Words and Photos By Gretchen Kay Stuart
Last June, a routine patrol by a Meadow Rover at Mount Rainier National Park resulted in the discovery of three Cascade red fox kits. At approximately two months old, these vulnerable pups belonged to the first successful, active den site found within park boundaries since 2017. To shield them from the dangers of human crowds and food-conditioning, the National Park Service took immediate action, establishing a protective closure for several miles around the den site.
In my sixth year of field research dedicated to studying this elusive subspecies, this was a dream scenario. I was granted exclusive access to monitor the den site, allowing me to conduct daily observations—a level of in-depth documentation never before achieved for Cascade red fox kit rearing. While I’m saving the most exciting revelations for future posts, today, I’d like to introduce you to the three adorable kits at the heart of this story.
The Cross-Phase Male: In my field notes, I initially called this distinctive kit “Cross.” But during a Q&A with park Rangers, the perfect name was suggested: Sunny. It suited him wonderfully, and the name stuck.
The Two Black Females: The two sisters both have black coats.
- One has slightly lighter markings on her belly. I gave her the temporary name "Loner" because her mother often kept her at a separate den entrance from her siblings—a clever strategy, I believe, to spread the risk if a predator were to discover them.
- The other, whom I logged as "2B" (for 2nd black kit), was the bold explorer of the family. Her insatiable curiosity quickly won me over, and I developed a special fondness for her emerging personality.
Official naming of the two black kits is still to come. I want the honor to go to the incredible team of Meadow Rovers who diligently stood guard for this fox family over the most sensitive months of development. I look forward to meeting with them for a presentation of my findings once catch-up from the government shutdown has subsided.
To ensure my presence didn't disrupt their natural behavior, all of my observations were made from a concealed hunting blind. This allowed me to witness the fox family’s authentic world without distraction or habituation.
This is just the beginning of the story. Stay tuned for more den discoveries in upcoming posts!