‘Rare’ silver creature spotted in snowy Colorado wilderness. See the striking photo
A rare silver creature was spotted in Colorado’s pure white snowy landscape, a striking photo shows.
“We love our wildlife!” Larimer County Natural Resources said in a Feb. 19 post on Facebook. “Check out this rare silver fox sighting near Horsetooth Reservoir yesterday.”
Photos taken by a ranger show the dark-colored fox with silver sprinkled over its face and body contrasting with the snow.
“Note that silver foxes are the same species as red foxes,” the agency said. “According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, genetic variations result in four recognized color phases: red, cross, silver, and black. All have a white-tipped tail, just as this one does.”
The white on the tip of the creature’s tail is tougher to spot against the snow, but those who look closely will be able to see it.
Residents weighed in on the comments to share stories about having spotted one of the silver foxes. One said they believe they saw the very fox in the photo.
“This fox and its mate were living in the culvert at the end of our driveway last summer,” they said. “They were getting a bit brazen and we were starting to get worried about them. Then one day they were gone, and we found a dead rattlesnake right outside the entrance to the culvert where they had been living. That must have been quite an adventurous battle!”
Another person shared they used to see a silver fox “all the time” at the South Bay campground in the park, though now it’s been “many years” since they’ve spotted one.
“They’re so beautiful!” they said.
Horsetooth Reservoir is about a 70-mile drive north from Denver.
This story was originally published February 20, 2025 at 3:41 PM with the headline "‘Rare’ silver creature spotted in snowy Colorado wilderness. See the striking photo."
