Photographer Shoots Epic Battle Between Fox And Eagle Over Rabbit, And It Gets More And More Epic With Each Photo
How would you feel if you were on your way home proudly clutching your hard-earned food, when all of a sudden somebody jumps you, snatches away your sandwich and does a runner? You’d be furious, wouldn’t you? Spare a thought then for this poor red fox, whose rabbit was dramatically stolen by a cheeky bald eagle on the San Juan Islands, WA, just recently.
The bald eagle is a symbol of America, powerful, graceful and fearsome. However, quite aptly one could say, it is also known as a master thief, quite happy to steal food from others whenever the opportunity arises. “Eagles really don’t like to waste a lot of effort in getting their food, so they look for easy opportunities,” Kevin told Bored Panda.
“A couple of days ago, I captured an especially dramatic act of thievery between these wild animals,” he wrote on his blog. “I saw a bald eagle steal a rabbit from a young red fox. Even more impressive: at times, this battle played out more than 20 feet in the air.”
Kevin was on the San Juan Islands watching wildlife, namely young foxes, called kits, play and hunt on the prairie. “A red fox caught a rabbit and was carrying it across the meadow,” he said. “I panned my camera with it to capture the action. Then behind me, I heard the cry of a bald eagle. I turned around and saw it approaching fast. I knew it wanted the rabbit. I intently trained my camera on the fox bracing for a split second of the action.”
“To my surprise, the scene was even more dramatic than I expected. I thought the fox would drop the rabbit, giving the eagle an easy dinner. Instead, the fox, with its jaw still clenched on the rabbit, inadvertently got snagged by the bald eagle. The eagle lifted the young fox and rabbit into the sky triggering an even more dramatic struggle.”
That’s one feisty fox! The entire airborne battle lasted around 8 seconds, bringing a whole new meaning to the term ‘flying fox.’ Finally, after realizing that this battle cannot be won, the fox gave up the fight and the eagle dropped it from a height of around 20 feet. While taking a pretty heavy landing, the fox showed no signs of injury from its flight. “It shook off the encounter and resumed playing with its fellow kits. I took several pictures of it after the ordeal and couldn’t find a single scratch,” Kevin said.
“I suspect the eagle thought that since it was a very young fox, the fox probably would have been scared by the eagle and would have dropped the rabbit,” Kevin explained to Bored Panda. “It was a very unique experience. I’ve seen bald eagles steal food from crows, great blue herons, and other eagles. I’ve never seen an act of theft like that where an eagle, fox, and rabbit participate together. But I’ve been working on wildlife photography for nearly 20 years, I believe every animal has a story to tell.”
“Images that tell a story — rather than just being pretty pictures — are my favorite. That’s what I work toward”
And what a story the eagle, fox, and rabbit turned out to be! Scroll down below to check out the incredibly cool photos for yourself, and let us know what you think in the comments!
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Photographer Kevin Ebi of LivingWilderness.com captured the fight of a life time recently
Image credits: Kevin Ebi
“Eagles really don’t like to waste a lot of effort in getting their food, so they look for easy opportunities,” Kevin told Bored Panda.
Image credits: Kevin Ebi
“A couple of days ago, I captured an especially dramatic act of thievery. I saw a bald eagle steal a rabbit from a young red fox”
Image credits: Kevin Ebi
“Even more impressive: at times, this battle played out more than 20 feet in the air”
Image credits: Kevin Ebi
“A red fox caught a rabbit and was carrying it across the meadow. I panned my camera with it to capture the action”
Image credits: Kevin Ebi
“Then behind me, I heard the cry of a bald eagle. I knew it wanted the rabbit”
Image credits: Kevin Ebi
“To my surprise, the scene was even more dramatic than I expected”
Image credits: Kevin Ebi
“I thought the fox would drop the rabbit, giving the eagle an easy dinner”
Image credits: Kevin Ebi
“Instead, the fox, with its jaw still clenched on the rabbit, inadvertently got snagged by the bald eagle”
Image credits: Kevin Ebi
“The eagle lifted the young fox and rabbit into the sky triggering an even more dramatic struggle”
Image credits: Kevin Ebi
The entire airborne battle lasted around 8 seconds, bringing a whole new meaning to the term ‘flying fox’
Image credits: Kevin Ebi
The fox was fine after its flight. “It shook off the encounter and resumed playing with its fellow kits”
Image credits: Kevin Ebi
“I took several pictures of it after the ordeal and couldn’t find a single scratch”
Image credits: Kevin Ebi
Zachary Hartje also captured the fascinating scene on video
Here’s how people reacted
Yes the poor rabbit got the worst of it....Hopefully he was dead before he took that plane ride.
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This is the sort of nature photography about which shutterbugs dream. Talk about seredipitous timing and location! And can you imagine what Kipling would have thought about seeing this? He'd be penning a fable before the fox hit the ground.
It makes you wonder more about all the amazing things we never see that happen in nature.
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Never understood why the bald eagle 🦅 was the symbol of the US, but now it makes sense. 😂
The last picture...it's like the fox is looking at the photographer going "seriously? you just watched that happen? AND TOOK PHOTOS???!! Good Day Bill!! I SAID GOOD DAY!!" LMFAO
I was waiting for the two to be so embroiled in the battle, that the rabbit hopped away.
Me too! I kinda hoped for a "living happily ever after ending".
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I showed this to my grandfather and he was amused. Then we talked about his childhood in a rural area, how people made clothes back then, and what weddings were like.(He was born in 1936)
If you look at this way. The eagle was already diving before the fox turned towards him. He could have been the original prey and the turn saved him.
I like how everyone feels bad for the rabbit or comments that well the rabbit didn't win but, the fox and eagle have to eat something.... it's how nature is
That is true, I felt compassion for the rabbit but if you think from the eagle's perspective and about its survival than that's true also.
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am i the only one feeling bad for the rabbit?...it's still epic tho
Nah. I felt bad for the rabbit and got down-voted over it. BP is so weird.
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Nahh - doubt it - rabbits have four and look what happens to them - lol
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20 Feet? Where the hell did you get 20 feet up in the air from? I keep scanning the video and at the most it only ever looks maybe like 8 feet max. Awesome shots nonetheless.
Was anyone as impressed as I was with the enormous wing span and massive talons that bald eagle had!?! Wow! God creates some amazing creatures!
I generally dislike watching thievery, but such beautiful shots.
Check out these baby foxes on a trampoline. We have had the same fox coming back to a den in our yard for three years. This spring she had eight kits. Wonderful, smart predators that keep the mice population down which helps break the Lyme disease cycle in our area. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbLtZAEBWwg
Thank you for having captured a drama of nature that was good fortune on your part, but skilled to maintain presence of mind to have captured. Most of all, thank you for sharing this with the world! My question is whether the rabbit was the target, or the fox itself? Perhaps the rabbit was a small loss in the long run. Clearly, the fox could have been taken instead.
"I am, on this account, not displeased that the figure is not known as a bald eagle, but looks more like a turkey. For in truth, the turkey is in comparison a much more respectable bird, and withal a true original native of America. Eagles have been found in all countries, but the turkey was peculiar to ours; the first of the species seen in Europe, being brought to France by the Jesuits from Canada, and served up at the wedding table of Charles the Ninth. He is, besides, (though a little vain and silly, it is true, but not the worse emblem for that,) a bird of courage, and would not hesitate to attack a grenadier of the British guards, who should presume to invade his farmyard with a red coat on." a quote from Ben Franklin in a letter to his daughter.
How would you feel if you were on your way home proudly clutching your hard-earned food, when all of a sudden somebody jumps you, snatches away your sandwich and does a runner? Ever been to a grocery store in Detroit?
Dang I didn't realise bald eagles were that powerful to be able to lift a fox into the air! And the video was insane, I'm surprised the little fox didn't break his neck from the force!
"Thank you for rescuing me from the fox, Mr Eagle, you can put me down now. Mr Eagle? Mr Eagle? MISTER EAGLE!"
I think the fox was caught in the eagle's claws and struggling to free itself.
For the red fox it is better deal that the Bald Eagle took the rabbit rather than getting the fox. Eagles like all apex predators are opportunity hunters that also are known to kill foxes when the opportunity presents itself. Eagles have a wide and varied diet with many prey animals on the menu.
Absolutely incredible photos. As said below, these are the kind of pics photographers dream about getting. He was in the right place at the right time. I feel for the poor rabbit. It didn't have a chance.
I've had a particular pair of eagles steal trout off my fly before I can get them in the boat.
I thought it was quite appropriate! Certainly well deserved.
The eagle is a thief, I have also seen one steal a fish from an osprey.
It looked like the eagle dropped the fox and the rabbit as it looked like he was flying off with out it.
I'm so glad he did an update on the Fox, poor thing. Those eagle talons are brutal
Great pics, lucky Eagle, unlucky Fox. Curious if the fox got a 2nd place trophy.
So did you give that fox a chicken at least as a cut for your photo session?
Awesome pictures !! That's a once in a lifetime capture of pictures !!
Nature is cruel. No wonder why our ancestors built cities to keep it out!
Wow. Just wow. Nature is far more exciting than anything dreamed up by novelists, or movie producers!!!!
So the fox kits won't have anything to eat because a f*****g lazy bird took their food. F*ck this eagle, hope it suffocates on the rabbit.
When it comes to nature, it's all about survival. I do agree with Ben Smith and that is how it is in the wild. Am I sensitive about animals, etc.?...A BIG hell ya....but sometimes as sad and tragic as it can be, such is life.
Well done. It’s really an epic photo. You are right to think the way you thought. It surprised me and captured my mind too. Of course naturally an eagle soars and swoops down on prey, and likewise some big fish eat small fish. So I took a moment to pray to Lord Jesus, the TRUTH. Honestly, it’s a nature. The nature and creatures are all God’s creations. God is gracious, compassionate and merciful. God is love. “What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,”(Romans 9:14-15, NIV). I am asking God to have mercy on me. And I’d rather sing praise to the Him in worship and praise His name, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, saying, “ ‘Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.” O God, please have mercy on us all, Lord! For "Mercy triumphs over judgment."(James 2:13, NIV)
Well done. It’s really an epic photo. You are right to think the way you thought. It surprised me and captured my mind too. Of course naturally an eagle soars and swoops down on prey, and likewise some big fish eat small fish. So I took a moment to pray to Lord Jesus, the TRUTH. Honestly, it’s a nature. The nature and creatures are all God’s creations. God is gracious, compassionate and merciful. God is love. “What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,”(Romans 9:14-15, NIV). I am asking God to have mercy on me. And I’d rather sing praise to the Him in worship and praise His name, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, saying, “ ‘Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.” O God, please have mercy on us all, Lord! For "Mercy triumphs over judgment." (James 2:13, NIV) Thank you for the Lord's mercy.
Timing could not have been better once in a lifetime photos,Truly amazing pics I have been shooting 40 years have never seen something quite so awesome
Nature's food chain played out on camera ! THANKS FOR SHARING THE PICTURES ! ONE SHOCKED FOX ! ONE SAD RABBIT ! ONE FAST EAGLE !
Yeah, I feel kinda bad for the rabbit, great pics though of nature, it is a cruel thing Nature, but circle of life as well
Bald eagles are pussies a real eagle would have jut picked up the fox and the rabbit
Yeah, what about the poor rabbit? I know, I know...circle of life and the whole thing, but still!
Looks like the eagle scared the p**s out of the fox from that first photo.
I bet the fox will become a daddy of many strong foxes....unless he keeps challenging predators above him on the predator scale!
Amazing video. Courageous of the fox to struggle with such a big powerful bird. He could have finished up being dinner himself!
I really didn't want to look at any of these photos, yet I was intrigued enough to really also want to; it's the battle of life and death, it's the way of all creatures on our beautiful planet. Not always pretty, but it's all about survival. I cringed at each shot, but knew it was the same battle being played out all over the world, every day, every minute, for every species...bugs to tigers, if you will.
Fox expression on the last picture be like "What!? What're you looking bro?"
Or just an animal looking for a meal... No one's starving hun.
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Fox: "Damn! I worked hard for that!...... Whatchu lookin' at?!"
When they shared this on the local news, they didn't show the whole video and I thought for sure the little fox was going to become a meal for the eagle along with the rabbit.
I really don't like this. All I could think about is how the rabbit must have suffered while the eagle and the fox were fighting over it. Like, I'm not judging animals for eating, I've just never liked nature photography/documentaries that film animals being eaten. It feels oddly exploitative.
Actually, The fox got caught in the claws of the eagle and was trying to free itself....
I understand how it can be distressing, and the harshness of nature can be overwhelming, but if it weren’t for predators rabbits would breed way to much and crowd each other out and they would slowly starve to death. Personally I’d rather die from a car crash than air pollution, you know?
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How come when they kill a rabbit it's "nature's beauty" but when I do it I'm a cruel carnivore? My people evolved on this planet, too!
I guess it depends on how you kill it. Comparing your self to an animal isn't fair beacause you have a concess and an much more complex mind than an animal and with that comes responsabilty in caring for the less envolved species. And the ones thinking hunting is cruel thinks you have the chioce to eat veggi/vegan instead of meat, while a preditor animal doesn't have that choice.
Load More Replies...
Yes the poor rabbit got the worst of it....Hopefully he was dead before he took that plane ride.
Load More Replies... This is the sort of nature photography about which shutterbugs dream. Talk about seredipitous timing and location! And can you imagine what Kipling would have thought about seeing this? He'd be penning a fable before the fox hit the ground.
It makes you wonder more about all the amazing things we never see that happen in nature.
Load More Replies... Never understood why the bald eagle 🦅 was the symbol of the US, but now it makes sense. 😂
The last picture...it's like the fox is looking at the photographer going "seriously? you just watched that happen? AND TOOK PHOTOS???!! Good Day Bill!! I SAID GOOD DAY!!" LMFAO
I was waiting for the two to be so embroiled in the battle, that the rabbit hopped away.
Me too! I kinda hoped for a "living happily ever after ending".
Load More Replies... I showed this to my grandfather and he was amused. Then we talked about his childhood in a rural area, how people made clothes back then, and what weddings were like.(He was born in 1936)
If you look at this way. The eagle was already diving before the fox turned towards him. He could have been the original prey and the turn saved him.
I like how everyone feels bad for the rabbit or comments that well the rabbit didn't win but, the fox and eagle have to eat something.... it's how nature is
That is true, I felt compassion for the rabbit but if you think from the eagle's perspective and about its survival than that's true also.
Load More Replies... am i the only one feeling bad for the rabbit?...it's still epic tho
Nah. I felt bad for the rabbit and got down-voted over it. BP is so weird.
Load More Replies... Nahh - doubt it - rabbits have four and look what happens to them - lol
Load More Replies... 20 Feet? Where the hell did you get 20 feet up in the air from? I keep scanning the video and at the most it only ever looks maybe like 8 feet max. Awesome shots nonetheless.
Was anyone as impressed as I was with the enormous wing span and massive talons that bald eagle had!?! Wow! God creates some amazing creatures!
I generally dislike watching thievery, but such beautiful shots.
Check out these baby foxes on a trampoline. We have had the same fox coming back to a den in our yard for three years. This spring she had eight kits. Wonderful, smart predators that keep the mice population down which helps break the Lyme disease cycle in our area. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbLtZAEBWwg
Thank you for having captured a drama of nature that was good fortune on your part, but skilled to maintain presence of mind to have captured. Most of all, thank you for sharing this with the world! My question is whether the rabbit was the target, or the fox itself? Perhaps the rabbit was a small loss in the long run. Clearly, the fox could have been taken instead.
"I am, on this account, not displeased that the figure is not known as a bald eagle, but looks more like a turkey. For in truth, the turkey is in comparison a much more respectable bird, and withal a true original native of America. Eagles have been found in all countries, but the turkey was peculiar to ours; the first of the species seen in Europe, being brought to France by the Jesuits from Canada, and served up at the wedding table of Charles the Ninth. He is, besides, (though a little vain and silly, it is true, but not the worse emblem for that,) a bird of courage, and would not hesitate to attack a grenadier of the British guards, who should presume to invade his farmyard with a red coat on." a quote from Ben Franklin in a letter to his daughter.
How would you feel if you were on your way home proudly clutching your hard-earned food, when all of a sudden somebody jumps you, snatches away your sandwich and does a runner? Ever been to a grocery store in Detroit?
Dang I didn't realise bald eagles were that powerful to be able to lift a fox into the air! And the video was insane, I'm surprised the little fox didn't break his neck from the force!
"Thank you for rescuing me from the fox, Mr Eagle, you can put me down now. Mr Eagle? Mr Eagle? MISTER EAGLE!"
I think the fox was caught in the eagle's claws and struggling to free itself.
For the red fox it is better deal that the Bald Eagle took the rabbit rather than getting the fox. Eagles like all apex predators are opportunity hunters that also are known to kill foxes when the opportunity presents itself. Eagles have a wide and varied diet with many prey animals on the menu.
Absolutely incredible photos. As said below, these are the kind of pics photographers dream about getting. He was in the right place at the right time. I feel for the poor rabbit. It didn't have a chance.
I've had a particular pair of eagles steal trout off my fly before I can get them in the boat.
I thought it was quite appropriate! Certainly well deserved.
The eagle is a thief, I have also seen one steal a fish from an osprey.
It looked like the eagle dropped the fox and the rabbit as it looked like he was flying off with out it.
I'm so glad he did an update on the Fox, poor thing. Those eagle talons are brutal
Great pics, lucky Eagle, unlucky Fox. Curious if the fox got a 2nd place trophy.
So did you give that fox a chicken at least as a cut for your photo session?
Awesome pictures !! That's a once in a lifetime capture of pictures !!
Nature is cruel. No wonder why our ancestors built cities to keep it out!
Wow. Just wow. Nature is far more exciting than anything dreamed up by novelists, or movie producers!!!!
So the fox kits won't have anything to eat because a f*****g lazy bird took their food. F*ck this eagle, hope it suffocates on the rabbit.
When it comes to nature, it's all about survival. I do agree with Ben Smith and that is how it is in the wild. Am I sensitive about animals, etc.?...A BIG hell ya....but sometimes as sad and tragic as it can be, such is life.
Well done. It’s really an epic photo. You are right to think the way you thought. It surprised me and captured my mind too. Of course naturally an eagle soars and swoops down on prey, and likewise some big fish eat small fish. So I took a moment to pray to Lord Jesus, the TRUTH. Honestly, it’s a nature. The nature and creatures are all God’s creations. God is gracious, compassionate and merciful. God is love. “What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,”(Romans 9:14-15, NIV). I am asking God to have mercy on me. And I’d rather sing praise to the Him in worship and praise His name, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, saying, “ ‘Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.” O God, please have mercy on us all, Lord! For "Mercy triumphs over judgment."(James 2:13, NIV)
Well done. It’s really an epic photo. You are right to think the way you thought. It surprised me and captured my mind too. Of course naturally an eagle soars and swoops down on prey, and likewise some big fish eat small fish. So I took a moment to pray to Lord Jesus, the TRUTH. Honestly, it’s a nature. The nature and creatures are all God’s creations. God is gracious, compassionate and merciful. God is love. “What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,”(Romans 9:14-15, NIV). I am asking God to have mercy on me. And I’d rather sing praise to the Him in worship and praise His name, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, saying, “ ‘Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.” O God, please have mercy on us all, Lord! For "Mercy triumphs over judgment." (James 2:13, NIV) Thank you for the Lord's mercy.
Timing could not have been better once in a lifetime photos,Truly amazing pics I have been shooting 40 years have never seen something quite so awesome
Nature's food chain played out on camera ! THANKS FOR SHARING THE PICTURES ! ONE SHOCKED FOX ! ONE SAD RABBIT ! ONE FAST EAGLE !
Yeah, I feel kinda bad for the rabbit, great pics though of nature, it is a cruel thing Nature, but circle of life as well
Bald eagles are pussies a real eagle would have jut picked up the fox and the rabbit
Yeah, what about the poor rabbit? I know, I know...circle of life and the whole thing, but still!
Looks like the eagle scared the p**s out of the fox from that first photo.
I bet the fox will become a daddy of many strong foxes....unless he keeps challenging predators above him on the predator scale!
Amazing video. Courageous of the fox to struggle with such a big powerful bird. He could have finished up being dinner himself!
I really didn't want to look at any of these photos, yet I was intrigued enough to really also want to; it's the battle of life and death, it's the way of all creatures on our beautiful planet. Not always pretty, but it's all about survival. I cringed at each shot, but knew it was the same battle being played out all over the world, every day, every minute, for every species...bugs to tigers, if you will.
Fox expression on the last picture be like "What!? What're you looking bro?"
Or just an animal looking for a meal... No one's starving hun.
Load More Replies... Fox: "Damn! I worked hard for that!...... Whatchu lookin' at?!"
When they shared this on the local news, they didn't show the whole video and I thought for sure the little fox was going to become a meal for the eagle along with the rabbit.
I really don't like this. All I could think about is how the rabbit must have suffered while the eagle and the fox were fighting over it. Like, I'm not judging animals for eating, I've just never liked nature photography/documentaries that film animals being eaten. It feels oddly exploitative.
Actually, The fox got caught in the claws of the eagle and was trying to free itself....
I understand how it can be distressing, and the harshness of nature can be overwhelming, but if it weren’t for predators rabbits would breed way to much and crowd each other out and they would slowly starve to death. Personally I’d rather die from a car crash than air pollution, you know?
Load More Replies... How come when they kill a rabbit it's "nature's beauty" but when I do it I'm a cruel carnivore? My people evolved on this planet, too!
I guess it depends on how you kill it. Comparing your self to an animal isn't fair beacause you have a concess and an much more complex mind than an animal and with that comes responsabilty in caring for the less envolved species. And the ones thinking hunting is cruel thinks you have the chioce to eat veggi/vegan instead of meat, while a preditor animal doesn't have that choice.
Load More Replies... 
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