Fox trouble

[pigeoner]

then peck it off

 

[chickengeorgeto]

We don't have the saying, "clever as a fox" for nothing. If there's one animal that will probably outsmart us humans at every turn, it's a fox..

I heard this story but didn't see it myself. It seems that an old pioneer kind of fellow was trying to kill a fox that had been praying on his poultry. The old fellow sicked his fox hounds on Renard and the race was on. Only the old fellow was having trouble waylaying the fox every time he made a new lap around his territory. While watching from a hill top while the dogs ran the fox it soon became apparent that every time the fox made a new lap that he ran in one end of a hollow log and out the opposite end. The old pioneer decided that this would be the perfect place to set an ambush so he walked down to set up near the hollow log. But wouldn't you know it that as soon as he was almost in range of the log a second fox broke cover from inside the log and sprinted off into the Sunset. It seems like there were two foxes who were leading the fox hounds on a merry chase while one of them relaxed inside of the hollow log until it was his turn for the dogs to chase him while his fox buddy took a breather.

 

[arrowti]

Thanks for the replies! I checked the state laws and it is legal to kill wildlife (if necessary) that is attacking or threatening livestock or domestic animals. Also thanks for reminding me they can travel in groups - that might be why there are so many tracks if there is more than one.

We have a game camera and if we find it we'll set it up and see if we can find out how many foxes are around. Once the snow melts and the ground unfreezes we can fix the damage to the electric fence. I'll utilize the 'peanut butter' bait and hope our own dog doesn't try to lick it.

I didn't know that about donkeys. I'll see if we can track it/them down.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Thanks for the replies! I checked the state laws and it is legal to kill wildlife (if necessary) that is attacking or threatening livestock or domestic animals... Once the snow melts and the ground unfreezes we can fix the damage to the electric fence. I'll utilize the 'peanut butter' bait and hope our own dog doesn't try to lick it....

Don't worry about a little dab of peanut butter. If your dog licks the peanut butter off your electric fence I can pretty well guarantee you that you can lay a PB&J sandwich down and dog will not even think about sneaking a little nibble.

 

[4 ever Orpington]

On Friday morning (I had the day off) I was looking out the kitchen window and saw the ducks were standing up and alert. I didn't think anything of it at the moment since we have a lot of wild turkeys around... and a few minutes later I saw a fox slinking towards them from the side. My dog happened to be in the room with me so I basically said "Maggie outside now" and ran to the door. She charged out barking loudly (she has a very nasty sounding bark even though she's terrified of everything... including our ducks) and the fox took off without getting anything.

Since then we've had the birds inside, looking for the fox (we have a hunting rifle to take care of it if we see it) but unfortunately it hasn't showed back up during the day again. We have fox prints everywhere, new and old, leading all around the coops, into the pig pen, up to the pigs waterer (if it turns out the pig is sharing her bed with the fox I honestly wouldn't be surprised, we just can't get into her area since the gate is frozen into the ground and unmovable), and all across the yard.

The original plan was to wait it out, keep the birds in, and hope it got hungry enough to find somewhere else to find food. Unfortunately it's still hanging around.

Unfortunately the fence is still half-buried under a nice layer of snow with a thick sheet of ice on top with some fresh now on top of that, so it can easily just jump right over in the places the fence is actually still visible.

Birds are doing alright. The ducks have gotten cautious in their 'old age' and refuse to go outside anyway whenever there is a predator nearby (most likely when the fox is around at night they can hear it. The drake stands in the doorway when I open it, refusing to let the girls out if they move over). The chickens are less cautious but they hate the snow and only one or two will come out for a minute anyway.

Still... don't want to leave them locked in for weeks or months because of a fox. Any advice on getting rid of it, if we don't find it during the day to do the 'deed?' Maybe some live traps and relocation? Taking walks around the property with the dog who may sniff her its den?

Apply the three s rule shoot shovel and shut up about it.

 

[Folly's place]

Meanwhile, keep the birds in! Good luck getting at least the most persistant individual, and getting the fencing back up.
A few years ago we had a daytime fox attack; a sick mangy individual killed ten nice hens one afternoon! A workman next door watched the whole thing and did nothing.
The fox returned several times, but we couldn't get a clean shot at him. I drove around the neighborhood alerting everyone who had chickens within about 3/4 mile. One of those neighbors shot him a few days later.
Let your neighbors know about it! Especially anyone with chickens. yours will be unavailable, so your fox will be visiting elsewhere.
Mary

 

[chickens really]

I have a three year long Fox problem...I finally found out where the Den is..We are going next door with approval from the people next door to destroy the Den. It's totally illegal to trap , shoot or snare in my area without liciencing and permits.
Was told also that once the Fox are gone other pests move into the areas that could be much worse on my Birds..Skunk, Weasel etc.

 

[wamtazlady]

We've had fox regularly. When one is shot, about 4-6 months later another fox takes over the territory.

 

[Folly's place]

Although my dogs can't get to the chicken area, their presence helps discourage foxes and coyotes from visiting the chickens. My coop and run are very safe (except from mice!) and the birds are outside ranging during most but not all afternoons. Except for that sick individual, we haven't had a bad fox problem. May it continue!
Mary