I’m told that cranes and herons bring good luck, so every year I look hard for the blue heron. At our house in Wisconsin, I’m rewarded every spring with a glimpse of the heron on the Red Cedar River. Then I’m set for the year, with 365 days of good luck assured.

At our place in Colorado, we see no herons, but we do get frequent glimpses of the red fox. This one sits on our fence, watching for birds.

Last week, we came home from the market and found her perched on the fence with Something In Her Mouth. I didn’t want to look too closely, but my husband went into the backyard and shooed her away, scaring the crap out of her. Literally, in this case, since she promptly left him a “present” in the middle of the driveway. Periodically, she leaves scat on the neighbor’s front steps, as well.

Despite the eating of birds and the marking of territory, I’m pretty sure the fox is bringing us her own kind of good luck. I hope we’ll see her again soon.