Yesterday I was surprised to find a Red Fox in a Wasatch Mountain Canyon, it is only my second time seeing a fox in that canyon and the last time wasn’t that long ago. I think this might be the most beautiful fox I have ever seen other than the time I saw a silver colored fox as a child while wandering through the tank trails on a small U.S. military base in Germany.
Red Fox in a mountain canyon – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I don’t know if this Red Fox is an adult or if it is a kit that was born this year but the fur of this fox looked like it was without a flaw. When I first saw it it was well… depositing nutrients onto the grasses but it soon stopped and looked up towards the road. I do wish the fox had been closer so I could have shown far more detail in its fur but I was happy to see and photograph it anyway.
Red Fox walking through tall grasses – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
It didn’t take long for the fox to move away from my view because foxes can be quite wary of humans, they are hunted and trapped in this state for their fur. It is my opinion and that of many other sensible people that their coats belong on the foxes not on us.
I remember my encounter with that silver fox in Germany as if it happened today, I was enjoying a walk in the tall grasses and when I looked up the fox was in my path about ten feet away from where I stood. The fox and I both looked at each other in the eyes for what to me as a child seemed to be a very long time. I like to think that the fox was as curious about me as I was about it. Then with a flick of its tail it turned and disappeared into the tall grasses and I was left feeling that something magical had just occurred.
I’m extremely happy to have found and pointed out this fox.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Red Fox photos plus facts and information about this species.
What a beauty,,, How lucky you were!!! Your encounter in Germany as a child is what the Lakota woild call WAKAN…a sacred, spiritual, “magical”, euphoric moment…
Foxes are an introduced pest here – and I love them. Beautiful critters.
I figure that humans are the introduced pests… 😉
It’s. So. FLUFFY!!! 🙂 Gorgeous shot of a gorgeous animal!
Mia, that was delicately put, about depositing nutrients. What a nice coat and a full, bushy tail! Glad you captured an image of this one. I thought I saw one running up a hill and it was a rich russet colour.
That is beautiful . Thank you very much for sharing. I have only seen them when I travel to Missouri. They are always between Savannah and St. Joseph in a divided roadway. Never get any pictures. I had a Aunt and Uncle who lived in Oregon, Mo, who had a pet fox. This was back in the 1950s. Never saw him much. Good they are shy.
The 3 kits I have been watching this year do not have near the fabulous tails that this fox has. Wonderful find.
It’s an adult. Great pictures as usual.
Great shots and a beautiful Fox. Maybe a once in a lifetime!! Thanks for sharing!
Cool. Shots Mia.
Beautiful Mia! You are truly blessed. Of course the fur belongs on the animal it belongs to. It seems that the idea of trapping and killing these beautiful sentient beings is finally losing favor with the public. I hope one day that trapping animals is banned, at least everywhere in the United States.
That is a beauty! It looks very healthy…no sign go mange at all. I don’t think I have ever seen such a fantastic tail…so very full. You are lucky to spot it!