Insights Acquired from 15 Years of Capturing Images of Foxes
Wildlife shutterbug Roeselien Raimond understands a thing or two regarding foxes. She has been watching and snapping photos of these elusive animals for over a decade, documenting their grace, charm, and peculiarities, from how they express affection for one another to the various expressions they display. Now, she has gathered her knowledge on foxes and is imparting her insights to all—along with stunning imagery of foxes to go with it.
“When I initially began capturing images of foxes,” Raimond shares with My Modern Met, “I thought I understood them: adorable, clever, a tad cunning. But after 15 years of dedicating countless hours in the wild, I’ve concluded one thing: in the realm of foxes, the more you learn, the less certain you become.” So, what are some insights she has gathered? “They are devoted partners, caring parents, skilled swimmers, and surprisingly expressive communicators,” she reveals. “They can perceive magnetic fields, store food for later, and even… laugh.”
Every fox possesses its unique character and is pleasantly unpredictable. Because they are “perpetually surprising,” they excel in adaptability. Foxes can thrive in a wide array of habitats, from deserts and tundras to forests and urban areas. And while their capability to survive anywhere is remarkable, there’s so much more to appreciate.
Scroll down for facts regarding foxes from Raimond and then discover even more on her website.
Wildlife photographer Roeselien Raimond shares a portion of her insights regarding foxes after observing and photographing them for 15 years.
Foxes are capable of swimming
“Regarding water, foxes are somewhere in between cats and dogs. They don’t mind getting wet, and they swim quite well, though I suspect they might not enjoy it that much. In 15 years of watching foxes, I’ve only come across a few swimming foxes, which says a lot.”
Foxes can scale heights
“Cats have retractable claws; dogs can’t retract theirs whatsoever and red foxes are thought to possess semi-retractable claws. Scientists still debate this, but one thing I am certain of: foxes can climb surprisingly well. They may not be acrobatic like cats, but in contrast to dogs, they are quite proficient climbers.”
Foxes tend to be monogamous… mostly
“When discussing love and loyalty, foxes share similarities with humans. They frequently establish long-term, even lifelong partnerships. I’ve witnessed fox pairs who remained together for many years, sharing territory, snuggling, arguing, and reconciling. Some males are even attentive fathers. Yet just as with people, when opportunities arise, loyalty can falter. Ultimately, foxes are just like humans, or perhaps it’s the other way around.”
Foxes hoard their food
“When food is abundant, foxes conceal their excess as a reserve for leaner periods. This behavior, termed caching, consists of digging a small hole, placing the food within, and using their nose like a spade to cover it with sand, dirt, or foliage. They sometimes even mark the spot with urine as their own little GPS signal.”
Foxes partake in shared parenthood
“Sometimes, fox families take it even further. I’ve observed dens with as many as 10 cubs; the young of both a mother and her mature daughter, who pooled their litters and even nursed each other’s offspring. It leads one to ponder whether they recognized whose young belonged to whom… though perhaps that’s merely a human preoccupation. To them, it’s all family.”
Foxes can be messy
“In Dutch we…