Maine

[Jazor]

I've been having some run-ins with a fox lately. Started showing up all over my property during the day, seemingly fearless. He was bold enough to actually start approaching me yesterday morning whilst growling. It was pretty evident to me that he either had no fear of humans (state park and a few campgrounds close to me) or he was rabid. Either way, I figure if he's got it in his mind that he can actually act aggressive towards humans, he's got to go.

Last night he fearlessly came out into my yard again, and I was ready. He met his match, and won't be bothering me anymore. Not sure if it was Murphy's law, or the fox trying to haunt me from the afterlife--but the coyotes last night were getting right into full attack mode literally 15 yards away from my bedroom window. Woke me and the fiancee up numerous times. Will have to go check the area this evening for remains, see if there's any evidence of what was going on. I know it's going to be a long day, seeing as how they had me awake at 3:30am.

I guess these aren't bad problems, and can be expected when you live with the wildlife!

Cheers,
Jazor

 

[lazy gardener]

Last summer we had a lot of fox activity outside our bedroom window. They are quite loud, and disturbing!!! My corn is all silked. I'm going to try putting a few ammonia soaked rags around the garden. Hopefully, the coons will trot up the street and have some of the neighbor's corn. (Even if mine is better!)

 

[lazy gardener]

Last summer we had a lot of fox activity outside our bedroom window. They are quite loud, and disturbing!!! My corn is all silked. I'm going to try putting a few ammonia soaked rags around the garden. Hopefully, the coons will trot up the street and have some of the neighbor's corn. (Even if mine is better!)

 

[IZZYBELLA]

That's awful ChickMagnet.

I saw a fox with two kits in June and have heard fox fighting in the middle of the night, so they are definitely around here, too.

The girls have finally figured out coming into the coop at night! For the most part they go in on their own, but I also started feeding them treats in the coop and now they come running... thanks for the suggestions! I did see one sneeze yesterday while she was digging around. Of course, I was panic-stricken all night and spent hours reading online (always dangerous). I haven't seen it again and everyone seems the same - bright-eyed, clean vents, eating, drinking, digging, etc. I'm trying to stay calm, but am keeping a close eye on everyone. Really hoping it was just dust in her nose, since she was scratching at dirt.

My mother-in-law is arriving in town for the weekend... must remember to take deep breaths and smile. It's only 4 days.

 

[ashandvine]

Hey Chick- as stated the officer can do nothing. Possession is 9/10 of the law. There you go. As for defamation... keep records in case you want to take it to civil court and otherwise, these folks who are all judges are pretty even keel folks. They can smell a story...

anyone want a Polish Cap chick? Its a singleton and won't shut up!!!

 

[CoopChick719]

I've seen film footage of a mountain lion about 2 - 3 miles from my house. Also, a neighbor who lives in the same area has seen one.

I let the girls out for a bit of foraging time. They, and my 2 cats were following me around the yard... I felt like the pied piper. Of course, I had my Jap beetle bucket with me... the chickens had to keep an eye on that, and the cats had to keep an eye on the chickens.

My friend has a camp in Somerville. His game cam caught 2 mountain lions near his deer blind. He said he wondered where all the deer had gone to.

Jazor--glad to hear you took care of your fox problem!! Sounds like it was a bad character!!

 

[chickery-do]

I'm not so brave for myself or my pets! After the other night w/ it chasing my girls down I was so glad that I had the dogs w/ me! They chased it to the neighbors but it knows the drive-ups always opened! I'm glad that when it's light's out it can't touch them cuz there locked up for the night. I really don't want my dogs hurt but if it's them or me, sorry! Plus now I have to worry about it every time I go out til the DD gets a hold of it for me!

 

[superchemicalgirl]

We have current and past fox problems here, too. We went a good number of months without fox issues after Foxy had a date with the Walther earlier this spring. I'm not posting it to be sick but this fox got 3 of my ducks and a chicken this spring. It was very well fed and pretty large. If you have a safe way to do it, it is legal to kill foxes on your property that are causing livestock damage no matter the time of year. I hate doing it, but if they continue to come back they are history.



All was good until 2 days ago when a duck was eaten by another (what we assume was) fox. So far it hasn't been back and I've caught a nocturnal coon on the game cam, that's it. A few years ago I caught a bobcat in a Have A Heart trap. That was the most exciting wildlife spotting I've had up here. It's a long story but I thought it was a housecat and let it out of the trap while making baby talk to it. It wasn't a high moment in my life but BF and I continue to get a good laugh out of it.

Hopefully Foxy 2.0 will be back this weekend while I'm home and alert and s/he can have a date with Walther, too.

 

[hoppy]

have your friend send pictures. I want to see.

My friend has a camp in Somerville. His game cam caught 2 mountain lions near his deer blind. He said he wondered where all the deer had gone to.

Jazor--glad to hear you took care of your fox problem!! Sounds like it was a bad character!!

 

[lazy gardener]

We have current and past fox problems here, too. We went a good number of months without fox issues after Foxy had a date with the Walther earlier this spring. I'm not posting it to be sick but this fox got 3 of my ducks and a chicken this spring. It was very well fed and pretty large. If you have a safe way to do it, it is legal to kill foxes on your property that are causing livestock damage no matter the time of year. I hate doing it, but if they continue to come back they are history.



All was good until 2 days ago when a duck was eaten by another (what we assume was) fox. So far it hasn't been back and I've caught a nocturnal coon on the game cam, that's it. A few years ago I caught a bobcat in a Have A Heart trap. That was the most exciting wildlife spotting I've had up here. It's a long story but I thought it was a housecat and let it out of the trap while making baby talk to it. It wasn't a high moment in my life but BF and I continue to get a good laugh out of it.

Hopefully Foxy 2.0 will be back this weekend while I'm home and alert and s/he can have a date with Walther, too.

SCG, have you seen the ad on TV, I think it's for insurance... the ads are so good, that I never can remember what they are for. The lady is in her jammies, and obviously doesn't have her glasses on, and she opens the patio door to call the kitty in, and this honking big raccoon waddles through the door? There was also the lady last year in the Bangor area who hit a bob cat, she stopped, and doing the neighborly thing, put the little kitty in her car to go find it's owner or take it to the vet. Unfortunately, the bob cat was only stunned, and she soon realized that it wasn't a little pussy cat in her car!... She was able to stop and let it out without getting harmed!
I'm so glad that your story also had a semi happy ending without injury to yourself. Next time, wear your glasses!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!