Who Should Win?
by
James Bow
·
1 year ago
Our first match of round two takes us back to the Mammal/Walking Insects bracket as the Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) faces off against the River Otter.
The Red Fox was our 2022 champion, before being eliminated in the quarterfinals in the 2023 contest. Earlier this month, it easily fended off the challenge by the Meadow Vole, winning 12-4. It's easy to see why this cute but resourceful and intelligent animal would be so popular. You are seeing more of these creatures in cities these days because they're so adaptable, and they love transition zones, which describes cities to a T. It's important to remember that these are wild animals, however, and they need to be given their space. Check out this blog post about coexisting with these creatures here: https://www.thecanidproject.com/articles/2017/8/21/seeing-more-red-foxes-in-your-neighborhood-or-town-heres-why
The Red Fox faces the River Otter (Lontra canadenis), which eliminated the Red Fox in 2023, so this is a grudge match. The River Otter had a tougher contest in round one, narrowly beating the Northern Flying Squirrel (9-8). Again, it's hard not to like such a beautiful, sociable creature. Unlike the Red Fox, they are an indicator species, sitting at the top of their food chain. When pollutants enter their ecosystem, River Otters are some of the first that show signs of problems. The fact that we spotted a couple of River Otters at the confluence of the Grand and the Speed a few years ago is a hopeful sign that we can maintain the health of our environment if we're careful. Learn more about the River Otter here: https://www.treehugger.com/river-otters-hardest-working-clowns-in-the-water-4869005
So, in this returning grudge fest, will the River Otter again be victorious? Or can the Red Fox recapture its momentum and head into the quarter finals? The decision is entirely yours, so cast your ballot now!
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