Leaping Mountain Fox, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA. Wildlife photograph by Shane Morrison, finalist in the Shoot The Frame Wildlife photography award, December 2023

Finalist Wildlife · December 2023

Leaping Mountain Fox

After waiting at the edge of a meadow for over an hour, I noticed motion along the tree line about 100 meters south. Through binoculars it appeared to be a blonde Mountain Fox, a subspecies of American Red Fox. Following the fox in camera was difficult, let along keep it in focus, as it twisted through the sagebrush, disappearing and reappearing. When its head bobbed slightly up then down, telegraphing a pounce, I squeezed the shutter release capturing several images of the fox pouncing in a high arc into a patch of yellow Arrowleaf Balsamroot.