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2023Foxy
Shot of the Month – August 2023
This month a lovely fox kit bathed in glorious afternoon light. Foxes are always cute but the warm glow in this shot really takes the image to the next level.
We found this den on the edge of a federal park in Washington State. In previous years visitors could enter the park and observe the dens at a distance of 75 feet or more. Access to the park has been restricted in the last couple of years. Ironically that lack of humans near the dens seems to have emboldened bald eagles who reportedly killed most of the fox kits last year before they could reach adulthood.
During my visit I saw a bald eagle swoop in twice to try and steal a rabbit carcass that an adult fox had just given its kit. Luckily the young foxes were big enough at this time of year to be less at risk for predation by the raptor.
In the two images below I managed to capture one of the attacks by the bald eagle. The fox kit had seen the approaching raptor and was running for the entrance to the den with the carcass.
Run!!!
So close!!
The kit managed to duck underground just in time. When the parents were present they were always diligent and would bravely leap up at the bald eagle as it approached.
It is interesting to consider that the foxes may have established their den near the dirt road on the edge of the park to use the nearby humans to discourage the eagle attacks.
Red foxes mate in the winter and the pups are born 7-8 weeks later. Both parents take care of the kits and each go off hunting to bring back food for the young. Foxes raise their pups in a den which has been abandoned by another animal – in this case it was most likely a former rabbit den. Amazingly, there were rabbits in holes just a few feet from the foxes’ den! Talk about keeping your enemy close!
The cubs remain at the family den for about 5 weeks before going off on their own near the end of the summer.
The kits spend most of their time underground when the parents are not present though as the pups get older they will explore the surrounding areas more and more on their own. In my image above I captured the young fox out exploring his world while he waited for his parents to return.
Like foxes? Check out these posts for more images and fox tales…
Until next month….m
Nikon D5, Sigma 150-600 mm Contemporary (@480mm), 1/1000 sec, f/8, ISO 1250
