Cascade Fox photo trip

[Tom Reichner]

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]

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

Shawn

[addicted]

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

excellent photos

[wastickslinger]

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]

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]

Those are awsome pics!

[RyanD]

Very Cool Pics.  Great job!!!

[River]

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

[Dean44]

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]

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]

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

[boneaddict]

  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]

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]

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]

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.