Red Fox Vixen in Algonquin Park, Ontario

One particular family of Red Foxes in Algonquin Provincial Park has become quite celebrated, so much so that seeing them no longer represents a challenge. On our day trip to the Park in late April, it was exciting to come across not one but two Red Foxes separate and distinct from the other well known foxes. This vixen was spotted near Lake of Two Rivers.

We were sliding along Highway 60 at a modest speed in the hopes of seeing some wildlife. Bob’s keen eye first saw this Red Fox as she sauntered along the edge of the woods on the other side of the ditch.

We proceeded to carefully make a u-turn and pulled into the Lake of Two Rivers picnic grounds where we waited to see if the Red Fox would emerge from the underbrush. Sure enough, she did!

A couple of short kilometres back along Highway 60, we had seen what might be the vixen’s mate trotting along the shoulder of the highway and going in the opposite direction. This sighting was west of Mew Lake Campground.

With the increased volume of traffic on a Friday afternoon, we worried about that fox’s welfare.

Back at Lake of Two Rivers, the vixen patrolled the picnic grounds for food scraps, but at no point did we see her pick up any morsels. Picnickers were few and far between given the chilly temperatures and early spring date.

The Red Fox vixen displayed a healthy sense of wariness and did not approach either us or the one other couple who happened to be taking a break and enjoying a view of the lake.

Foraging for food is hard work, so the vixen paused for a scratch and a brief rest before continuing on her merry way.

We left the vixen when she headed up the beach. We weren’t sure if she already had kits to feed; her teats were just barely visible hanging below the fur on her belly. Hopefully she found a frog, fish or crayfish to eat or take back to the den.

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