Crossing Paths With A Fox

It is June 6, 2015 and I am out camping for the weekend. I am still new to wildlife photography at this time. My expertise went as far as photographing Canadian Geese and the resident squirrel in the camp ground. Maybe the odd Gull or two but nothing more. I still was only photographing Agriculture and pets that I crossed paths with. Never in my mind would I think I would get this perfect shot I am going to share with you today.

Disclaimer: The shot I am sharing with you today is at the very bottom of this post. All other photos are either from Unsplash or my first attempts.

Photo from: Unsplash Stock Images

Reason Sharing: It is very similar to the one I share with you today.

It was tradition when my dad was still alive, to go out for a drive before sunset. Now mostly we went looking for deer or moose, the usual things we normally see around the campsite. Occasionally we would come across a fleeting bear or a coyote off in the distance. Never in my early days of a wildlife photographer would I dream coming across a Red Fox and so very close to me.

Multiple families of Red Foxes can live in the same territory as each other being the social creatures that they are, but may not have a fixed home. Red Foxes tend to favour living in the open, in densely vegetated areas, though they may enter burrows to escape bad weather. Burrows are often dug on hills or mountain slopes, ravines, buffs, steep banks of water bodies, ditches, depressions, gutters, in rock clefts and neglected human environments.

Title: Where Is Copper

Photo belongs to: Lost For Photography

The ideal times Red Foxes prefer to hunt is early mornings before sunrise or in the late evenings. Around dusk is when I typically come across them when I am about in the evenings otherwise I tend to catch them after their morning hunt. I always tell myself that I am going to camp out where I see them, as I have observed the foxes patterns, but I have yet to wake myself that early. Camping out to get the perfect shot is always well worth it in the end but the story I am telling you is by per chance.

Our typical route on our evening drives always resorted to the Graveyard Road as that is where we typically were able to view a few great herds of deer. This time though, it being just my mom, dad, and I, we thought to make an evening of the whole thing. Setting out around the hamlet of St. Lina, Alberta, trying to catch the golden evening light on the surrounding landscapes. Now where we go camping is in the Boreal Forest, just on the edge but still well surrounded by foliage. It truly is a place of rejuvenation that cleanses the soul. I will never get tired of the beauty of the nature that surrounds me there. The chirp of the birds, the crash of the waves, coyotes howling all around you in their hunt, and the odd owl that seems to elude my lens when I try. This is the place of my serenity and I will always love it.

We were driving down this back road, one we haven’t been down in a long time, just east of St. Lina. There was a swamp to the left of us and just closed in wall of trees to the right. It was so thick with forest that we were covered in shadow and barely any light was coming through. The Blue Hour was just beginning as the sun continued to dip down further in the west and our chances of great photos were quickly fading with each passing minute. We agreed that this road was the last road we would go down before turning and heading back towards camp. I had my telephoto 300mm lens on as I believed the only animals I would see, would be off in a field somewhere. Hunting for voles, mice, chipmunks, or other small rodents. Never in my days would I be right beside a fox so close.

Title: Where Is The Hound

Taken By: Lost For Photography

Now I have gotten foxes before but either they were blurry because I could not hold the camera steady long enough, or they were to far to photograph. The only other times were when the composition wasn’t right, or it was to dark that it became grainy. Over the years I have learned and grown and got a few I was proud of but this one, my first one, will always be the one that makes me smile most.

Here we are, driving down this road that was growing darker and darker, everyone looking off to the left towards the water and the fields that held light. I am looking off to the right, into the dark wall of trees from the back seat of our Ford F150. I don’t know why, perhaps it was the closest window and I wanted to see what I could get that no one else could. I am scanning and scanning, just enjoying the ride and the peaceful moment of the memory when all of a sudden I yell, “Oh my God, STOP!!!!”

My dad who was always the the driver, quickly slams on the breaks and we come skidding to a halt. Dust flying, gravel spraying, and as the dust settled I spun in my seat to look out the rear. There was this fox, sitting on top of its den just right beside the road. Now there was not much light and not much of a ditch and what we thought was an ant hill, was a foxes den. This was not just any Red Fox, it was a kit all on its own, content with the evening air. I don’t know why but I whisper, “Slowly back up, don’t spook it.”

“Spook what,” my parents would ask.

“The baby fox by the road.”

Photo supplied by: Unsplash

Now, the photo above even though it is not mine, it is exactly like the one I got. I have seen Fox Kits before, playing in the field and having a jolly ol’ time but the one I got, it was different. It was content with its surroundings. I knew once we backed up, any chances of a good shot may be gone so I took a few before we started moving. Then slowly, I motion for my dad to put it into reverse and to continue backing up. Now I don’t know why but this young fox wasn’t scared. It sat perched on its little den, watching us. It didn’t even show signs of moving or fear, like it knew we were not a threat. Turning off our music so there would be no distractions or anything to cause this little guy to bolt, I roll down my window. We turned off the truck so there would be no vibrations and I can use it to steady my hand. A make-shift tripod if you will and it wouldn’t be the first nor the last time that the truck became a tripod. Here I am, resting the camera on the window, using live view so I can keep it steady. Focusing on the head of the fox, making sure to keep the eyes in focus and adjusting for light, I got the photo I am most proud of. I am glad that I stayed in the truck to get this shot because the moment, the single stupid moment of being…I guess cocky is the word…I opened my door and the fox ducked into its den. At least, I got this photo, the one I am about to share with you today, and I couldn’t be more proud. So without further ado, I bring to you, My Lil’ Tod.

Title: My Lil’ Tod

Photo Taken By: Lost For Photography, 2015, 06, 06

This photo was shared on my local news station Global Edmonton.