As the island begins to settle into spring with longer days and more sunshine, this time of year marks the arrival of fox kits, which are primarily born in late March and early April. With their small, fuzzy bodies and bright blue eyes - turning amber as they reach one month - they are an exciting sight to behold. Many photographers have come to the island to capture the foxes’ beauty, particularly following the circulation of a video shot by wilderness photographer Kevin Ebi in 2018 of an eagle and a fox battling over a rabbit mid-air, (see https://www.sanjuanjournal.com/life/bald-eagle-and-fox-battle-midair-on-san-juan-island-photos/) Since then, there has been an uptick of reports and incidences of aspiring photographers getting too close for comfort with the foxes, invoking confrontation from island residents aiming to protect the animals. The Journal met with Jeff Hodge, Lead Interpretive Ranger for the San Juan Island National Historical Park, to learn more about the issue.
The Wright Brothers National Memorial is hosting a first flight event for the 120th anniversary of the first heavier-than-air, controlled, powered flight.