A fantastic Mr (or Mrs) Fox has been captured on 'trail-cam' at Nottingham's Attenborough Nature Reserve - and they are truly fearless. Ranger Peter Stanyon caught the incredible moment on film alongside the antics of a host of other wildlife visitors.
The fascinating footage shows a fearless fox walking along a frozen lake in the hunt for food. Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust shared the video after it was often asked how animals at the reserve were able to cope in the sub-zero temperatures
The camera has been recording throughout January and has provided nature lovers with a host rarely seen gems including an 'ice-skating' crow, two otters taking a late-night swim and rare riverside birds.
Read more: Splendour Festival 2023 major acts announced as event returns for 2 days
The Attenborough Nature Reserve was established in 1966 and opened by Sir David Attenborough. Peter has been a ranger at the reserve for more than six years.
He said it was fantastic to see the wildlife on film in their natural rural habitat. He added: "The footage was taken over the course of a week in January when it was really cold. The video shows what fantastic wildlife we have [here]."
Peter, from Long Eaton, added: "It was so great to see the fox walking in the winter sunshine as well as the night footage of the otters, which was quite rare to capture. When visitors come to the reserve it is uncommon for them to see these creatures in the day as they usually come out when no one is about so it was great to watch it on film."
The trail cam was set up near to the visitors' centre at the reserve where rangers had recently carried out conservation work to benefit the wildlife. Peter went on to say: "We set the trail camera up near to our visitors' centre looking out onto an area where we had just managed the reeds.
"It was great to see all the wildlife in this spot and seeing the benefits our work on the reeds had on them. The trial footage of the bright orange fox really shows the creature in its rural habitat.
"I have seen otters and foxes on the reserve before myself and other rare animals like deer and visitors may get the same chance to if they come down to the reserve. It might take a bit of patience but they could be lucky and get to see these beautiful creatures up close."
The amazing compilation captures an array of day and night shots of animals embracing the cold weather on the nature reserve. The first clip shows two swans dipping their long necks into the water searching for reeds on the riverbeds.
Further footage shows two otters taking a late-night swim and shy water rail and snipe birds emerging out of the reed beds where they live. Finally, the crisp footage show the bright orange fox treading silently across the top of the frozen water as he scavenged for food.
The site is best known for having more than 250 species of birds and provides a home to hundreds of species of plants and insects. A spokesperson from the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust said: "The footage shows a variety of wildlife present on Attenborough Nature Reserve. Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust often gets asked how does the cold weather impact the wildlife and we can see from these particular pieces of footage they keep it all in their stride.
"It is of particular interest to see the rarer footage of the otters, as well as the water rail and snipe. Both shy birds but a delight to see on the ice in and out of the reed bed habitat we mange."
READ NEXT:
Emily Atack fans 'feel sick' as harrowing details of vile messages revealed
Animal campaigners to protest over plans for Trowell animal sanctuary
Major new plan unveiled for 'eyesore' cinema site opposite Nottingham Railway Station
Latest Love Island shock recoupling sparks chaos as only two couples remain 'solid'
