Montreal photographer captures dramatic Canada goose vs. fox fight on video
Last Wednesday, Ilana Block was at Montreal's Botanical Garden snapping pictures of warblers during the peak of the migrating season when she heard a commotion in the water several feet away.
A Canada goose was thrashing about, defending itself from a small fox that had the bird's neck in its mouth.
A fox faces off with a Canada Goose at the Montreal Botanical Garden on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. (Source: Ilana Block)
Not wanting to interrupt Mother Nature, she covertly dashed over to the dramatic scene using the trees to cover herself from their view and get a better glimpse of the brawl. Then, she took out her camera and started shooting.
"It was unbelievable. The fox kept going after the goose and the goose was flapping and hitting it. The fox was limping at one point because the goose is way bigger than the fox. It was crazy and the fox would just go and lie in the grass and wait and watch and then it would go after the goose again," she recounted in an interview on Tuesday.
Canada geese are often preyed upon by foxes, coyotes, eagles and other animals. Block said the goose put up a tough fight — it was screaming at the four-legged predator, causing it to keep its tail between its legs.
The fox finally gave up and went on to hunt a much smaller prey: a squirrel.
"It was quite a fascinating interaction. It's really amazing," Block said.
She shared a video of the wild encounter on her Facebook page on Tuesday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
With condos not selling, Canada faces worsening home ownership crisis
Canada's home ownership crisis is likely to worsen over the next few years as proposed project sales languish at historically low levels, stalling the funding needed for construction, half a dozen economists and realtors told Reuters.
'Fundamental' political shift required to overcome $40 billion NATO spending gap: analyst
Canada will need a profound shift in political priorities if the country is to ramp up spending to meet its international security obligations.
Federal government to stop paying B.C. woman for job she doesn't have
There appears to be an end in sight for the strange predicament of a B.C. woman who was being paid by the federal government for a job she was hired for but never actually did.
Bones from the Mary Rose shipwreck reveal what life was like aboard a Tudor warship
Bones recovered from the 1545 Mary Rose shipwreck reveal new insights about life for the crew in Tudor England as well as shed light on how work changes our bones.
Truck driver arrested after crashing into TTC bus, six people hospitalized
Six people were taken to hospital after a pickup truck collided with a TTC bus in North York overnight.
Russia fines Google US$20 decillion over refusal to pay fines
Russia is seeking an unfathomable sum of money from one of the world’s biggest tech companies.
Canada's economy stalled in August, likely grew 0.3 per cent in September
Canada's gross domestic product was unchanged in August before likely expanding by 0.3 per cent in September, data showed on Thursday, indicating the economy might have missed the central bank's growth forecast for the third quarter.
'Out of control': Room costs spike 10 times higher on Taylor Swift Canada show nights
The situation facing out-of-town Taylor Swift fans now may be even worse, with some hotel rooms and short-term rentals in Toronto and Vancouver on show weekends costing 10 times more than other weekends.
CRA extends exemption on filing requirement: What you need to know
The Canada Revenue Agency extended a reporting exemption it introduced years ago. Bare trusts will not require the submission of a T3 Return or Schedule 15 for the 2024 tax year.
Shopping Trends
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
Toronto
-
Teenage boy dead after exchange of gunfire with 4 officers in Aurora: SIU
A 17-year-old is dead after he was involved in an exchange of gunfire with four police officers who were responding to a break-and-enter in progress in Aurora on Wednesday night, the province’s police watchdog says.
-
'Very disappointing': 3 Ontarians waited months to get paid after selling tickets on StubHub
Three Ontarians said they waited months to get paid for the tickets they sold on StubHub.
-
Truck driver arrested after crashing into TTC bus, six people hospitalized
Six people were taken to hospital after a pickup truck collided with a TTC bus in North York overnight.
Ottawa
-
Booze now for sale in Costco, more grocery stores in Ottawa
As of Oct. 31, all eligible grocery and big-box stores are able to buy beer, cider, wine and ready-to-drink beverages, including large pack sizes. The Ontario government says an additional 400 grocery stores will be selling alcohol across the province.
-
Pedestrian bridge over Rideau River in Ottawa's east end in need of major repairs
The City of Ottawa is looking at renewing a historic pedestrian bridge over the Rideau River near the University of Ottawa campus, after an assessment determined the bridge is in "overall poor condition."
-
OC Transpo 'driving people away' from public transit as bus trip cancellations continue, union warns
The union representing OC Transpo bus drivers and mechanics warns the transit service is "driving people away" from public transit, as it cancels hundreds of bus trips a day due to a maintenance backlog and traffic congestion.
Atlantic
-
Woman, 24, dies after being hit by Halifax Transit bus Thursday
A 24-year-old woman has died after she was hit by a Halifax Transit bus Thursday morning.
-
Homeless man in tent deserved same welfare rate as housed people, N.S. lawyer argues
The lawyer for a homeless man who died at a Halifax encampment is arguing in court today that his client's welfare payments should have been as high as those received by people with permanent housing.
-
Sarah McLachlan anniversary tour postponed
Famed Canadian singer Sarah McLachlan is postponing her 30th Anniversary tour of “Fumbling Towards Ecstasy” due to health concerns.
N.L.
-
Newfoundland and Labrador cautioned about growing debt as province touts success
Newfoundland and Labrador's auditor general has issued a warning about the province's financial position as the government announced it would finish the 2024-25 fiscal year with a higher-than-expected deficit.
-
Police charge off-duty Newfoundland RCMP officer with impaired driving
Police in Newfoundland and Labrador have charged an off-duty RCMP officer for allegedly driving while impaired, following a crash on Sunday.
-
Human remains found in ocean near Placentia Bay ID'd as missing Coast Guard employee
The human remains recovered off Placentia Bay, N.L., earlier this month have been identified as the coast guard employee who went missing at sea in September.
Northern Ontario
-
Mother intentionally jumps over Niagara Falls with her two children, a 9-year-old and 5-month-old: police
A 33-year-old mother climbed over a safety rail and intentionally went over Niagara Falls with her two children, a 9-year-old and 5-month-old, according to New York state police, who said Wednesday that search and rescue efforts were unsuccessful.
-
Weather alerts issued in the northeast for expected first accumulating snowfall, rain warning
Environment Canada issued weather alerts Wednesday in anticipation of heavy rain and the first accumulating snowfall of the season in the northeast with up to 10 cm expected.
-
Police say impaired driver pulled into the wrong house near Thessalon, argued with homeowner
A Goulais River man has been charged with impaired driving and entering a premises without permission after he pulled into a driveway he thought was his and argued with the homeowner.
London
-
Lighting up bus stops across London for safety and security
There are now 150 stops that have been upgraded with new solar lights that will illuminate and dusk and dawn when a button is pressed.
-
London police investigating LHSC's 'past financial practices'
London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) is being investigated by London Police Service, who LHSC confirmed on Wednesday are looking into ‘past financial practices.’
-
Western political science professor breaks down U.S. Electoral College process
The U.S. presidential election is Nov. 5, when millions of Americans will cast their vote for the country’s next leader — whoever earns more votes though, may not end up in the Oval Office.
Kitchener
-
Wheel detached from van causes fatal 401 crash near Cambridge: OPP
One person has died after police say a wheel detached from a vehicle, causing a crash in the eastbound lanes of the 401 near Cambridge.
-
Two drivers shot in face with pellet gun in Guelph: police
Guelph Police are looking for a suspect after two drivers said they were shot in the face with pellets.
-
Woman who pleaded guilty to defrauding doulas pleads guilty to more charges
Kaitlyn Braun, the woman who pleaded guilty to defrauding numerous doulas last year, has pleaded guilty to four additional charges.
Windsor
-
Officials sign order to terminate emergency in Wheatley
An official signing of the order to terminate the emergency in Wheatley takes place in Chatham-Kent Thursday afternoon.
-
Windsor man details sister’s horrific assault, calls for awareness and protection
A Windsor man is speaking out on behalf of his sister after she suffered a brutal act of violence in the city last month, which police believe to be an act of Intimate Partner Violence.
-
Police conducting emergency preparedness exercise at WRH
Windsor police are telling the public to not be alarmed to see an increased police presence around Windsor Regional Hospital’s Ouellette Campus on Halloween.
Barrie
-
Barrie senior arrested on child pornography charges
Barrie man arrested by Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) faces slew of child interference and pornography-related charges.
-
Family of man killed in gas station shooting desperate for answers
The family of a gas station worker who was killed earlier this month in Amaranth is pleading for help in finding the person responsible for his murder.
-
Car strikes 2 pedestrians in Barrie’s west end
Two people were sent to hospital after being struck by a car in Barrie.
Vancouver
-
Here are some safety tips for Halloween night in B.C.
Officials are encouraging parents to have discussions about safety with their kids this Halloween.
-
B.C. mom mourning loss of son who died on Grouse Mountain during atmospheric river storm
The BC Coroners Service is investigating the death of the young man found on Grouse Mountain after the Oct. 19 atmospheric river.
-
'Just work harder': Canucks look to reset after ugly loss to Devils
Wednesday marked just the second regulation loss Vancouver (4-2-3) has suffered this season, but the performance was one head coach Rick Tocchet wants to move past quickly.
Vancouver Island
-
Federal government to stop paying B.C. woman for job she doesn't have
There appears to be an end in sight for the strange predicament of a B.C. woman who was being paid by the federal government for a job she was hired for but never actually did.
-
Here are some safety tips for Halloween night in B.C.
Officials are encouraging parents to have discussions about safety with their kids this Halloween.
-
American interest in Canadian real estate peaks ahead of U.S. election: report
With Americans set to elect a new president Tuesday, new data shows there's a spike in interest in Canadian real estate.
Winnipeg
-
Mother of teen victim in mass killing suing Manitoba's child welfare agency
The mother of a 17-year-old victim in a mass slaying in Manitoba is suing a child welfare agency for allegedly failing to protect the girl.
-
Elijah Wood, Billy Boyd pay visit to Winnipeg restaurant
One Winnipeg restaurant got a surprise visit from a pair of ‘Lord of the Rings’ stars.
-
'It’s getting out of control': Back lane pain in Winnipeg’s northeast
When the main roads are backed up, some drivers turn to back lanes to bypass traffic. However, residents who live in the city’s East Kildonan neighbourhood say they’re fed up with the makeshift detours down their alleyway.
Calgary
-
Pedestrian in life-threatening condition after crash
Calgary police are investigating after a pedestrian was struck and seriously injured by a vehicle early Thursday morning.
-
Mayor launches new website to keep Calgarians informed
Calgary's mayor is going online with her own homepage to help engage with residents and keep them informed of city issues.
-
Calgary police, firefighters, EMS will be on patrol on Halloween, keeping trick-or-treaters safe
As children across Calgary prepare their costumes for Halloween, local emergency organizations are planning their patrols.
Edmonton
-
Oilers begin spooky McDavid-less stretch against Predators on Halloween
The Edmonton Oilers are preparing to move on without their superstar for the time being. Meanwhile, the Nashville Predators hope their early struggles are behind them.
-
WEATHER
WEATHER Josh Classen's forecast: Coolest Halloween in over a decade
It's shaping up to be a slightly cooler-than-average Halloween in Edmonton. But, it could end up being the chilliest Halloween in over a decade.
-
EXCLUSIVE
EXCLUSIVE More than a dozen workers exposed to asbestos in Edmonton public schools last year
Hundreds of pages of documents detailing potential asbestos exposures at Edmonton’s largest school division reveal human error led to more than a dozen worker exposures last year.
Regina
-
Experience or fresh faces? Regina's mayoral candidates faceoff in debate ahead of Nov. 13 vote
Nine of Regina's eleven mayoral candidates faced off in a debate on Wednesday evening, discussing a variety of topics.
-
No injuries after Regina house fire on Garnet Street
Emergency crews were called to a house fire on the 1400 Block of Garnet Street on Wednesday evening.
-
Here are the candidates for Ward 1 in Regina
Here's a look at the candidates for Ward 1 ahead Regina's civic election on November 13.
Saskatoon
-
'The rules are clear': Sask. First Nations leaders say Cameron not eligible to run for FSIN Chief
Delegates from 74 Saskatchewan First Nations head to the polls on Thursday to elect a new chief of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN).
-
Meet a Saskatchewan ghost hunter
Halloween is a time for many to share ghost stories and explore haunted houses, but for one Saskatchewan man, it's spooky season all year round.
-
'I saw people outside by themselves': Saskatoon boy helps those in need
A 9-year-old Saskatoon boy is taking on a project to help the city’s homeless. It started out with a lot of work collecting recycled cans and bottles, it has turned into a labour of love.
