I've walked so many trails, climbed so many mountains, and swum so many lakes. My life is very dull, because I can never find a challenge big enough to face. The biggest challenge I've come upon was a chase by a snow machine. I tell you, it was so exciting to be in front of a machine so loud. I felt the fear, the pain and the hype all at once. I've never run so fast before, except when I almost starved in early spring. When I saw a rabbit, I chased it until it was half dead, or rather until I was half dead.

This spring I will roam countless tundras, hunt countless rabbits and eat countless mice. My meals will consist of no vegetables.

I've never come upon a campfire, but by the kind of life I have, I know there will be an encounter like that sometime. Until that moment comes, I will wander in the country, and maybe just once, I'll try to pass through a village or two.

I hope my death won't be agonizing. I want to die around a campfire where there is light and warmth, and where the human predator can boast of my fine hair, fine tail and big body. So he can see what a great animal the fox is. I hope he is thankful for my hair, because if he isn't I would be very disappointed.

I have lived alone all my life, so I don't communicate with anyone but myself. I learn a lot by myself, but I would learn more if I had a companion. Maybe in the spring I will find a companion who will live and hunt with me. But, who knows, with this crazy world, there may be no foxes but me left There are big problems, like a lot of animals are disappearing. But that is part of living and dieing. I just hope the human predators aren't killing too much of the wildlife and country. For now, though, I pray to wake up tomorrow and start another day, in peace and harmony.

By Angela Kameroff