Freezing a Thrilling Mid-Air Encounter: Photographers Capture an Eagle’s Attempt to Snatch Prey from a Red Fox at Approximately 6 Meters High
Two photographers captured a remarkable moment when an eagle attempted to snatch its prey from a red fox during a struggle at an altitude of approximately 6 meters.
This dramatic encounter unfolded on San Juan Island National Historical Park in Washington state, USA, and was expertly documented by photographers Kevin Ebi and Zachary Hartje.
Mr. Ebi revealed that on May 21, he had visited the park a few days earlier to observe red foxes hunting before sunset. One of the foxes had successfully caught a rabbit and was carrying it away.
“I had brought my camera to capture this scene. Suddenly, I heard the screech of the white-headed eagle from behind. I quickly turned around and witnessed it speeding towards us,” recounted photographer Ebi.
As the eagle zeroed in on the rabbit in the fox’s jaws, Mr. Ebi used his camera to capture this unfolding drama in rapid succession while waiting for the eagle to make its move.
“I was amazed because the scene was even more dramatic than I had anticipated. I assumed the fox would release the rabbit to allow the eagle an easy meal. However, instead of doing so, the fox clung tightly to its prize and defended itself when the eagle attacked. The eagle then lifted both the fox and the rabbit into the sky, creating an even more intense confrontation,” shared the photographer.
This high-stakes confrontation lasted for approximately 8 seconds at an altitude of 6 meters as both creatures refused to relinquish their prey. Ultimately, the eagle successfully snatched the rabbit from the fox’s grasp and dropped its opponent to the ground.
Mr. Ebi reassured, “Don’t worry, the fox is unharmed. It managed to escape the confrontation and continued playing with the other foxes. I took a picture of it after the encounter, and I couldn’t detect any scratches or injuries.”
According to photographer Ebi, red foxes typically do not hunt rabbits but rather prefer a diet of berries, insects, and hamsters.
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