JACKSON, Wyo. — Buckrail photographer Nick Sulzer spied a red fox in hot pursuit of a small rodent on Thursday, Sept. 12.
Foxes in Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) eat mice, voles, rats, birds, rabbits and ground squirrels. A stealth fox can creep close enough to pounce on unexpecting prey. The animal is usually solitary and hunts alone.
“The red fox is a lean mean hunting machine that’s built for speed,” according to GTNP.
Their top speed is about 30 mph, and they can leap as high as 6 feet. Typically, an adult red fox can out-maneuver larger animals, but young pups can be taken by predators.
The red fox also has a great sense of smell and hearing to track ground-dwelling animals — even those hiding under the snow.
During the fall months, red foxes will focus their time on finding food as they prepare for winter. Red foxes are adapted to spending the entire year in and around GTNP. In the winter, their thick fur and bushy tail helps to keep them warm when temperatures drop.
