Attempting to Bag a Red Fox

[centrarchid]

Last night we lost a ground roosting broody hen and chick very close to house, normally under nose of our dogs. Our dogs do not function well when we get storms so protected area disappears.

I got kids out to help figure this out. Capture site had minimal feathers but all dogs promptly checked it out and scent marked over it. Down hill we found kill site and enough feathers after that to line out where fox was going with catch.

Area where fox operating is very bushy so no line of sight. It supports lots of adult rabbits, but very few you rabbits. Fox has reason to visit even when no chickens vulnerable. In about a month I want to release young chickens in that area. Fox, and its kin got to go. My son is helping to prepare evidence.

First image shows house to north where one dog typically stays on back porch. Colors link photographs to map.

Orange spot was roost site. Fox appears to have never come into short grass. Bottom of image is where hen roosted and dogs scent marked over.

Red spot is kill site where there are lots of feathers.

Purple spot is secondary are with feathers

Pink is last actual feathers heading towards game trail

Game trail.

 

[casportpony]

Subscribing. I got a pesky fox here too. Quite bold, it comes and takes hens from the tree by the house that they roost in.

 

[centrarchid]

We are preparing to get out a single trap. Not exact same model, but close enough.

Another trap will serve more to hold and protect bait. Brand I have is green and much heavier duty because raccoons otherwise tear up the mechanisms related to tripping and staying closed.

Bait will be an old American Dominique hen that I can not get to come back into lay. I do not want her hurt and ideally not even stressed by the ordeal of being penned on ground overnight.

 

[casportpony]

We cant use those here.

 

[centrarchid]

I can use such traps. Thread below has setup we will configure this evening and place near kill sight. Odds are a box minnow trap will be used instead of live-trap as former has material to fine for fox to even pull feathers through, yet will still be able to see, hear and smell hen inside. Dogs will be penned.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/red-fox-in-barn-at-0415.1244409/page-6

 

[lunagrove]

Following this thread. I had a fox severely injure one of my roos last night before they made it to the coop. If this one passes, this will be the 3rd bird I've lost.

 

[centrarchid]

I will be putting out two game cameras to see what fox it doing.

 

[centrarchid]

Fox out there. Wind strong and wrong for dogs to easily wind him.

 

[centrarchid]

Red Fox. It was driving dogs nuts. Other camera shows Ben scent marking over where fox was yesterday. Fox spending more time than I though in orchard. May have to release a pup that has more psycho speed.

The camera is only telling part of the story.

 

[TomNY]

First question that came to mind: Do fox get married?