flickr photo
By
Penn Kemp
Strategies
The earth’s magnetic field serves
as a reference guide for our Fox
to measure distance, the inclination
angle, the way the field line points
down to the ground in a fixed angle
like a flashlight. Fox’s ears locate her
prey but sound alone does not suffice
to pinpoint a vole’s nest, a catch.
New Scientist reports Fox can see earth’s
magnetic field as a “ring of shadow” on
his eyes that darkens as he heads towards
magnetic north. When shadow lines up
with the squeaks of the prey, Fox pounces.
These magnetic field sensors are located
on the retina of the right eye, a visual
pattern superimposed on his normal field.
So science thinks. I’ve never asked Fox what
he sees across the waves, literal and etheric.
Mary McDonald photo
Penn Kemp
Penn Kemp is an activist Canadian poet, playwright and editor. Her latest works are Local Heroes, and the forthcoming Fox Haunts. Recent books include Barbaric Cultural Practice and two anthologies edited, Women and Multimedia and Performing Women. See www.pennkemp.weebly.com.
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