Photo by jasperdoest / A fox lies in front of her den in Norway's Svalbard archipelago. The mother watches her litter of six as they make their first steps to explore the wide-open tundra surrounding them. She is relaxed and has everything well under control. I feel privileged that she allows me to observe her family up close, and she doesn't seem threatened by our quiet presence during the midsummer nights. The dynamics rapidly change when suddenly her daughter Randi–that she raised one year earlier–enters the scene. Mother is clearly not amused and fears for her litter. She tries to chase Randi away, and the fights we witness are fierce. Although mom is able to defend her den for now, Randi is persistent. She will be back, and when the time comes, Randi will take over her mother's den. Follow jasperdoest to learn more about Randi or other stories about the natural world. #Arcticfox #svalbard #wildlife