The Wild Canids of Ontario Project

Carrying Cats Away? No, This Is Urgent Maternal Survival
A flash of rusted red glides through the damp twilight grass, moving low and silent, a dark bundle held gently but firmly in its jaws.

Reports of foxes carrying "kittens" away always spike this time of year. We see a predator moving through our spaces and imagine a stolen pet, reacting with panic, or trying to chase her down to save the burden. We are trying to stop a perceived theft.

In reality, you are looking at one of the most precarious acts of maternal devotion in the animal kingdom. This is peak den-moving season. Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes; Least Concern), an essential native mesopredator across the U.S., give birth around March. Their kits are born helpless and dark brown/black, easily mistaken for domestic cats.

Right now, she is not hunting; she is mitigating risk. A mother fox will move her growing litter multiple times, sometimes over miles, between a network of natal and rearing dens. This strategy reduces the build-up of parasites and the concentration of scents that might lead larger predators—including humans—to her vulnerable young. Intervening can cause her to drop her young, separating the kit from her forever.

As controllers of small rodents, foxes balance our interconnected suburban ecosystems. Chasing her endangers her and dooms her entire family.

If you see her, do nothing. Give her extreme space. Keep pets indoors at night. Let her complete her critical mission.

She isn't a thief stealing from your world. She is an exhausted mother running on empty, trying to give her babies a fighting chance at life in a landscape that actively works against them.

With Coyote Awareness Week almost upon us, I thought I’d see if any of my followers would be interested in participating in an online auction?

I’d like to auction off some of my wild canids artwork and donate part of the sales to a local wildlife rehabilitation center.

If I have enough interest, I’ll work on getting it set up asap.

Let me know in the comments below! 🐺🦊❤️

Who is the new mating pair? Will there be puppies in the spring? Watch to find out! Mating season is coming to a close and we have good news to share. Our pack has solidified a new breeding pair (often referred to as the "alphas")! Gestation for wolves is 9 weeks/63 days, which would have the pack expecting pups in the first week or so of May. We can't wait to see what spring has in store!

Yellowstone National Park- Coyote. "Only if we understand, can we care. Only if we care, will we help. Only if we help, shall we be saved," "What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make," "My mission is to create a world where we can live in harmony with nature," and "Let us develop respect for all living things”.Jane Goodall #educationiskey #coexistence #coyotesofinstagram #coyote #coyotewatchcanada #coyotesareessential #speakforthevoiceless #coyoteprojects #wildlife #wildlifephotography #reels #swarovskioptics #tolerence

My latest artwork. Enjoy! 🐺 ❤️

If you’re in the Tillsonburg area this Canada Day Weekend, feel free to pop by and check out my Wild Canids of Ontario Exhibit. The display runs daily (until July.12) from 9am-4pm (Mon-Sat). The Station Arts Centre is closed on Sundays.

Looking for something to do this weekend?

Visit our newest exhibit showcasing a stunning collection of photographic artwork by Trevor Pottelberg. This collection features captivating images of foxes and coyotes, accompanied by educational material.

The exhibit is open for free admission from Monday to Saturday, 9 AM to 4 PM, until July 12th.