The Time of My Life
Becoming foxier with age
Who was to know? After 39 years in photography (I was 6 months old when I began), and over 20 years devoted to nature photography, that the best was still to come. It began early last April with a pretty little Red Fox, appropriately named (by me) Foxy. Not a very creative tag but she was in every sense a real fox. I was told about the Red Foxes residing in a city marina while photographing a family of Great Horned Owls. I decided to try to find and photograph them the next day. Little did I know how this would affect my attitude and my photography.
I arrived at the marina early. No fox anywhere. Oh well there was a great display of Grebes and Mergansers in the harbor. At least my day was not wasted. After all of these years of nature photography, this was the norm. Nothing unusual. As I trained my lens on a beautiful Horned Grebe I began to get a funny feeling. It has happened to all of us at one time or another. I was being watched. Was it a boater? Maybe the harbor police? I turned to the right and there she was. Standing maybe eight feet from me and watching what I was doing with seeming bemusement was Foxy. I spent a couple of hours near Foxy that day. She would return to her den to nurse her kits, and then stretch out on a rock only a few feet from me and absorb the warming rays of the sun. Over and over again. After making a few pictures again the next day I moved on to other subjects. I did return later in the spring to photograph Foxy and her now mostly grown kits, and on two occasions her usually absent mate. I learned more about foxes in 2008 than in all of my prior years in nature. This despite the fact that I had photographed Red Foxes on previous occasions in my life. Foxy taught me she would treat me well if I just gave her a little breathing space. She would even come within two feet of me as long as I remained a photographic observer. No I was not welcomed as part of her family. I was accepted as another part of the natural world. A part that need not be feared as long as I allowed her and her family whatever amount of space they desired. Lessons learned from a pretty little fox. I last saw Foxy in November of 2008 as she and one of her kits, the last one to remain at her side, jogged through a near by state park. I wish her well and still think of her. Just one more woman to enter and exit my life. This one I won't forget.
Every year brings new wonders and new challenges and I had no idea what was to come in 2009.
One day while out making pictures with a few friends one of them mentioned that he had just come from photographing a family of foxes. I noticed his expression at the inadvertant slip of tongue and the expression was one of "oh ###". I of course asked where I could find them and he gave up the location as long as none of us would spread the news to others. We all agreed. My education of the Red Fox and my wealth of fox imagery was about to increase by a very large amount. This was a different sort of family. The male was a very different sort of father and mate than last year. Everything Foxy"s mate lacked, this one had. He had been around for a while. Battle scarred. Chipped teeth. A scraggy coat. He had taken a beautiful, but young and inexperienced bride. It never mattered because he could handle whatever came his way. The entire social life of the family centered on his next move.
In the afternoon he would appear as if from no where at the site of the den. He would look around around for potential threats to his family and if everything seemed safe, he would call all five kits and his mate out in the open for a little quality time. The sheer joy of the kits at seeing Dad was enough to choke up the most hardened wildlife observer. In fact his young mate was just as overjoyed and filled with enthusiasm as her babies. The babies would play and play, often pulling on Dad's tail or jumping on top of him. His patience was amazing. Almost every afternoon he would go through this routine. He is a good protector as well. His eyes were always scanning the horizon for a possible threat. Then after about 30 minutes of this he would signal for all to return to the den, and just like any working dad he would head out to do his job (hunting) so as to provide for his family. He was a tireless provider. There was one afternoon that I drove into the area and a different scenario was playing out. He was sitting in front of a car belonging to my photographer friend. No family in sight. I observed him from my car and soon realized what was happening. Within a few hundred feet of the den there was a young man playing with his unleashed dog. I drove back to the man and pointed to a calm but observant fox that was watching his rather large dog. He decided to put his dog back into the car. Dad watched all of this and the moment the car door slammed our fox family was out and playing. Like usual the little ones were torturing Dad as he watched over them. Also like usual his patience seemed never ending. Then alas, it was time to go to work.
Mornings differed slightly. He was already out hunting when we would arrive just before sunrise. Likely he was still out from when we watched him leave the previous afternoon. Each time that he would return with food, the family would come out to great him. One morning he returned after sunrise with a squirrel. He came back a few minutes later with two mice firmly in his grip. His third return was at least an hour in coming and to our amazement he had "captured" a hamburger this time. I guess every parent will turn to McDonalds once in a while. After a long wait he came back a fourth time with a Groundhog that seemed almost as large as he was. His last catch was likely made after a serious fight and this time he headed for his own den and some much needed sleep. Four times that morning over a five hour period he returned with food. His hunting had begun the day before at 7:00pm and ended at 10:30am the next morning. Dad is a hard worker. The kits are growing and they can be left alone now for short periods of time. Now our young mother is also on the hunt and relieving some pressure from Dad. As I write this article our parents have chosen to move their family. Maybe away from the prying eyes of photographers like myself. Most likely it was meant to escape the constant visits by dogs in the area. Wherever they are I wish them the best. This family much like Foxy's before have filled my life with wonder and joy and I owe them much for what they have taught me. Dedication and devotion are the words that come to mind.
In the future when my life becomes foxless once again, my mind will wander back to those gentle memories. The moment I discovered Foxy watching me with surprisingly approving eyes. Those days and nights of watching a father willing to take it to any level to make sure his family was safe and fed. Above all the look of total joy and exitement in the eyes of his kits and mate every time he appeared on the horizon.
This has been the time of my life. I guess we can all learn something from a fox.
Thank you,
Wayne
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Foxy 2008
I am a sucker for a pretty face.
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Dad 2009
Adoration from the child, confidence & love from the father.
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Mom 2009
It is easy to see what motivates Dad.
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3 Kits 2009
Life is fun when you are well cared for and loved.
