5 June 2013 Meeting a Red Fox

Today was another day of weather contrasts. This morning, it was in the low 30’s and snowing when we headed out to the field. The snow got progressively harder and we anticipated closing our traps and calling it a day after lunch. However, after lunch, the snow stopped, the sun came out, and by the time we headed back to camp at about 5PM, it was probably in the mid 40’s!

I am so glad that we didn’t close our traps and head back to camp early, or Kate and I would have missed a really cool encounter with a red fox (one of the predators of the Arctic ground squirrel). While I was weighing a squirrel that we caught at one of our traps, Kate suddenly whispered, “The fox is behind you!” I turned around to see a red fox about 20 feet away. The fox didn't seem to care that we were there and started walking toward us at a leisurely pace. He passed within 10 feet of us and moved slowly enough that I could take a video to share with you!

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