Red Fox

Excellent series, I would be hard pressed to pick a favorite.

Spinner

Would love to know how you managed to get close enough, without spooking the fox. Great images, the last is probably my favorite.

Thanks again everyone for the replies.

mh1143 wrote in post #15528021
Would love to know how you managed to get close enough, without spooking the fox. Great images, the last is probably my favorite.

Where these Fox's live they either have to get used to a human presence or move on...they decided to tolerate humans being around them and stay and breed each year (they had 3 kits last year). They are totally wild, aren't fed by the property owners and they are moody...sometimes you can approach them, sometimes they approach you and sometimes they want nothing to do with you. I caught this one on a good day as it slept.

That sounds like quite a unique scenario. Appreciate the backstory to go with the images. I'm a bit envious as I've only ever been able to catch a fleeting glance of one.

Duane N wrote in post #15529048
Thanks again everyone for the replies.


Where these Fox's live they either have to get used to a human presence or move on...they decided to tolerate humans being around them and stay and breed each year (they had 3 kits last year). They are totally wild, aren't fed by the property owners and they are moody...sometimes you can approach them, sometimes they approach you and sometimes they want nothing to do with you. I caught this one on a good day as it slept.

Duane, great shots. Love the close up portraits!

It's amazing how often that scenario plays out. Wild animals reach a point of saturation where they either come in close contact with humans or they starve. In my lifetime I've seen several animals that have come to live in close proximity with humans although they never did before. Deer, raccoons, wild turkeys, coyotes and now bears have all abandoned their fear of humans and have started living in the space humans occupy. Sometimes they live as scavengers like the raccoons have done. Sometimes they still remain predators like the coyotes. And sometimes they just overcome their fear and share space because they have become saturated in the space where humans aren't.

It's important to remember that these are still wild animals though. As I said earlier the only time I've come that close to a fox it had rabies. People tend to humanize animals. That's a really bad idea. So please be aware that those are wild creatures and not pets even if they become bold enough to eat out of your hand (which I've seen other wild animals do). I've taken too many chances myself and I've come to realize that I should not have taken some of those chances like the time I fed a bear through my truck window. I have a photo of that somewhere. I'm lucky I didn't have a photo of a bear taking my arm off.

Jeff_56 wrote in post #15530933
I have a photo of that somewhere.

Could you post that? I'd love to see it!

I'd really like to do it but I just moved for the first time in 25 years and I have no idea where many of my photos are. My guess is that one is still back in the house I own waiting to be moved like a lot of my other stuff. If I run across it I will post it. It's certainly not a quality photo though. It was a point and shoot film camera from way back when. I'd say it was around 1982.

There are fox shots and then there are these...simply outstanding !! Well done !!

Incredible detail!

mh1143 wrote in post #15530226
That sounds like quite a unique scenario. Appreciate the backstory to go with the images. I'm a bit envious as I've only ever been able to catch a fleeting glance of one.

I had one encounter with one during the summer about 3 years ago....it looked kind of pitiful in it's summer coat. I've seen many photo's of them in their winter coats and was envious after seeing those images. I've waited over 4 years to find something like this and I'm thankful each time I get to see them. Hopefully one day you get the same opportunity and take advantage of it...no words can describe how I felt after this encounter I posted images from...it was amazing so say the least.

horse51 wrote in post #15534189
There are fox shots and then there are these...simply outstanding !! Well done !!

Thank you. Spending over 1 1/2 hours with this Fox allowed me to try different settings and actually reviewing the images instead of hoping for the best.

Zethar wrote in post #15534823
Incredible detail!

Thanks.

I respectfully disagree Duane. You're obviously far more than simply a "bird photographer."

You're a very gifted artist. These are sensational. I have to believe that you could get a bowl of fruit on the cover of NatGeo.

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #15535315
I respectfully disagree Duane. You're obviously far more than simply a "bird photographer."

You're a very gifted artist. These are sensational. I have to believe that you could get a bowl of fruit on the cover of NatGeo.

+1 Add my name to the Duane Admiration Society. Your work is beautiful.