Capitalizing on Capitol Hill Fox
Back when we began chronicling the adventures of the local legend now known as Capitol Hill Fox, the pointy-eared wonder was still scurrying into bushes to avoid prying eyes.
What a difference a week makes.
These days, the CHF is clearly living out loud — posing for pics at will and even performing for tourists who visited the Capitol this weekend.
An Architect of the Capitol aide said crew members encountered the camera-loving critter early Tuesday morning while making their rounds on the West Front. “It’s not our first sighting, but it is our first photo,” the administrative aide said, adding that groundskeepers described the animal as “docile” and felt it “looked healthy.”
It’s clear the CHF is here to stay.
In fact, our friends at DCist attempted to reverse-engineer its origin story, positing that the imagination-capturing interloper may, in fact, be the same wily character that feasted on first lady Michelle Obama’s untended kitchen garden during last year’s government shutdown.
We’re less concerned with where it came from than what to do with it now that the local community has obviously embraced it.
Here are a couple of win-win scenarios to consider:
BFF Camp
Have congressional aide Andrew Aydin bring his beloved pooch, Delilah, to work.
Walk the dog around until she either sniffs out the CHF or the CHF comes bounding out for its daily photo op.
Release Delilah and let the Disney magic ensue.
Battle Royal
Invite Animal Planet personality Ernie “Turtleman” Brown Jr. to Capitol Hill for a no-holds-barred interview with the CHF.
The interspecies exchange could be broadcast by The Associated Press and all the C-SPAN channels (including “The Ocho”).
Perfect Strangers
Given that Rep. George Miller is gearing up to ditch the famous Democratic group house anyway, have the CHF bunk with remaining roomies Sen. Charles E. Schumer of New York and Richard J. Durbin of Illinois. They would handle all financial responsibilities while the CHF would assume “pest control” duties.
Again, this could be repackaged for use by the AP, C-SPAN or even Amazon Prime.
(CHF, have your people contact our people.)