YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK — According to Yellowstone National Park (YNP), winter is a great time to witness foxes out hunting.
While red foxes are nocturnal, YNP says that this species increases their activity around dawn and dusk during winter, and could even be out hunting in broad daylight. This is credited to the fact that their prey species, mainly small rodents like meadow voles and mice, tend to be more active during the day in winter.
While there are currently no population estimates for red foxes in either YNP or Grand Teton National Park (GTNP), the National Park Service says that red foxes are more abundant than previously thought in YNP.
The NPS also warns that foxes can become habituated to humans, usually due to being fed. Visitors to YNP are prohibited from feeding foxes or any other wildlife. Park officials have put down foxes who became accustomed to food handouts from people.
Buckrail previously reported that, although it may seem like a well-meaning gesture to “help” wildlife, it can actually lead to their demise. Read more about that here.
See more photos of foxes hunting in the snow, captured by Buckrail photographer Nick Sulzer, here.
