I continue to be amazed at the diversity of the wildlife at Huntley Meadows Park, the local marshland park where I capture most of my wildlife photos. Monday, as I stood at the spot where I had previously spotted an otter, I caught a glimpse of this beautiful red fox (Vulpes vulpes) as it walked around part of the perimeter of a beaver pond.
This was the first time that I had seen a fox in the wild and the wonderful red coloration was breathtakingly beautiful. I was amazed too at the bushiness of the tail. Wow!
The first photo was actually the last one in the sequence, but I really like the way that it helps to show you the setting, with the cattails surrounding the beaver pond (there are woods beyond the cattails).
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Mike Powell 
Hi Mike, It must be different in your neck of the woods. Back home they were a common sight in urban parks and suburbia. More of an urban pest than genuine wildlife! Still nice to see though 😀
That’s fascinating. I never think of foxes as urban dwelling, but suspect it varies by region. For us, raccoons are more of an issue in suburbia (and sometimes skunks).
When I was young I used to watch a show called Marlin Perkin’s Wild kingdom, and your posts are reminding me of it because it was amazing how many animals they could find in a small space. Lately reading your blog is like watching Mike Powells Wild Kingdom.
Thanks. I remember the show from my childhood days. I don’t know why I have been so lucky recently, but I have managed to see (and photograph) an incredible assortment of creatures recently.
what a cool photo mike. you know everyone in the county is always saying how many deer there are every year, what I tend to see more of as time goes by are foxes, especially red ones. My dogs go nuts when they see one.
There is a concerted effort to control the deer (there is archery hunting in part of the park that I visit), but nothing to control foxes. There are even supposed to coyotes there too.
Who knew there was such a diversity of large mammals so close to a major urban center? Too cool you’re seeing those guys and getting such good shots of them.
The marshland park is pretty big (about 1500 acres) and has woods and marshes and wetlands and supports a wide variety of animals, birds, and insects. There are supposed to be as many as 200 different species of birds. For some strange reason, I’ve had amazing good fortune this week and have spotted an otter, a raccoon, a fox, and a beaver.
I see you are continuing on your mammal roll! This fox looks very healthy–such sleek, think fur, and you are right, an amazingly bushy tail. We sometimes see foxes that look scruffier. This one is a beauty.
I suspect that the food supply is pretty good at this marsh (and out winters are not very harsh),
I see them alot at night, never managed to get a decent pic yet. Always enjoy your photographs Mike, keep up the good work.
Thanks. This is the first one I have seen (and it’s quite a bit easier to get a decent shot when there is light).
Meant to ask, which lens do you use?
I was using a Canon 70-300 lens on a Canon 50D body. In this case, I would have welcomed a bit more reach (but that is often the case).
You’re becoming the Huntley Meadows wildlife chronicler! What a great week for wildlife spotting. Next you’ll have to be on the alert for black ears and mountain lions…?
Lions and tigers and bears, oh my. Yes, it been quite a week for me.
Very cool, this park near Arlington?
It’s near Alexandria more than Arlington, just off of Route 1.
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