Fox Pictures (next to the coop)

[Biddieacres]

This is the culprit who killed my EE a few days ago. I heard my rooster making distress calls so I ran down to see what was wrong. I turned and in the high grass were two pointy ears and two eyes looking at me, Very close. I had time to run in and get my camera. I got these pictures. It has the low body and long nose like a fox but it looked like a wild dog. Not much fur on the tail. Is this definitely a fox?

Here he is on the right hand side of the run.

Here is the same picture cropped to try and see more detail. See how there isn't much fur on the tail and back end area

Here he is starting to go into the woods. You can see him behind the run right in the doorway.

Inside the hen house was lots of distress calls. The rooster was very upset.

 

[Year of the Rooster]

That fox looks like it has mange. I'd keep it away at all costs, especially if you have any mammal pets (cats, dogs, etc.) No wonder it was that close, it was probably desperate.

BTW, I like your yard

The pond gives it a special touch, and it looks like your girls have some good room to go out (if you let them that is).

 

[Pupsnpullets]

It's kinda uplifting to think you grabbed the camera before grabbing gun. Perhaps if it is sick it's better to shoot it but I'm all for shooting with a camera

 

[chseeads]

Yeah, it looks mangey....

We had some horrifically mangey foxes around here several years ago....they were so sickly that they would just come right out in broad daylight and you could literally walk up to them. They were nastyyyy.

 

[fldiver97]

Hmmm, not sure fox or coyote....

 

[Biddieacres]

He has been spotted constantly by all the neighbors. He ran across the street yesterday while all the kids were out playing. He came up to my Dad in June while he was planting. Does Mange mean he could be rabid or just sickly?

 

[Wolf-Kim]

It's a fox with mange.

If it were me, I would shoot it. 1. It has eaten your birds. 2. The poor thing is suffering from mange. Ever see a dog with mange? They itch and scratch and bite horribly at themselves. It's just aweful. Do you, your chickens and that fox a favor and put it out of it's misery. That's just my opinion.

-Kim

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Quote:
Mange is a skin condition. An overpopulation of mites on the skin. The animals scratch and bite their fur off and often scratch to the point of drawing their own blood. It is a sad thing, truly a miserable experience.

It worries me that you say your neighbors see it very often, especially out during the day with children running around!

With it so bold, you have to wonder what else it has besides mange. Better safe than sorry, I'd shoot it and dispose of it. Fox are normally shy animals, many people never know there are fox in their area. Such a change in behavior could be clues to something more severe than mange, like rabies or distemper. Yes sometimes fox, change their normal schedule throughout the year to accomodate kits, but I don't think this is the case. An animal with mange usually has a compromised immune system, making them more susceptable to other diseases.

-Kim

 

[Biddieacres]

Thanks Kim. Actually when it ran by the kids yesterday, two of the older kids ran in to their houses to get guns but all they had were BB guns. Actually one looked like a pellet rifle. They couldn't find the fox. I didn't think it was wise for young kids to be running through the woods but there was no stopping them. I figured it had a disease.

He did kill all 3 of my Embden geese as well. So it visits frequently looking for a meal. I will talk to DH to see what to do. Maybe he can take care of it.

 

[The Chicken People]

Shoot it!