Eagle’s Bold Attempt to Steal Prey from Red Fox Captured in Dramatic High-Flying Showdown
Two photographers captured a breathtaking moment as 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 in San Juan Island National Historical Park in Washington state, USA and was skillfully documented by photographers Kevin Ebi and Zachary Hartje.
Mr. Ebi revealed that he had visited the park a few days prior to observe the red foxes hunting as the sun began to set. One of these foxes had successfully caught a rabbit and was carrying it away.
“I had brought my camera along to capture this scene. Suddenly, I heard the screech of the white-headed eagle from behind. I quickly turned around and saw it closing in,” recounted photographer Ebi.
Ebi described how the eagle targeted the rabbit held in the fox’s mouth. He used his camera to capture the unfolding drama in rapid succession, eagerly awaiting the eagle’s dive.
“I was astounded because the scene turned out to be far more dramatic than I had initially anticipated. I assumed the fox would release the rabbit to provide an easy dinner for the eagle. However, the fox clung tightly to its prey, leading to a fierce confrontation with the attacking eagle. Ultimately, the eagle managed to lift both the fox and the rabbit into the sky, creating a truly intense confrontation,” explained the photographer.
This intense standoff persisted for about 8 seconds at an altitude of 6 meters, with both the eagle and the fox refusing to relinquish their prey. In the end, the eagle successfully snatched the rabbit from the fox’s grasp and then dropped its opponent back 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. After the encounter, I took a photo of it and could not detect any scratches or injuries.”
According to photographer Ebi, red foxes typically do not hunt rabbits; their diet consists of berries, insects, and hamsters.
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