The Fox

Foxes are one of the most difficult animals for me to find in Yellowstone.  So, when this female fox, called a vixen, literally crossed the road in front of me a couple of evenings ago, I was in shock.  Not only because if going faster I could have hit her, but because she was a fox.


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Furthermore, instead of immediately disappearing into the forest, the fox stayed in view and decided to hunt.

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Fearing I wouldn’t have much time before the fox disappeared, I grabbed the camera, without a tripod and angled myself to get some of the evening light on her.  She took a second from her hunting and peered in my direction, right before scoring a ground squirrel.

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Once she had the squirrel, the fox looked around for a minute before heading directly towards me – I think she was going to bring me the prize.  I attempted to move out of her way, which startled her and so she headed up the hill.  Some times I worry about the rules more than what is best for the animal.  Standing still and letting her pass would have been less disturbing, since she chose her path.

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But, the fox stopped not terribly far away and looked around for minute before deciding to rest.

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She posed with the squirrel in her mouth and then unexpectedly rose and came straight towards me again.  There were several people by this time, but not that many.  I again stepped out of her way and she went and stood next to a nearby tree.

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All in all, it was a wonderful encounter.  The only animal that I photographed that day but she was enough.  This is the vixen of the Yellowstone Picnic pair and I had not seen her in quite some time.

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