Author Topic: Cascade Fox photo trip (Read 10528 times)

Tom Reichner · « **on:** May 19, 2009, 11:18:55 PM »

This weekend I made a short trip to photograph Cascade Foxes. The Cascade is a variation (or perhaps even a subspecies - authorities disagree) of the Red Fox.

The main difference between the Cascade and the regular Red is that in the Cascade population, color phases are the norm. Many authorities claim that the most common color for Cascades is black, or mostly black with some silver. In all cases, they have a white tip to the tail, as do all red foxes, regardless of what color the body is.

Anyway, I thought it would be an interesting project for a couple reasons. First, much of my boyhood was spent back in Pennsylvania trapping foxes. And also, foxes are completely nonexistent up here in the areas around Omak.

My goal was to try to get as many different looking photos of foxes as I could. One thing that made that possible was the variety in the color phases. What I was told about the Cascade Fox turned out to be true - I saw pale orange, not-so-pale orange, an orange/black cross, a darker orange/black cross, and a black phase that had a generous portion of silver mixed in.

Photographing these guys was not too easy. Although they are fairly habituated to humans, they are active creatures who never seem to stay still for more than a few seconds. Even when they sat down, they'd just get up again in ten or twenty seconds, only to walk a few steps and sit down in a new place. This made setting up a tripod a total impossibility, and I had to use my smaller lens (the 100-400 zoom) and handhold for almost all of the shots.

In just a couple weeks their winter fur will start to shed, and they'll look like hell for a couple months. I'm very tempted to go back ASAP and do this all over again!

popeshawnpaul · « **Reply #1 on:** May 19, 2009, 11:28:36 PM »

Amazing you were able to get that many good shots in just a weekend. Great shooting.

Shawn

addicted · « **Reply #2 on:** May 19, 2009, 11:29:05 PM »

very cool. I've heard of black foxes around here but it seems to be a rarity.

excellent photos

wastickslinger · « **Reply #3 on:** May 19, 2009, 11:31:38 PM »

I'm speechless. I have only seen one of those little buggers and you were able to get a bunch on film. Thats awesome!!!!

Aneoakleaf · « **Reply #4 on:** May 19, 2009, 11:42:17 PM »

WOW Great pictures! I had no idea we had such a varity of colors. I've only seen a fef fox in my life. Thanks so much for sharing!

bowhunterforever · « **Reply #5 on:** May 20, 2009, 12:33:50 AM »

Those are awsome pics!

RyanD · « **Reply #6 on:** May 20, 2009, 12:35:46 AM »

Very Cool Pics. Great job!!!

River · « **Reply #7 on:** May 20, 2009, 12:41:27 AM »

Beautiful -- thanks so much for letting us see you work.
Dan

Dean44 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 20, 2009, 05:11:49 AM »

Tom, that is truly amazing that you were able to consistently get that close to them. Are they in an area where they are used to the presence of people?

Congratulations of some great shots, and mostly on your skill to get into position for the shots!

boneaddict · « **Reply #9 on:** May 20, 2009, 05:50:30 AM »

DANG DUDE. You saw and photogrpahed as many fox as I have seen in my life up there, and I'm occasionally out in the woods. WELL DONE. and COOL photos.

markts · « **Reply #10 on:** May 20, 2009, 06:08:24 AM »

Very nice, I have only seen one in my life. Those pics are great, thanks. Mark

boneaddict · « **Reply #11 on:** May 20, 2009, 06:21:07 AM »

I got this guy in Colville/Kettle. I wonder if its considered a cascade.......(I need to finish this mount) He seems he is more tradidional red. I saw one last fall in Ephrata that was more orange.
.

luvtohnt · « **Reply #12 on:** May 20, 2009, 07:03:06 AM »

Awesome pictures! I saw one just likr the one in the fifth picture run across the street here in Ellensburg. It took me a few minutes after I saw it to realize it was a fox and not a stray dog.

Brandon

Idabooner · « **Reply #13 on:** May 20, 2009, 07:29:33 AM »

Man, that is amazing you found that many in a week end, That's about how many I've seen in a life time in and around the Cascades. Most I've seem were similar color as your last picture, I did see one that was very red, never a black one.
Thanks for sharing some nice pictures.

skybusterbo · « **Reply #14 on:** May 20, 2009, 08:31:29 AM »

Very nice pic's. I've never seen one in washington. I've seen some in Oregon on the west side. They were all very red. Beautiful animals. Thanks for sharing.

runamuk · « **Reply #15 on:** May 20, 2009, 08:33:16 AM »

I love the black one.....

I've never seen a fox alive in WA.... saw a few when we lived in Idaho have seen a few as roadkill.....I'd sure love to see as many as you did that is amazing.

JackOfAllTrades · « **Reply #16 on:** May 20, 2009, 08:52:17 AM »

I've seen one like the one in the seventh photo, more gray than reddish, but some rusty color, over near Owl Creek on the Peninsula several years ago during Elk season. Rain was pissin sideways out near the coast range and this little critter at some 300yds made a run from the bottom of a cleared ridge to a den 3/4 of the way up. That's the only one I saw for years. Quick and agile little *censored*s!

For you to get photos of several in one weekend.. Man, can we go varmint 'huntin' sometime? You use the camera, I'll use a rifle. If we do it right, we'll both get our shots.

-Steve

Slider · « **Reply #17 on:** May 20, 2009, 08:59:57 AM »

I'm with everyone else. I think I have seen about 2 in my life. Very Nice!!! luv the black one!!!

boneaddict · « **Reply #18 on:** May 20, 2009, 09:15:32 AM »

I've seen a bunch more up in BC. I assume they might be considered the same. I've alwyas wondered why I haven't seen more down here. I suppose they are hell on birds but I wouldn't mind seeing more. I wonder if thats along the same lines as the wolf lovers.

jackelope · « **Reply #19 on:** May 20, 2009, 09:26:42 AM »

are all these pics from washington?

Tom Reichner · « **Reply #20 on:** May 20, 2009, 09:42:36 AM »

Thank you, everyone, for your kind and encouraging comments. I am happy for my wonderful fox experience, and thankful that I get to share these images with you all.

Quote from: Dean44 on May 20, 2009, 05:11:49 AM

Are they in an area where they are used to the presence of people?
Congratulations of some great shots, and mostly on your skill to get into position for the shots!

Yes, Dean, they are used to people. But only two seemed unconcerned about me getting close. The others got very nervous and skittish when I would try to move into better position. Overall, I got lucky - it would be easy to go looking for them for a weekend and get shut out, not seeing a single fox.

Quote from: jackelope on May 20, 2009, 09:26:42 AM

are all these pics from washington?

Yep, all taken here in WA. Over on the 'wet' side. There are no foxes here where I live in Okanogan County, unless perhaps there are a few over in the Methow valley. Supposedly, there are only a few hundred of these Cascade foxes left in the wild, with almost all of them being in the southwestern part of the state. A naturalist told me there are also a few down in Oregon somewhere.

saylean · « **Reply #21 on:** May 20, 2009, 09:43:32 AM »

wow. what else to say?

I've seen like two foxes in my life..

1 lives up at the refinery I used to work at (Conoco Phillips) in ferndale and the other I saw at the airport in Ireland (dublin)....

pretty freaking cool man. thanks for posting

popeshawnpaul · « **Reply #22 on:** May 20, 2009, 05:56:42 PM »

There are tons of fox over around WSU and the palouse. Seen a bunch around there and in Idaho.

Pathfinder101 · « **Reply #23 on:** May 20, 2009, 08:44:03 PM »

again, great work Tom! I have seen only 2 live foxes in this state in my life...

Houndhunter · « **Reply #24 on:** May 20, 2009, 09:18:45 PM »

mt adams area? very cool pics, i would love to get a black one like the one you got a pic of

Rick · « **Reply #25 on:** May 20, 2009, 09:30:19 PM »

That black one would look killer on my wall.

Huntbear · « **Reply #26 on:** May 20, 2009, 10:28:36 PM »

Very cool pics. Now I know what I saw in elk season a few years ago. I did not know they existed in the SW part of the state. Now, I have something else to watch for when I am out in the woods.

M_ray · « **Reply #27 on:** May 20, 2009, 10:38:27 PM »

OMG those are amazing pics ... very cool indeed!!!

coriantonk · « **Reply #28 on:** May 20, 2009, 10:49:42 PM »

:rockin:Great job on the picks, The only fox's I have ever seen alive were at Northwest Trek. A friend of mine runs a trap line in Utah, and he gets some really cool ones. I guess I just need to spend more time in the woods.

rougheye · « **Reply #29 on:** May 21, 2009, 08:00:55 AM »

Awesome pics , there is only one place i have ever seen those , and i have seen all color phases . If anyone is interested shoot me a pm . So many if you leave a granola bar out , it will be gone in the morning .

boneaddict · « **Reply #30 on:** May 21, 2009, 10:55:55 AM »

I was looking at some old stuff on fox and a quote from a 1924 text mentioned that the black fox from Washington had the crown of the highest price for its hide of all current species, at $1200-1500 dollars. Thats a TON of money now AND BACK IN 1924.

jackelope · « **Reply #31 on:** May 21, 2009, 10:58:25 AM »

probably worth about 30 bucks now...

10Key · « **Reply #32 on:** May 21, 2009, 12:44:42 PM »

Funny, this thread's timing. I was over in Tri-Cities last weekend doing some fishing, I was out in Burbank. Hit the water around 8am on Saturday and I stumbled upon two fox. One traditional reddish color and another darker phase, almost black. I was just West of Boise Cascade, along the Columbia. I grew up in Tri-Cities and I had NEVER seen one until last weekend.

Cylvertip · « **Reply #33 on:** May 21, 2009, 04:19:00 PM »

I've only seen two or three as well. One was on my elk kill in 2003 in Winston Creek, cleaning up the scraps. It was very light gray/ silver in color, did not see any red or orange any where. I swore it was an arctic fox. When it saw three of us on Mt Bikes, it was gone.

javman · « **Reply #34 on:** May 23, 2009, 12:00:44 PM »

Sweet pics Tom! The one with Pinnacle Peak in the background is money!

M_ray · « **Reply #35 on:** May 23, 2009, 03:32:21 PM »

Quote from: javman on May 23, 2009, 12:00:44 PM

Sweet pics Tom! The one with Pinnacle Peak in the background is money!

What ever you do don't let the cat out of the bag on where these guy's are!

tlbradford · « **Reply #36 on:** May 23, 2009, 04:02:56 PM »

Quote from: javman on May 23, 2009, 12:00:44 PM

Sweet pics Tom! The one with Pinnacle Peak in the background is money!

That was my favorite too.

littlebuf · « **Reply #37 on:** May 23, 2009, 05:05:52 PM »

what is the range of these guys? i ask because i was calling for coyotes about a month ago up in kapowsin (west side foothills of rainier) and i saw what i thought was a all black coyote. what ever it was it busted me and was running away. was this a coyote or a fox?

boneaddict · « **Reply #38 on:** May 23, 2009, 05:24:14 PM »

well, I've seen more black coyotes than black foxes if that answers your question.......

littlebuf · « **Reply #39 on:** May 23, 2009, 06:12:13 PM »

thats what i thought, but after seeing this thread i thought well maybe.

@RCHER · « **Reply #40 on:** May 24, 2009, 12:11:38 PM »

Very nice pics! Thanks for sharing. What cool critters.

I've never heard of the name cascade fox attached to the red fox. I saw all different colors of reds growing up in Montana. Caught and shot mostly red phase. I definitely see more black ones than red phase here in wetern WA.

grandpawrichard · « **Reply #41 on:** May 26, 2009, 05:21:19 PM »

Tom,
Your photos of the foxes are just fabulous! I haven't seen a fox in the wild for over 30 years now.

Thanks for posting the photos for our enjoyment!

Dick

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