It is terribly ironic that just hours after my colleague, Audubon Connecticut Director of Bird Conservation Patrick Comins, uploaded some lovely cottontail photos to the Audubon Connecticut at Stratford Point page that I found our vixen Red Fox engaged in some hunting early this morning. I felt some eyes on me as I surveyed for avian migrants along Prospect Drive, and she was watching me from within our side of the fence.
This is nothing abnormal, and the interaction was typical – a little curious stare down at one another before we both continue on. However, she then put her attention to the ground and hopped around a bit while grabbing something. She was positioning a young cottontail in her mouth before running off with it.
Once she had a good grip she moved away from me and back towards the den at a good jog. She sped up and got into a run once she knew that I had seen her with prey, probably hoping I wouldn’t steal it. I ran towards our driveway to take a picture of her cutting across it in the open but she was a blur by that point. It might not look all that pleasant but it is nature and the food web in action.
Scott Kruitbosch
Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
