My wife Sheryl spotted these three fox kits playing in a canyon at Starved Rock State Park. Jostling in the leaves like puppies, the three had boundless energy and endless curiosity. Over the course of three hours the kits came within three feet of us and, when other hikes came through the canyon, the three would gather near us for protection.

We always abide by the principle of gauging our distance to wildlife by determination if our presence impacted the behavior of animals in any way. In this case the three fox kits saw us as no threat. We never saw the mother, though we knew she was likely within site of the den.

As much as I enjoyed photographing these fox kits, I equally enjoyed having my wife with me to share the experience. Had I just brought home these photos to show her, she would have been excited to see them. The fact that she stood right next to me as these little guys romped at our feet all afternoon allowed us to share a very rare wildlife moment.

Canon EOS 5D, Canon 100-400mm f/4.5/5.6L @ 400mm, 1/160 sec @f/5.6, ISO equiv 100, Gitzo G1349 Mountaineer Carbon Fiber Tripod, Gitzo 1576M Ball Head