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March Species Madness – Quarterfinals – Match 1

Well, this is turning out to be a hard-fought tournament. Only the Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) stands as the 2022 Final Four participant to make the Quarterfinals, and it faces off against the red hot River Otter (Lontra canadensis) for a birth in this year’s Final Four semifinals. Will it make it? Or will the River Otter join a new set of species as this year’s favourite at rare?

The red fox may have beaten the Virginia opossum and the eastern cottontail, but now it takes on a creature that’s perhaps as wiley as itself! But never underestimate the fox’s tenacity and adaptability. We’re seeing more red foxes in our urban environments, taking advantage of the human landscape, relying on our porches for cover, eating our leftovers and rodents attracted to those leftovers. The red fox is an “edge species” meaning that they often occur at the borders of two habitat types — woodlands transitioning into grasslands, and so on. The way our urban environment cuts into the natural one sometimes produces just what the fox needs to thrive, though we should still be cautious about interacting with these wild animals.

Its opponent, the river otter, is a charismatic creature, always a popular attraction at zoos and on nature programs, but that charisma sometimes masks the fact that river otters are predators. They’re smart and fast and built for the waterways they’re found in. Their teeth are sharp, and one otter family has even defended itself against a large caiman. When they need to, river otters are ready to throw down!

This would be a spirited fight if it happened in real life, but if these creatures are given their space, they can coexist, not only with themselves but with us. If you want to help ensure there is space for these creatures to call home, please consider making a donation to preserve our natural spaces now and for the future.

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March Species Madness – Quarterfinals – Match 1

Which species do you favour? The Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) (left) or the River Otter (Lontra canadensis) (right)? Cast your vote below:

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