While out for a routine drive around I encountered this critter jogging along a back road. The young fox showed no inclination to leave the road. Not wanting to endanger or crowd it, I slowed to match the pace it was setting, and followed behind. I was in no rush. Suddenly the fox leaped into the ditch. Emerging a few seconds later with a mouth full of what I soon saw was a rodent of some kind. A rat, I think.
With a meal secured the fox decided it should go somewhere secluded to eat, so it left the road. Jumping the ditch, it headed toward some distant bushes. I was alongside in a moment. Lifting the camera from the passenger seat I shot this image through the open window of the car just before it disappeared.
The photo came out better than even I expected. Clearly, all that practice paid off as muscle memory and years of event photography kicked in. I spun dials, pressed buttons, and zoomed the lens without thinking. And got this image of the week. I love the fur. The texture. The raw mixed emotions this triggers. It’s a good photo. At least, I think so. Tell me your thoughts in the comments below.
Deep Thoughts
Nature is red in tooth and claw, as the saying goes. It can be brutal. This photo vividly reminds us that every living creature has to eat. There are few vegan critters. That’s a luxury choice afforded only to humans. And humans, we know, can be a tad self-delusional. Critters are more pragmatic. They eat what they can, when they can. That’s life. And death. Most critters you encounter are sizing you up to figure out if you want to eat them, or if they can eat you. This combination of justifiable paranoia and hunger keeps critters alive. Think about that next time you are tempted to scratch something cute behind the ear. 🙂
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