White-tailed Eagle vs Red Fox, Battle Days (1 Viewer)

[Jos Stratford]

With something approaching spring, an early return of White-tailed Eagles to my land in the last couple of weeks. However, with all lakes still totally frozen, food is going to be a challenge ...cue some pretty impressive observations:


Part 1

19 February. Didn't need to get out of bed for this part ... sitting drinking coffee and I noticed a bit of commotion though the window - a Red Fox running across the meadow with something in its mouth was being attacked by two White-tailed Eagles. Repeatedly dive-bombed it, the fox then cowered on the ground showing its teeth. The eagles landed each side of the fox, then repeatedly flew up and dived at the fox. Fox made a run for the forest, the two eagles chasing all the way, plus assorted crows and Raven. Thought they would kill it, but somehow it got to the forest. Third White-tailed Eagle then joined the group.


Part 2

2 March. Dead Beaver in my woodland edge, put a camera overlooking the corpse, expecting a range of visitors, perhaps the eagles. Results far exceeded expectation, best played with volume:

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Over some hours, two White-tailed Eagles together, many foxes, sometimes two together, pair of Raccoon Dogs, one Pine Martin, plenty of corvids

 

[Jos Stratford]

The aftermath...no Beaver left

 

[Andy Adcock]

Who got the bulk of it?

 

[Jos Stratford]

Who got the bulk of it?

White-tailed Eagles (a second bird joined this one) hogged it for a couple of hours, the fox basically giving up on trying to get it, just waiting in the background most of the time.
When the eagles moved off, the fox started to feed, joined by another fox for a while - a bit of submissive behaviour from one, but both did feed together.
Raccoon Dogs and Pine Martin visited when nothing else present.

 

[Jos Stratford]

But then the fox dragged the remains to the right and out of camera shot