Photographer Uses A Whole Season To Observe And Capture A Red Fox Family As They Grow Up

The photographer practically watched the kits grow up in the rural area of New York.

Maryjane

• Published in Animals
• June 25, 2022

A family of red foxes had set up a home in a terrace shed in Lansing, New York, and a photographer was tipped about it. The wildlife photographer goes by the name Melissa Groo, and she made it her main goal to take pictures of them.

She didn't simply snap a couple of shots; she made sure to enjoy a whole season with the family. She practically watched the kits grow up in the rural area of New York.

The photographer, Groo, made sure to hide herself by setting up a spring blind close to the fox’s family, and she would discreetly sneak in to take shots of them. The first picture you will see below is of six young foxes sitting together, and it was taken on either the first or second day she began the whole photographing journey.

Groo told MNN that the foxes were in view whenever she approached the blind on each visit. They would keep a wary eye on her, but once she was out of sight, they seemed to ignore her, though the foxes did occasionally look her way when they heard the clicking of her camera.

The photographer was sad to announce that there were only three kits remaining when she was done photographing them.

A family of red foxes had set up a home in a backyard shed

"One was killed by a car; a similar fate may have been met by the others, as the nearby road was very busy, although there are a host of other threats to foxes as well. The average life span of a red fox in the wild is only one-and-a-half to two years," she added.

She then made it her mission to photograph them

She spent an entire season with the family

Groo watched as the baby foxes became more adventurous as they went further and further from the den. She saw that their play, curiosity, and rambunctiousness were similar to those of puppies, and they stole my heart.

She watched the kits as they grew up right before her very eyes

Groo hid herself by setting up a pop-up blind near the family

She would quietly sneak into the blind to take her shots

They would hear the camera clicking and would look its way

Groo was particularly intrigued by the mother's frequent absence and the fact that the father was primarily responsible for taking care of the kits. Groo was aware that she hunted for part of the time since she had once captured her bringing home prey.

"But apparently this is a common division of labor once the kits leave the den after the first five weeks or so of life. The father was constantly grooming the kits, and his tender way with them was very touching to me," Groo added.

The average life span of a red fox in the wild is only one-and-a-half to two years

The photographer noticed that their behavior resembled that of puppies

Groo watched the baby foxes become more and more adventurous

The kits would be completely ecstatic, and leap all over the adult

They are always happy when the father or mother returns

Hey, what's your name?

The kits leave the den after the first five weeks or so of life

I See You!

The father was the one who mostly cared for the kits

The kits, on the other hand, are normally overjoyed when their mother or father returns from a trip, as they "would be completely ecstatic, and leap all over the adult." If this isn’t one of the signs that the kits love their parents, then I don’t know what is.

Do leave a comment below on what you think about these photographs, and check out Melissa Groo's website as well.

Maryjane