Curious Red Fox Kit

A few months ago, I was feeling the weight of my ongoing photo assignments and summer events and noticed my inspiration dwindling. The struggle to balance the b...
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A few months ago, I was feeling the weight of my ongoing photo assignments and summer events and noticed my inspiration dwindling. The struggle to balance the business side of this career with my passion for the craft is not a foreign feeling, however, this summer challenged me more than it has in the past. It became glaringly obvious that I needed to get out and rediscover why I fell in love with wildlife photography in the first place… so, I decided to wake up a few hours before sunrise one early spring morning and venture into Yellowstone with the sole purpose of recapturing the feeling I had when I first discovered the thrill of photographing nature.

The park was alive with all the vibrant spring colors, paired with views of wildlife interacting with their new young, which gave me a sense of connection that had been missing in the months prior. During the drive, I noticed an overgrown trail off the road, so I pulled over, grabbed my equipment, and hiked in before finding a spot to set my gear down and appreciate the quiet nature around me. After 30 minutes, I began hearing subtle sounds of twigs snapping and leaves rustling around me. I focused my vision on the thick brush, trying to spot any kind of movement, and seconds later, multiple furry little figures began emerging from their hiding places. I had unknowingly stumbled upon a nearby fox den and was the subject of an intense investigation conducted by five curious kits.

While I never intentionally interact with wildlife, and I always do my part to maintain a respectful distance, sometimes it’s out of your control. So, I quietly sat there, photographing these awesome little creatures as they got more and more bold over time. After two awe-inspiring hours, I decided to leave so that my presence didn’t encourage them to approach humans in the future, yet, when I headed home that evening, I left with more than just images of the encounter. I went home with the rediscovered love for wildlife photography that I had initially set out for. Sharing a pure and mutual fascination with those fox kits reminded me of why I’m helplessly drawn to the wild nature of the American West.
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