Sometimes, social media restrictions prevent incredible wildlife stories from reaching the audience they deserve. That’s exactly what happened with Buckrail’s recent article about a black and red fox playing together in the Wyoming snow. Since we believe this story and the footage is too wonderful to be missed, we’re sharing a summary here while giving full credit to the original author and photographer.
On the morning of Friday, March 7, Buckrail photographer Nick Sulzer captured a rare and mesmerizing moment: a black fox and a red fox playing together in the deep snow just south of Grand Teton National Park (GTNP). This incredible sight showcases the diversity and beauty of wildlife in the region.
According to the GTNP Foundation, red foxes in the Jackson area exhibit a variety of colors, ranging from the well-known red to entirely black and even shades in between. The National Park Service (NPS) further explains that these darker red foxes, sometimes called “silver foxes,” carry a recessive trait that results in a melanistic color pattern—giving them a striking dark pigmentation.
Fox Variations in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
While black foxes are rare, they are occasionally spotted in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and other regions across the United States. The NPS has documented sightings of “cross” phase red foxes (which have a distinctive dark cross marking on their shoulders) in areas like Canyon and Lamar Valley in Yellowstone National Park. Lighter-colored red foxes are also sometimes observed at higher elevations.
Facebook's Unjustified Content Removal
We initially attempted to share Buckrail’s original article directly on Facebook, but their automated filters wrongly flagged it as spam and removed the post. Facebook also removed the post we shared directly off the Buckrail Facebook page. Despite this being a legitimate wildlife story from a reputable source, Facebook’s system blocked its circulation. Below is a screenshot showing the removal notice:
This unfortunate situation is why we’ve chosen to rewrite and share the essence of Buckrail’s original piece here, ensuring that this beautiful wildlife moment doesn’t go unnoticed.
Acknowledging the Original Work
This incredible footage and photography come from Nick Sulzer, and the original article, titled “WYOWatch: Black, Red Fox Play in Snow,” was written by Leigh Reagan Smith and published by Buckrail on March 11, 2025. While we were unable to share the fabulous footage directly, we encourage you to visit Buckrail’s website to explore the beautiful photos and videos of these foxes further.
Summary
Wildlife encounters like these remind us of the importance of preserving natural habitats and respecting the animals that call them home. They also provide a glimpse into the fascinating variations of species that exist in the wild.
Source:
