Earlier today I made a blog post about finding ticks on the cottontail rabbits that frequent my backyard “Cottontail Rabbits and Ticks In My Backyard”. This afternoon, I wanted to share an image from another tick encounter I captured some months ago, this time with a fox squirrel.
Wildlife Notes: The Fox Squirrel with Ticks
Back in June, while photographing wildlife in my backyard, I noticed a tick lodged in the tip of a fox squirrel’s ear and quickly snapped some closeup photos. After closer look, I could see a tick had attached itself to the squirrel. However, this tick didn’t appear as blood filled as the ones I often find on the rabbits around my yard.
It’s always unsettling to find ticks on wildlife near my home, even if the encounter was a while ago. As a wildlife photographer, I feel fortunate to document these kinds of interactions to educate others and serve as a reminder about ticks.
While finding the tick was concerning, it was still thrilling to photograph this energetic fox squirrel back in June as it went about its daily activities, oblivious to my camera. Fox squirrels are fun critters to observe and capture. Even though the tick sighting was unfortunate, it’s the reality of nature and backyard wildlife.
Photography Notes
I took these photos from my back deck. This allows me to observe the squirrels without interrupting their natural behavior. The light was bright and clear, which helped me capture the fine details of the fur and the ticks.
I used the following settings for this session:
- Camera: Canon R5
- Lens: Canon RF 800 mm F11
- ISO: 1250
- Aperture: f/11
- Shutter Speed: 1/800 sec
- Exposure Compensation: +0.7
The fast shutter speed was helpful because squirrels move their heads very quickly when they scratch.
Final Thoughts
You do not always have to travel far to see interesting wildlife behavior. Sometimes the most compelling stories are happening right outside your door. Watching this Fox Squirrel reminded me that even the most common animals have interesting lives.