Respectful Wildlife Viewing
I’ve been fortunate enough to observe a fox family here in Boulder, Colorado, and have noticed some people approaching too close or talking too loud, which affects the behavior of these adorable foxes.
I also found myself too close at one point: when the mom had just returned at sunrise with a bird in her mouth, and her kits ran up the mountainside to get to her. She didn’t know I was nearby, on the edge of the road. Once she noticed me, she trotted towards me and I slowly backed up until she turned and went back to her family. She had let me know she was not comfortable with me too close, so I stayed at a distance respecting her space.
It’s so important to recognize when you’re making an animal uncomfortable, and to try not to get to that point. These foxes are now pretty accustomed to humans, but we should still talk quietly, keep a distance, and not stay too long. This is their home, and it is better to not get the shot, then to change the behavior or cause stress to an animal. Besides, a photo of a scared or nervous animal does make for any kind of photo I would ever want to hang on my wall.
And never resort to baiting with food or using flash at night for a photo. It is important to consider yourself a steward of the land by not only minimizing your presence, but also doing what you can to protect it.
