Captured By Curiosity
A family member of mine had gave me the location of a fox den that was nearby. Shout out to you, Shane for sharing this location with me. I am ever so grateful and I dedicate this blog post to you for it.
Local, easy to view, and a great spot for capturing the life of some kits. I didn’t know how close I would get to these little guys or if I would even get close at all. Foxes tend to be most active at night, real early in the morning, and just before dusk. I wanted to go last weekend but ended up staying home as I had no energy and I wanted to witness the hockey game. So I prayed that they would still be there on this last Thursday. As the day got closer and closer, I was talking to one of my old friends over Facebook. Mentioned how I was going to go scout out the area and hope to get some great shots of some baby foxes and hopefully the momma as well. I wasn’t expecting company but I was greatly happy when my friend asked if she could tag along. I love having company on my little wildlife trips and this was just a fun time to witness with her. Got to show her a little bit of my set-up for wildlife and got to do some learning at the same time. We got to learn a bit of the behaviour of the Momma and her Kits and it was such a surreal experience.
Title: Peak-A-Boo
When I went to photograph these Kits with my friend, I was up at the crack of dawn. Now if you don’t live in Alberta, you may not know how early that is. As summer approaches here, the days get longer and longer and as we were on the longest day of the year, June 20, 2024, the sunrise was happening just around 5AM. If not earlier but that was about the time I got up and started to coax myself awake and prepare. Having to walk my dog, Winnie, before I went this was a before 6AM early start. I prepared my 300mm Lens, my SD Card, and made sure I had a full battery in my camera. Once the gear was packed, with my dog now content for the morning and I was confident she be fine for a few hours on her own, I grabbed my keys, tripod, and I was out the door. Picked up my friend along the way just to find out the den was right by her place.
Now this den is in a residential area but it is conveniently located for the Momma fox and her pups. On a hill that had a nice large variety of food source for the fox family. Growing up in this town, knowing it like the back of my hand, I knew this location well. A hill that I sled on once or twice as a kid and man it is one steep little hill. Carrying camera equipment, we were having to walk this field as if it was a war zone as it was covered in gopher holes. The last thing you wanted to do is go ass end over tea kettle with a grand worth of gear.
Now the lens I brought is just your standard 70-300mm. Not having a 600mm in my arsenal of Camera gear, I was making do with what I got. I still love the photos I got and I don’t use this telephoto as much as it has a short range for wildlife. Most the wildlife I see here in the prairies is way out in the field and a 300mm lens is not nearly strong enough to get a decent photo. It will always be a landscape far away shot. At least for me. I still love the photos I got but that morning I did wish I had a stronger lens. Side Note: I bought that lens I wanted later that day and got the photos I am about to share with you. It was on a deal that I never would have dreamed of and felt like it was a message saying it was meant to be.
Title: Hiding In The Grass
My friend and I, we had to have sat here for an hour or so just watching this fox sun bathe in the morning sun. Seeing the Momma running back and forth around the den. She didn’t dare come close, fearing that she would put her babies and herself both in trouble. We were still a fair distance away, respecting the boundaries of the wildlife. We didn’t want to spook them, didn’t want to give them any reason to feel threatened. So we set up the tripod and we watched them pounce, sit, lay, and run. Nothing but birds around us, singing in the morning air. It was peaceful and relaxing. I could have sat there all day but having not my morning coffee, I eventually was going to have to go. But we could have sat there all morning and the day was starting to become a scorcher with its early morning heat. Once the babies had ran off into the nearby trees, we figured at the time it was best to start heading back home. Let them have their morning hunt while we went to have our morning coffees. As we were driving back to my friends place, my friend mentioned to me about the experience. That she didn’t know how peaceful wildlife photography could be. Watching the wildlife even itself. She was so grateful that I let her tag along and I was happy for the company. She now sees why I choose the wildlife photography route and I have to say, this day is one of my more special ones. We tried to plan to meet up for the evening again to watch them and photograph them. Unfortunately our schedules did not align but I still went out. Having just got the 150 to 600mm lens, I was eager to try this bad boy out with my new National Geographic Aluminum tripod as well.
Title: I’m Watching You
You can see the difference in between the two lenses now. I wasn’t even sure I was going to get off a shot as I was now shooting against the sun. Morning light was way better but these images I got, they are remarkable and I was so happy for them. Cassie I wish you were able to join me again in the evening but I am dedicating this collection of the Kits to you. Gotten eaten alive though but these images were worth it. Worth the wait.
I plan over the next couple of weeks for sure, summer if possible until the Kits are fully grown, to visit this place ever so often. Let them get used to me so they don’t feel threatened as I went out the next morning, I could hear them calling out. Didn’t want to spook them and I didn’t want them to uproot their den. Stayed for a little bit but not as long as I wanted.
I mentioned to a friend later that day, before I went out in the evening, about the fox den. I learned something that I didn’t fully know at the time. If foxes don’t feel threatened, they will return to the same den each year and have their litter. As long as they feel safe, they will keep coming back. I will keep coming back, documenting their routine, their behaviour, and their life. I have posted a video on TikTok talking about these Kits and I do hope you go check it out. The link to the account is at the top of the website. In the meantime, enjoy this wonderful shot I got of a fox pup enjoying the evening air.
Note: I am willing to sell any of my wildlife photography. Some is available on my etsy shop. If you don’t see the one you would like, please reach out as I can make it available.
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