 Photographing Mammals Fox & Coyotes:
 Squirrels and chipmunks can be handled much the same as feeding birds. Cracked corn or nuts placed in natural settings will provide some excellent portraits. Autumn will find both squirrels and chipmunks busily preparing for winter and this increased activity can be exploited. Chipmunks burrow in the ground and will repeatedly return to their den carrying food and leaves to line their winter home. Rabbits & Hare: Snowshoe hare are brown in the summer and white in winter. I assume that it is a false sense of security and confidence in their natural camo which makes them quite easy to approach. In early winters when there is little or no snow, these hares will still turn white, making them quite easy to  Getting Started / Blinds / Getting Published / Finding Wildlife / Bird Tips / Birds in Flight Duck Tips / Insect Tips / Mammal Tips / Deer Tips / My Equipment / Used Equipment Notice! Contents of this web site may not be copied or downloaded for any purpose. |
Fox
and coyotes can be lured to within camera range by the use of a predator call
that mimics the sound of a rabbit in distress. The use of leaf-o-flage as a
blind allows mobility so that we can try several areas. Both coyotes and fox
use dens to rear their young. These dens are often nothing more than enlarged
woodchuck holes. In spring, their youngsters will become uncontrollable with
curiosity, exploring the immediate area around the den entrance. At this young
age, the pups have yet to develop the same fear of humans that the adults possess.
I try not to overstay my welcome at a den because the adults must be allowed
to feed and care for their pups without unnecessary disturbance.
find. Take note
of the exact spot where the hare is because it will quite likely be found here
again in the following days. I have found snowshoes at the base of the same
tree day after day. Once located, a patient zigzag approach will often close
the distance. Cottontail rabbits are sometimes content to remain motionless,
much the same as the snowshoe, and they have some tendencies that provide excellent
photo opportunities. Cottontails of spring and summer tend to avoid tall dew
covered grass of early morning. If you spot one in a yard or along a dirt road
they will be much more apt to hold tight before scooting into the brush. Cold,
calm, and clear winter mornings will find the cottontail warming itself in the
early morning sun. Check hedgerows and the edge of small wood lots at this time.