May 27, 2013
Red Fox Vixen and Kits in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

I had an extremely exciting and productive time at the Red Fox den in Yellowstone National Park yesterday morning. I had to wait almost two hours for them to appear, but then they put on an incredible show for almost an hour and a half! Early on, the vixen spotted a small bird not too far from the den and started stalking it. During the final dash by the vixen, the bird escaped before becoming a small snack.

Later, one of the kits pounced on its unsuspecting sibling who was distracted while scratching.

All of the play was fun to watch, and it was really interesting to watch the vixen teaching the kits how to hunt. At one point, the vixen retrieved a dead ground squirrel from the den and carried it a short distance from the den and dropped it. Then while the kits were watching her, she went and picked it up and pretended to chew on it. After several attempts, the kits became interested in the new play toy and tried to take it away from their mother — I don't think they have a clue that they're supposed to eat such things.