©Eric Januszkiewicz
March 27, 2025
Aerial Ambush in the Maroon Bells
- as seen by -
Eric Januszkiewicz
As one might imagine, acquiring prey in the dead of winter can have its challenges; one being that most of it is out of sight, hidden under several inches of snow.
This red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is in midair pursuit of a small rodent using a technique known as “mousing”. By leaping high into the air, the fox can pounce headfirst, breaking through the snow to acquire its prey. This fox also has an incredible sense of hearing and can find prey with ease, even beneath the snow.
I had the pleasure of watching this tactic in the Maroon Bells of Colorado early into the winter. I watched quietly from a distance as the fox would locate a mouse beneath the snow, strategically position itself, and launch into an aerial attack. This was my first visit to the ‘Bells’ and the experience certainly made it a memorable one.
Panasonic FZ1000 II
Leave a Comment