From a couple of months ago… My stakeout at this Fox den failed to yield the much hoped for kits. However, mom did swing by for a bit, checking on one of the places she called home. I snapped a few pictures of her as she hung out but this was my favorite, taken as she was leaving. She paused just briefly near the top of a hill, looked back at me as if to say, “Get that last picture now,” and disappeared over the rise.
Pouncing kit for Fox Friday
Like any good sibling, this little one took great joy in pouncing on and tackling its littermate. The light was low on this evening making catching any sort of fast moving action like this tough. Nevertheless, it was fun to see and even better to have gotten a few images. I haven’t seen these little ones since that day unfortunately as their mom undoubtedly moved the den again. Hopefully I get another chance but it will have to come soon as they won’t all be hanging out together for long.
Mama and her littlest one
Going back to a couple of weeks ago when I spent an evening with this Red Fox family. The little kit had a hard time keeping up with its bigger siblings and was quick to cling to mom when she came back for a meal. I haven’t been able to see them since as she moved the den but am hoping I get another chance in the coming weeks.
Thursday night Fox fights!
Technically this was taken on Monday but… Two sibling kits battle it out while two others keep watch. All eight of them at this den are small but that little black one is WAY smaller than its siblings – probably 2/3 the size. It tried its best to hang with its bigger brothers and sisters but had a pretty hard time. I couldn’t help but cheer on the runt and am hoping like heck it does okay!
A double dose of cuteness as Red Fox kits pose for their portrait
Oh my! Just look at those little faces! Already having two dogs, we have no interest in any other pets but my wife said that we could definitely take one of these home. Haha! Of course we can’t and wouldn’t but they are so irresistible and adorable.
I revisited this den earlier this week after a couple of previous attempts where I came up empty handed. This time I had much better luck as I was greeted by these two and six of their siblings. All eight were bounding around and playing in a display that had me grinning ear to ear.
At one point, these two ventured apart from the crowd, investigating this new world around them. It was then that I snapped this picture of them.
Well hello, foxy lady!
A tip from a friend led me to a spot where there was a fox den with a lot of new kits. I spent seven hours (literally) waiting for an appearance, staring at a hole in the ground. Finally, mom made a very brief appearance, coming out of nowhere. She checked the den, did a bit of digging, then headed off into the distance again.
Unfortunately, I never did see the little ones which leads me to believe she moved them to another den the night before. Darn! Nevertheless, I at least got to see her and she was indeed quite beautiful.
Mama fox looking for a meal to feed the kits
I happened across this pretty lady a couple of times this past summer. She didn’t have much a fear of people which is probably not a good thing overall. However, for this photographer, it worked out well. She had caught a bird and dropped it off for her kits and then headed back out looking for more food.
While they aren’t seen often, Red Foxes are quite common across the entire Northern Hemisphere from near the equator to the Arctic Circle. They are extremely adaptable and able to coexist in areas with large human populations. Taken near Mount Evans, Colorado.
Red Fox kits at play
One for Throwback Thursday taken back in May when I spent a couple of times observing these siblings. Just like human kids, the kits were quite rambunctious, spending much of the morning exploring their new-to-them world and of course attacking each other. It was a very fun time for them and of course for me!
While they aren’t seen often, Red Foxes are quite common across the entire Northern Hemisphere from near the equator to the Arctic Circle. They are extremely adaptable and able to coexist in areas with large human populations.
Fox kit keeping watch for mom
It donned on me this morning I hadn’t shared any images of this not-so-little-anymore young Red Fox. I had been tracking its mom as she went about hunting for food for her brood but lost sight of her for a time. I then spotted her emerging from the woods and wondered if there wasn’t something in there I should check out.
Doing my best slow, quiet commando approach, I worked my way to the top of a berm and there it was – this cute one. It was within some very thick trees so lighting was at a premium and once it realized I was there, it didn’t hang around.
Swift Fox surprise
A chance encounter and my first time ever seeing one of these in person. This beautiful animal ran across the road ahead of me and thankfully, stopped just long enough for me to snag a few pictures. It was straight into the early morning sun so tough shooting conditions but I was ecstatic just to have seen it.
These small foxes can be found across the grasslands of North America although they are not seen often. It was nearly extinct in the 1930s but due to conservation efforts, education and reintroductions, their numbers have rebounded.