I'll NEVER leave home without my monopod (D2H pics)

Anytime you have a normally human-averse animal behaving oddly/aggressively, you should be concerned about rabies. OTOH, maybe he's just used to photographers ....
PS: foxes are harmless unless they;re rabid. Anyway you couldn't
have beebn that scared if you managed to get shots off!
--
Roger

... the dogs bark, but the caravan passes ...
 
are an integral component of the overall picture. here in Hellinois, i can only dream of getting shots like these. I cant wait to leave the Hellwest. Grear job!
 
Amazing work, love the close up of the fox and the owl through the mist, really just great

Ron Frank some great advice, I grew up in Florida and watching tourists feed alligators with no regard for the animals or ther personal well being really upset me, It does not take any animal long to grow used to hand outs witch leads to them being destroyed by the state
Hi Regit,

First some nice shots!

Foxes are wild animals, however if they live in close proximedy to
cities and people, they can become quite dependant upon people as a
food source. I'm NOT suggesting they eat or attack people, BUT they
eat garbage, and often foolish individuals will feed them out
because they are cute .

I say foolish, because feeding wild animals is a good way to get
wild animals killed, or change their behavior. As they become
depepend upon people, and less afraid, they will seek out people,
and some will shoot the animals or report them and have them
destroyed, at least in the USA.

Bears are one of the biggest problems in the USA. Some people here
believe they are like the cartoon (Yogi bear) and think that they
can just walk up to them, or feed them. If a bear in the USA has
two to three complaints about it, it will be put to death.
Complaints can be someone calling and reporting it's been in the
trash.

Living in the Mountains of CO, we have a Conifer Mtn. resident
Black Bear, that has little fear of people. It's walked within a
few feet of me... that was a bit scary, and I wish I'd had a
camera. It rather ignored both myself and my wife as it lumbered
across my driveway about 5ft from us. Living in Bear country we
just accept them, and try our best not to leave garbage cans where
the bear can get at them.

As for your safety with a fox, obviously this fox was not scared of
people which indicates that it has had intereaction, and no longer
fears us. We are NOT on the Foxy food chain, so do not fear if a
fox comes close. It just wants food...the driving force behiind
wildlife! Shooo it away, or whatever. Do NOT feed it.

Unless the fox has rabies, it can do you little harm. If it does
have rabbies, then it's more dangerous, but still hardly lethal.
Symptoms of Rabid animals are not hard to determine, look it up.
This fox IOM looks quite healthy. Remember we are MUCH bigger than
they are, so there is not much to worry about if you use good
judgement.

I noticed your fear did NOT prevent you from taking photos (:->

Ron
--
http://www.pbase.com/ray645
 
Hi Regit:

Superb images. The kite is a coffee table book item, and the fox close-up is of the kind only done with zoo or game preserve animals. Getting this close to a wild one is an amazing feat. So the secret is to scatter blood around the scene and use yourself as bait! Lucky there were no sharks in the pond! But then I have a feeling you would have gotten off a shot or two before fending the shark off with your moinopod.
Please allow me to relate my little "adventure" today with you...
(all shots taken with D2H+70-200vr+TC-20EII)

I was at the Pelican point looking for ospreys this late afternoon;
Wonder around for about half an hour and found none, but I was
lucky to spot a black-shouldered kite. In order to catch it in good
light, I have to skirt around some thick bushes and shrubs;
bruising and bleeding myself along the way (had a cut on my left
leg as I was wearing shorts ... filter had a cut as well :).

Ever so slowly, I got closer and I started snapping :) If you look
closer, you'll notice that not only me that has seen blood lately!

http://www.pbase.com/image/27765092/original



While I was trying to get even closer, I heard a little shuffle in
the bushes... My first guess was just some shrubs birdies... but
boy was I wrong!!! Instead of little birdies, I found this!!! A fox
(European red fox - Vulpes vulpes)?!?! Please do not laugh, but it
totally freaked me out!!! I've seen foxes in zoo behind fence
before, but this is the first time I seen one without fence!!!
Naturally, I don't know how to react :( I was caught in a dilema,
on one hand, I would like to clear out the place ASAP (but
difficult as the vegetation is dense); on the other hand, I want to
take pictures of it!!! Very carefully and slowly, I make my way to
a clearing nearby and tried to snap a shot of it.

http://www.pbase.com/image/27765094/original



The fox follow me to the clearing as well. For some reasons, it
tried to get really close to me... My first guess is perhaps the
blood on my leg; or it is just curious. In any case, the only thing
that is keeping the fox away from me as it get closer, is my
monopod!!! How close? This shot was taken about 2m from the
subject...

http://www.pbase.com/image/27765095/original



Soon after, the fox wondered into the vegetation again and I when
back to the kite. But now, I became acutely aware of any noise
around me. And without saying, my various sudden movements
instigated by random noise scare the kite away :( I didn't stay
there long naturally, but I did caught sight of the kite again on
my way back :)

http://www.pbase.com/image/27765093/original



It is very interesting to find a Red fox at Pelican Point as this
river site is only 3km from the heart of the city and it is
surrounded by waters and residential area... hmmm...

My dear friends, if you could stop laughing for the moment, could
you tell me how I should react to this? Would it be ok if I seek it
out again? What should I prepare?

And oh... I'll never leave for another shoot without my monopod. It
has just been promoted to veteran :)

--
Regit Young [email protected]
FCAS Member, PBase Supporter, Photog-wannabe
'Seeing and interpreting are entirely personal processes' - Steve
Parish
http://www.pbase.com/regit
--
Bill Adams

See my nature photos and many galleries of celebrities and politicians at http://www.pbase.com/bill_adams
 
I am amazed at how you were able to keep your composure to get such a wonderful shot of that fox --WOW!!!

Paul

--
http://www.pbase.com/paulcasi
D-100
18-35mm 3.5 ED
24-85mm 3.5 ED G
50mm 1.8
70-200mm 2.8 ED VR
70-210mm 4.0 AFS for travelling light!
SB-80
 
... all of them, and a very amusing story to boot.

When wild animals show no fear of people there is cause for concern as this can indicate disease; rabies, distemper, etc. Your fox, however, looks quite healthy. Maybe it has been fed by people and came by looking for a handout. Please don't take up that bad habit as it can be harmfull to you and the animals. All that said, I don't think a healthy fox is anything to be afraid of. Good luck next time.
By the way, the last shot is my favorite. Good work, Bob

P.S. If you know where and when to look you can probably find foxes in the very heart of the city.
Please allow me to relate my little "adventure" today with you...
(all shots taken with D2H+70-200vr+TC-20EII)

I was at the Pelican point looking for ospreys this late afternoon;
Wonder around for about half an hour and found none, but I was
lucky to spot a black-shouldered kite. In order to catch it in good
light, I have to skirt around some thick bushes and shrubs;
bruising and bleeding myself along the way (had a cut on my left
leg as I was wearing shorts ... filter had a cut as well :).

Ever so slowly, I got closer and I started snapping :) If you look
closer, you'll notice that not only me that has seen blood lately!

http://www.pbase.com/image/27765092/original



While I was trying to get even closer, I heard a little shuffle in
the bushes... My first guess was just some shrubs birdies... but
boy was I wrong!!! Instead of little birdies, I found this!!! A fox
(European red fox - Vulpes vulpes)?!?! Please do not laugh, but it
totally freaked me out!!! I've seen foxes in zoo behind fence
before, but this is the first time I seen one without fence!!!
Naturally, I don't know how to react :( I was caught in a dilema,
on one hand, I would like to clear out the place ASAP (but
difficult as the vegetation is dense); on the other hand, I want to
take pictures of it!!! Very carefully and slowly, I make my way to
a clearing nearby and tried to snap a shot of it.

http://www.pbase.com/image/27765094/original



The fox follow me to the clearing as well. For some reasons, it
tried to get really close to me... My first guess is perhaps the
blood on my leg; or it is just curious. In any case, the only thing
that is keeping the fox away from me as it get closer, is my
monopod!!! How close? This shot was taken about 2m from the
subject...

http://www.pbase.com/image/27765095/original



Soon after, the fox wondered into the vegetation again and I when
back to the kite. But now, I became acutely aware of any noise
around me. And without saying, my various sudden movements
instigated by random noise scare the kite away :( I didn't stay
there long naturally, but I did caught sight of the kite again on
my way back :)

http://www.pbase.com/image/27765093/original



It is very interesting to find a Red fox at Pelican Point as this
river site is only 3km from the heart of the city and it is
surrounded by waters and residential area... hmmm...

My dear friends, if you could stop laughing for the moment, could
you tell me how I should react to this? Would it be ok if I seek it
out again? What should I prepare?

And oh... I'll never leave for another shoot without my monopod. It
has just been promoted to veteran :)

--
Regit Young [email protected]
FCAS Member, PBase Supporter, Photog-wannabe
'Seeing and interpreting are entirely personal processes' - Steve
Parish
http://www.pbase.com/regit
--
Bob Scribner
 
Amazing pics, Regit!!
That kite is a real beauty! And your skill really does him justice.

As for the fox - they really can be very curious. A friend of mine once told me a similar story. She came across a juvenile fox on her favorite hiking path in Tyrol (Austria). She is not at all scared of wild animals and it seemed they made friends, because every time she walked that path from now on that little guy waited for her on the same glade they met and followed her all the way. After two months, however, he was gone and never showed up again.

--
Harry - http://www.pbase.com/rovebeetle
How I miss my good old hammock!

 
Animals living near cities, or even smaller towns are generally used to being around humans, and may not fear us AT all especially If they have been fed, and never harmed. They just don't see us as a threat after long time contact without issue.

We used to keep our dog food in the garage. I have a shop out there, and I often leave the garage doors open.

One day I was working in the shop, running the table saw, making a racket... I looked over, and there was our resident racoons with three cubs standing in he doorway.

I stood there stunned as the parents walked into the garage, and strolled over to the dog food bag which was near the BACK of the garage.. It was like they were giving the young-uns a tour...."And now to your left, this is the bag where we get food!!"

They were not scared of me....at all... We promptly moved the dog food inside. I had to chase them out with a shop broom, and then they did not hurry, but just looked rather annoyed.

Ron
PS: foxes are harmless unless they;re rabid. Anyway you couldn't
have beebn that scared if you managed to get shots off!
--
Roger

... the dogs bark, but the caravan passes ...
 
Regit, this is a fox, not a rabid wolf :-). Treat it like any other wild animal, don't push it's space. As others have noted, foxes are very curious creatures. Just don't forget it is a wild animal. I remember a dingo we saw out by Uluru that was a real pest at one of parking lots. It had learned that if it limped people would feed it, and guess what, others followed. Much to the detriment of the dingoes as well as the people. Here in the states we sometimes have that problem with bears.

In Australia I would be more worried about the other beasties you have there, snakes, spiders and the occasional salt-water croc :-). That is what I'd want the monopod for, and a very long one at that.

I really like that first osprey shot, come to think of it I really like that last osprey shot, heck, I like them all.

Great story to go along with it as well.
Please allow me to relate my little "adventure" today with you...
(all shots taken with D2H+70-200vr+TC-20EII)
SNIP
And oh... I'll never leave for another shoot without my monopod. It
has just been promoted to veteran :)

--
Regit Young [email protected]
FCAS Member, PBase Supporter, Photog-wannabe
'Seeing and interpreting are entirely personal processes' - Steve
Parish
http://www.pbase.com/regit
--
Bill Dewey
http://www.deweydrive.com
 
haha...wild animals will do anything for their dog food.

Great pictures Regit!
We used to keep our dog food in the garage. I have a shop out
there, and I often leave the garage doors open.

One day I was working in the shop, running the table saw, making a
racket... I looked over, and there was our resident racoons with
three cubs standing in he doorway.

I stood there stunned as the parents walked into the garage, and
strolled over to the dog food bag which was near the BACK of the
garage.. It was like they were giving the young-uns a tour...."And
now to your left, this is the bag where we get food!!"

They were not scared of me....at all... We promptly moved the dog
food inside. I had to chase them out with a shop broom, and then
they did not hurry, but just looked rather annoyed.

Ron
PS: foxes are harmless unless they;re rabid. Anyway you couldn't
have beebn that scared if you managed to get shots off!
--
Roger

... the dogs bark, but the caravan passes ...
 
Really excellent photos Regit. the detail is fantastic. this combo seems to grab verry good detail. what distance were you from the bird?
Please allow me to relate my little "adventure" today with you...
(all shots taken with D2H+70-200vr+TC-20EII)

I was at the Pelican point looking for ospreys this late afternoon;
Wonder around for about half an hour and found none, but I was
lucky to spot a black-shouldered kite. In order to catch it in good
light, I have to skirt around some thick bushes and shrubs;
bruising and bleeding myself along the way (had a cut on my left
leg as I was wearing shorts ... filter had a cut as well :).

Ever so slowly, I got closer and I started snapping :) If you look
closer, you'll notice that not only me that has seen blood lately!

http://www.pbase.com/image/27765092/original



While I was trying to get even closer, I heard a little shuffle in
the bushes... My first guess was just some shrubs birdies... but
boy was I wrong!!! Instead of little birdies, I found this!!! A fox
(European red fox - Vulpes vulpes)?!?! Please do not laugh, but it
totally freaked me out!!! I've seen foxes in zoo behind fence
before, but this is the first time I seen one without fence!!!
Naturally, I don't know how to react :( I was caught in a dilema,
on one hand, I would like to clear out the place ASAP (but
difficult as the vegetation is dense); on the other hand, I want to
take pictures of it!!! Very carefully and slowly, I make my way to
a clearing nearby and tried to snap a shot of it.

The fox follow me to the clearing as well. For some reasons, it
tried to get really close to me... My first guess is perhaps the
blood on my leg; or it is just curious. In any case, the only thing
that is keeping the fox away from me as it get closer, is my
monopod!!! How close? This shot was taken about 2m from the
subject...
--
Craig H. north jersey
http://www.pbase.com/craigh
 
are really some of your best - the best - I've seen here. Wow.
Please allow me to relate my little "adventure" today with you...
(all shots taken with D2H+70-200vr+TC-20EII)

I was at the Pelican point looking for ospreys this late afternoon;
Wonder around for about half an hour and found none, but I was
lucky to spot a black-shouldered kite. In order to catch it in good
light, I have to skirt around some thick bushes and shrubs;
bruising and bleeding myself along the way (had a cut on my left
leg as I was wearing shorts ... filter had a cut as well :).

Ever so slowly, I got closer and I started snapping :) If you look
closer, you'll notice that not only me that has seen blood lately!

http://www.pbase.com/image/27765092/original



While I was trying to get even closer, I heard a little shuffle in
the bushes... My first guess was just some shrubs birdies... but
boy was I wrong!!! Instead of little birdies, I found this!!! A fox
(European red fox - Vulpes vulpes)?!?! Please do not laugh, but it
totally freaked me out!!! I've seen foxes in zoo behind fence
before, but this is the first time I seen one without fence!!!
Naturally, I don't know how to react :( I was caught in a dilema,
on one hand, I would like to clear out the place ASAP (but
difficult as the vegetation is dense); on the other hand, I want to
take pictures of it!!! Very carefully and slowly, I make my way to
a clearing nearby and tried to snap a shot of it.

http://www.pbase.com/image/27765094/original



The fox follow me to the clearing as well. For some reasons, it
tried to get really close to me... My first guess is perhaps the
blood on my leg; or it is just curious. In any case, the only thing
that is keeping the fox away from me as it get closer, is my
monopod!!! How close? This shot was taken about 2m from the
subject...

http://www.pbase.com/image/27765095/original



Soon after, the fox wondered into the vegetation again and I when
back to the kite. But now, I became acutely aware of any noise
around me. And without saying, my various sudden movements
instigated by random noise scare the kite away :( I didn't stay
there long naturally, but I did caught sight of the kite again on
my way back :)

http://www.pbase.com/image/27765093/original



It is very interesting to find a Red fox at Pelican Point as this
river site is only 3km from the heart of the city and it is
surrounded by waters and residential area... hmmm...

My dear friends, if you could stop laughing for the moment, could
you tell me how I should react to this? Would it be ok if I seek it
out again? What should I prepare?

And oh... I'll never leave for another shoot without my monopod. It
has just been promoted to veteran :)

--
Regit Young [email protected]
FCAS Member, PBase Supporter, Photog-wannabe
'Seeing and interpreting are entirely personal processes' - Steve
Parish
http://www.pbase.com/regit
--
http://radio.weblogs.com/0101365/categories/photos/
 
"I feel your pain," macuser. I detest Hellinois and the Hellwest, and I was born here. However, we are not devoid of wildlife. The coyotes, the geese, and our resident owl often keep me awake. On our little lake, we have swans, numerous Blue Heron, many species of duck, an occasional egret, and a bothersome beaver. We are surrounded by deer.

My stupid dog chased a very large coyote out of our yard this winter. Once the coyote reached the edge of the yard (ice on the lake), he stood his ground. My dog stood his ground, too, barking and growling about 15 feet from the coyote. I ran out to rescue the dog, but he wouldn't respond to me. I yelled and clapped at the coyote to try to scare him off, but he wasn't the least afraid of me. I grabbed the dog by the chain a dragged him back to the house. The coyote stood his ground until we were in the house. I can tell you that a camera was the last thing on my mind as I "faced down" that coyote (it was dark anyway), but I sure would have liked to have had my monopod with me. He was big, and I was scared! I guess I'm not a worthy photographer (ha ha).

Regards,

Bob
are an integral component of the overall picture. here in
Hellinois, i can only dream of getting shots like these. I cant
wait to leave the Hellwest. Grear job!
--
Bob
D100, E1, V1
 
All of them...Don't know which one I like best, but the fox close-up...WOW, I can't get my dog sitting still enough to get one that sharp!

Beautiful work, Regit!

Dennis
 
Maria wrote:
Incredibly beautiful. All are GREAT!
Please allow me to relate my little "adventure" today with you...
(all shots taken with D2H+70-200vr+TC-20EII)

I was at the Pelican point looking for ospreys this late afternoon;
Wonder around for about half an hour and found none, but I was
lucky to spot a black-shouldered kite. In order to catch it in good
light, I have to skirt around some thick bushes and shrubs;
bruising and bleeding myself along the way (had a cut on my left
leg as I was wearing shorts ... filter had a cut as well :).

Ever so slowly, I got closer and I started snapping :) If you look
closer, you'll notice that not only me that has seen blood lately!

http://www.pbase.com/image/27765092/original



While I was trying to get even closer, I heard a little shuffle in
the bushes... My first guess was just some shrubs birdies... but
boy was I wrong!!! Instead of little birdies, I found this!!! A fox
(European red fox - Vulpes vulpes)?!?! Please do not laugh, but it
totally freaked me out!!! I've seen foxes in zoo behind fence
before, but this is the first time I seen one without fence!!!
Naturally, I don't know how to react :( I was caught in a dilema,
on one hand, I would like to clear out the place ASAP (but
difficult as the vegetation is dense); on the other hand, I want to
take pictures of it!!! Very carefully and slowly, I make my way to
a clearing nearby and tried to snap a shot of it.

http://www.pbase.com/image/27765094/original



The fox follow me to the clearing as well. For some reasons, it
tried to get really close to me... My first guess is perhaps the
blood on my leg; or it is just curious. In any case, the only thing
that is keeping the fox away from me as it get closer, is my
monopod!!! How close? This shot was taken about 2m from the
subject...

http://www.pbase.com/image/27765095/original



Soon after, the fox wondered into the vegetation again and I when
back to the kite. But now, I became acutely aware of any noise
around me. And without saying, my various sudden movements
instigated by random noise scare the kite away :( I didn't stay
there long naturally, but I did caught sight of the kite again on
my way back :)

http://www.pbase.com/image/27765093/original



It is very interesting to find a Red fox at Pelican Point as this
river site is only 3km from the heart of the city and it is
surrounded by waters and residential area... hmmm...

My dear friends, if you could stop laughing for the moment, could
you tell me how I should react to this? Would it be ok if I seek it
out again? What should I prepare?

And oh... I'll never leave for another shoot without my monopod. It
has just been promoted to veteran :)

--
Regit Young [email protected]
FCAS Member, PBase Supporter, Photog-wannabe
'Seeing and interpreting are entirely personal processes' - Steve
Parish
http://www.pbase.com/regit
 
Dr Tiger to be,

Your braveness and diligence really pays off. These are very impressive works.
The fox follow me to the clearing as well. For some reasons, it
tried to get really close to me... My first guess is perhaps the
blood on my leg; or it is just curious. In any case, the only thing
She wants your fresh and shining D2H;-)
that is keeping the fox away from me as it get closer, is my
monopod!!! How close? This shot was taken about 2m from the
subject...
I could see you in her eyes.
And oh... I'll never leave for another shoot without my monopod. It
has just been promoted to veteran :)
Maybe you should carry a pistol as most Texans do. Where is the Canandian cowboy Dave (aka Illuminator) anyway? He mentioned that he always carried a gun while shooting photos in the mountains.
--
Regit Young [email protected]
FCAS Member, PBase Supporter, Photog-wannabe
'Seeing and interpreting are entirely personal processes' - Steve
Parish
http://www.pbase.com/regit
 
You can always pick up a bottle of pepper spray. I doubt you would ever need to use it, but if it makes you feel safer, then get it by all means.

Good thing you had that VR lens eh? Absorbed all that shaking in fear real good. :)

Just teasing of course. Its a great and well illustrated story.

--
Just my nickels worth.
Happy Snappin'!

Ron
----------------------------------------------------
http://www.pbase.com/recalcitrantron
FCAS Member No. 68
pbase supporter
Coolpix 45 Hundred
 

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