Red fox hunting | nature photography | wildlife

by Laura Dijkslag

This was one of the best moments as a photographer, a hunting fox pouncing on a mouse. Sometimes a photographer puts a lot of time, money and energy into the perfect picture and it just won't work, and sometimes it is very lucky and you are the happiest photographer on earth. The latter was the case here. I was in the Amsterdam Water Supply Dunes nature reserve (which is of course famous for its foxes) and after we had almost given up we came across this youngster. A hunting fox that did not bother us at all. After following him for a while I was able to predict his behaviour and so I was able to take these photos's. This photo is the first of a triptych in which the fox is a little further along in his jump each time.

The European red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is a widespread and successful species in Europe and Asia, which has also been introduced to other parts of the world. They have reddish-brown fur, a white belly, and a plumed tail with a white tip, and usually weigh between 3.5 and 10 kg. These adaptable animals live in a variety of habitats, including forests, grasslands, mountains, and urban areas. They are omnivores and eat a wide range of foods, including small mammals, birds, insects, fruits, and litter. Red foxes are usually solitary and territorial, except during the breeding season when they are monogamous. As important predators, red foxes play a crucial role in regulating populations of small mammals and birds.