Red Fox Haystack Den Site, Stillwater County Montana 2019

During April of 2019, a friend told me about a red fox den on a private ranch in Stillwater County, Montana. We drove to the site expecting to find a “traditional” den site but quickly discovered that the fox family was denning in a large haystack. The kits were residing in the openings created when round bales of hay are stacked. The pups were living in and on a giant playground; they would chase each other up and down the bales and play hide and seek as they ducked into the cavities between stacked bales. I counted a total of six kits but I never observed more than 2-3 together at one time. They were independent from an early age and almost exclusively rested in separate openings within the stack. The adults hunted constantly; they would bring in ground squirrels and voles, feed the pups and immediately return to hunting. The adults were cautious and wary; as a result I only had several adult sightings and one or two photo opportunities. They would arrive at the den site seemingly appearing from nowhere and they were just as elusive in departing.

Siblings
When I first encountered the den site, the tiny kits would emerge two at a time from various openings within the haystack. They were shy but inquisitive and calm.
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Haystack fox den site
This is the haystack that served as a den site for the red fox family. The kits spent most of their time playing and resting on the ends of the haystack. The mountains are part of the Beartooth Range.
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Private suite
The cavities created from stacking the hay bales provide shelter and places to play hide and seek. The kits would often hide in the cavities and ambush one another with surprise attacks. The kits were incredibly frisky and mischievous; their demeanor was spirited and good natured.
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Warm morning sun
During April, high altitude prairie mornings can be very cold with frost appearing most days. Once the sun began bathing and warming the haystack, the kits would emerge from their bedrooms. I can imagine that their hay bale bedrooms must have been warm, secure, and comfortable.
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Stacked bales make great den sites
I circled the openings to clearly illustrate the cavities. The babies ran in and out of these "holes" when at play, rested within during the height of day and used them for shelter at night. I am not sure of the depth of these chambers but because the bales are so carefully and symmetrically stacked, they may run the length of the haystack.
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End view of the haystack
A fox kit lounging near one of the entrances to it's haystack den.
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Curious siblings
The kits constantly chased each other around the bales with what I would call wild abandon. Occasionally they would pause and provide me a photo opportunity.
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Baby fox are beautiful creatures
Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) are members of the dog family canidae; Vulpes is from the Latin meaning fox. Members of the family canidae include coyotes, wolves, jackals, African wild dogs, dingos and many other genera.
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Baby fox love to jump
The fox kits would leap from bale to bale as they played and chased each other around the haystack.
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Another brief photo opportunity
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A different perspective
Red fox den in an amazing variety of settings. Most of the dens that I have encountered were located on the open prairie or at a tree line under boulders or in proximity to a tree trunk. Fox are adaptable and will den under porches, sheds, decks, and in "haystacks".
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I didn't get any food
Following a hunt, the adults would most often feed their babies on the top of the haystack. The most aware kits would hastily scramble toward the food and quickly devour the prey. The less savvy or distracted kits simply missed out on a meal.
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Three is not a crowd
I never did observe and photograph more than 3 babies at one time. I would have appreciated an opportunity to have witnessed all 6 kits together.
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Parenting isn't easy
The parents seemed healthy but extremely lean and weary in demeanor. Providing for 6 rapidly growing babies is a full time job for these adults. They literally hunt from sun up to sun down and probably all night long in order to keep their offspring fed.
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Tender moment
This parent had just returned from hunting with a mouth full of prey. Upon her return, the kits swarmed and demanded the spoils. Following a momentary resting period, she leaped off the haystack and returned to her hunting grounds.
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My time with the fox draws to an end
Observing and photographing this fox family in such a beautiful setting was a delightful experience; I am grateful for the opportunity to have spent nearly a month watching the kits play and grow. My time with the fox was like a celebration of life but as the kits began venturing away from the den, I knew that it was time for me to let go.
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