About Foxes in Yellowstone Park

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Red foxes are more abundant than were previously thought in Yellowstone, although they are way outnumbered by coyotes. The many miles of forest edge and extensive semi-open and canyon areas of the park seem to offer suitable habitat and food for foxes. Their average life span is 3 to 7 years and up to 11 years in Yellowstone. Foxes are not often seen because they are nocturnal, usually forage alone, and travel along edges of meadows and forests. They prey on voles, mice, rabbits, birds, amphibians, and other small animals. They are hunted by coyotes, wolves and mountain lions. During winter, foxes may increase their activity around dawn and dusk, and even sometimes in broad daylight. In late April and May, when females are nursing kits at their dens, they are sometimes more visible during daylight hours, foraging busily to get enough food for their growing offspring.

As expected, when we saw a fox, it was alone. What I enjoyed most was following its tracks as it meandered across the snow in search of food. The red fox, its tracks and subtle surroundings make a beautiful image. At some point you will see it stop and slowly adjust its stance as it prepares to jump high in the air and dive deep into the snow to catch its prey. I only saw a red fox jump once while we were there. It happened so fast and it was so far away, I was relieved to see I captured it on my camera. Interestingly, I noticed some photos of foxes show the front of their ears which are white, others will show the back of their ears which are black. I read that a fox's black ears are visible primarily because they act as a visual "signal" to potential predators, making the ears appear like eyes from a distance, which can deter them from approaching due to the perceived threat of a larger animal watching them.