Montreal photographer captures a dramatic battle between a Canada goose and a fox

Last Wednesday, Ilana Block was at the Botanical Garden in Montreal photographing sparrows during the peak of migration season when she heard a commotion in the water a few feet away.

A Canada goose was flapping and defending itself from a small fox that had the bird's neck in its mouth.

Not wanting to interrupt mother nature, she secretly rushed to the dramatic scene using the trees to cover herself from their sight and to get a better look at the scuffle. Then she pulled out her camera and started shooting.

She recounted in an interview on Tuesday, "It was incredible, the fox kept chasing the goose and the goose was flapping and hitting it, and the fox was limping at one point because the goose is much larger than the fox. It was crazy and the fox would go and lie in the grass and wait and watch, then chase the goose again."

Canada geese are often preyed upon by foxes, coyotes, eagles, and other animals. Block said the goose fought hard, screaming at the four-legged predator, which made it keep its tail between its legs.

Eventually, the fox surrendered and went to hunt for a much smaller prey: a squirrel.

Block said, "It was such an amazing interaction. It's really astonishing."

She shared a video of the wildlife encounter on her Facebook page on Tuesday.