Words and Photos by Gretchen Kay Stuart

On the evening of August 11th, 2025, I finished my observations of the three Cascade red fox kits at their Mount Rainier den. As I packed my gear, a silhouette in a nearby tree stopped me cold: a juvenile great horned owl. The kits were only about three months old and perfect prey for raptors.

A cell phone image snapped of the juvenile great horned owl stalking the den site.

The next morning, the den site was silent. No playful tumbling, no curious faces. I hurriedly checked the trail camera and found footage that confirmed my fear. Early that morning, the owl had chased one kit in a blur of motion toward a den entrance. Had the kit made it safely inside?

I moved to check all the known den entrances for any sign of fur, feathers or a struggle. To my surprise, at the mouth of an entrance lay a single great horned owl wing! The message was unmistakable. One of the parent foxes had declared, “No swooping at my babies”. The hunter became the hunted!

A cell phone photo documenting the great horned owl wing.

Later, a wave of relief washed over me as all three kits emerged from their underground burrows unharmed. I spent the rest of the day in awe and gratitude for the fierce, unwavering protection of their parents.