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FAQ
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Who are you and why are you doing this? My name is Adele and I am a science (ecology) graduate from the UK. Foxes have been a part of my life ever since I can recall, growing up in a wildlife-rich English village, and have provided constant fascination, wonder and entertainment. While I have kept diaries of my local wildlife observations for many years, I decided to start a blog in February 2006 after some high drama in rescuing foxes from mange. I've travelled to four continents in search of wildlife and seen over 130 different species of wild mammals, but my main interest (apart from foxes) is in large carnivore conservation, particularly wolves and bears in Canada. Why a "sitting fox"? Foxes love to sit down. They never stand when they can sit. They sit under trees, on fallen branches, by hedges, sometimes even on house rooftops. While some species are better at pure relaxation (lions, for example), I’d venture that none sit as much, or as well, as foxes. Do you feed the foxes? Not in general. I live in the countryside and there’s plenty of natural food for them. Some people do feed foxes in the UK. In North America, it is very different. Fed wildlife is dead wildlife: feeding any mammal in North America is irresponsible, often illegal, and may lead to its death. Animals habituated to human food tend to approach humans in hope of more food. This is viewed as unacceptable by some authorities and fed wildlife is liable to be shot. Even an animal as small as a fox may still be removed from public areas if it seems too bold for the local management's liking. If you love North American animals - don't feed them, especially in national parks. If you disagree, please read this. What's a group of foxes called? Technically, it's a skulk, but it's not really a very fitting description. Foxes trot; they don't slink about like lizards. What photography equipment do you use? Currently, a Canon EOS 30D and a variety of lenses, including a 500mm wildlife lens. I have previously used a Canon EOS 300D and a couple of Fuji FinePix fixed-lens cameras. What threats do foxes face? Red foxes are not an endangered species but, on an individual level, they suffer a great deal because of humanity; the deliberate cruelty of a few people, and accidental problems caused by the changes we have made to this planet. Roads, livestock farms, electric railways, litter and the fur trade all take their toll on foxes (and indeed on many other species). How did you get involved in Canadian wildlife matters? Well, that's a really long story... Suffice it to say that the driving factor has always been my interest in wolves (both eastern and grey). I keep abreast of conservation issues throughout Canada. I am especially concerned about Jasper National Park, Canada's jewel of the Rockies, currently under considerable strain due to hunting / mining just outside its boundaries, inappropriate tourism and poor road management. Other areas of interest include the fate of the prairie (yes, it was an incredibly rich ecosystem once, before the cattle arrived) and wolf conservation in Ontario.
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