2015 Wildlife Photographer of the Year Announced

Nature Photo Digest | December 5, 2015 | Commissions & Competitions, Wildlife

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Red Fox Sheds Winter Coat in Winning Nature Photo

Read more about the amateur who won top prize and more results:

At first glance, it looks as if this red fox has shed his winter coat.

In actuality, “A Tale of Two Foxes” by amateur photographer Don Gutoski documents a rare scene: the red fox as hunter with his prey, an arctic fox.

More than just a tale of kill or be killed, the jury found the photograph to be a compelling story, illustrating the impact of climate change. It is those changes that push animals into new territories where they run into conflicts.

From a distance, Don could see that the red fox was chasing something across the snow. As he got closer, he realised the prey, now dead, was an Arctic fox. For three hours in temperatures of -30 degrees Centigrade Don stayed at the scene, until the red fox, finally sated, picked up the eviscerated carcass and dragged it away to store for later. In the Canadian tundra, global warming is extending the range of red foxes northwards, where they increasingly cross paths with their smaller relatives, the Arctic fox. For Arctic foxes, red foxes now represent not just their main competitor – both hunt small animals such as lemmings – but also their main predator. Few actual kills by red foxes have been witnessed so far, but it is likely that conflicts between the two mammals will become more common.

The winning image was one of more than 42,000 entries. Photographers from 96 different countries submitted images for the contest.

Other adult and youth awards were given in a variety of categories, including From the Sky category, the winning shot “The Art of Algae” by Pere Soler of Spain.