs on the trails and many have areas that are accessible to those with special mobility needs. Every park has a space (many spaces) where you can just sit and breathe in nature. The hikes happen rain or shine, ice, sunshine, or snowfall. If a hiker can’t make it to the organized, supported hikes they are welcome to visit any time to “make up” a missed hike, seeking out one of those park rangers to stamp their hiking card.

The fox took advantage of many of these perks of the parks, sometimes visiting more than one on a weekend day. Hikes can, of course, be completed in a large group, as a pair, or as a solo hike. The city is so fortunate to have these amazing recreational, educational, conservationist, and meditative spaces.

There’s even a working, historical farm!

Spending a day at Slate Run Historical Farm, our friend the fox was tempted to break the rules and enter the chicken yard. He looked left, right, ahead, and behind. With his keen hearing he could make out the chickens softly bawking and shifting lazily in the coop, sleepily unaware of his presence. It would be so easy to ease his way past the fence and over to the small structure stuffed with feathers, in “stealth mode.” He knew he’d be stuffed himself, with an easy meal, in short time.

Carnivorous animals, the fox’s diet includes small mammals, birds, eggs, insects, and fruits.

But the sign read “Please do not enter chicken yard area.” He almost wished he couldn’t read, to deny any misbehavior if he were discovered in the act, but alas he was as smart a vulpes as he was cleaver and handsome. Understanding the intent of the sign, he decided to move along and explore the rest of the farm. He’d had cookies and hot chocolate at the last park, earlier that morning, so he could delay his lunch for just a bit.

What an adventure, meeting the snoozing baby pigs, baa-ing sheep, gaggle of ducks, and curious (or were they just hungry, on a wintery February morning?) guineafoul. He only saw one other person on the farm – a fellow hiker who showed us where the Metro Parks stamp was, for our winter hikes cards. In this case we found small stickers, already stamped and ready to add to our cards, making our visit official.

The fox did make it to all 19 parks this winter, covered in fur or bundled in a puffy coat from Eddie Bauer.

Join me on my next adventure,

~ Kat

Related Links:

Friends of Columbus and Franklin County Metro Marks: https://www.metroparksfriends.org

Winter Hikes Series (2023 – 2024): https://metroparksfriends.squarespace.com/news/2023/11/20/winter-hike-series-2024

What Does the Fox Say (Lyrics): https://www.jiosaavn.com/lyrics/the-fox-what-does-the-fox-say-lyrics/HSU8BCBdX1g

What Does the Fox Say (Video): https://youtu.be/jofNR_WkoCE?si=8cbCMTGGWsjTzGQl

Wonder of the Day #702: https://wonderopolis.org/wonder/are-you-sly-as-a-fox#:~:text=In%20this%20example%2C%20%E2%80%9Csly%20as,want%2C%20sometimes%20by%20underhanded%20means.

Here are some other blog posts you might be interested in, this winter!