On my birthday, I made my way into the woods carrying a plate of fruit, scrambled egg, cat food and peanut butter on toast. The bait for my new trail camera had to be as pungent as possible. Beside a small tree deep in the woods, we laid out the food and set up the camera. The trees were thick and the sky was growing darker, so we quickly returned home.
That night, I heard muntjac deer barking and felt hopeful. The next morning, trying to remember the spot, we went to collect the camera. The food was gone – we raced home to look at the footage, and to my delight something ginger flashed past the camera. Could it be a fox? Suddenly my greedy cat Jaffa appeared. He took some food then pranced off. I had a sinking feeling. Had Jaffa eaten all the food?
But then, a little muntjac deer with pointed horns appeared on screen and started eating fruit skittishly. Several hours later (after a second visit from Jaffa) something else appeared. Not one but two foxes, wary at first, but soon creeping closer. One grabbed some toast and seemed to love it.
Once the toast was consumed the foxes started to interact. At first it was a playful swipe, then both foxes got on their hind legs and did a tango – they were play fighting! By showing their full height and baring their teeth they were attempting to show dominance over each other. I watched in awe, wondering what to leave in the woods that night. Right on cue, Jaffa waltzed in, expecting dinner.
Eilidh, 13
• Read today’s other YCD piece, by Alice, 8: ‘The day I became more garlic than girl’
• Young Country Diary runs every 4th Saturday of the month. To submit a springtime piece, use the form here
