Never Before Heard Call in the Night.... Fox (wav. file). Update: Tracks Update2: Saw Fox!

[Kazfam]

We are in Upstate South Carolina and found some conspicuous paw prints and scat on our back porch. Research seem to indicate a Southern Gray Fox. Chickens are locked up tight at night but in a large run during the day. We have outdoor cats too that may need to be protected.

You are not far from us...are we having an overabundance of Fox this year?

Gonna keep a watchful eye on the situation.

 

[speckledhen]

I don't know about overabundance, but this does seem to be a big predator year for us. Lots of coyote sounds at night for the first time since we moved here, first time we've seen a fox in daytime in years, in addition to evidence of him hanging around, plus his sounds at night, especially one stalking our flock then there are the mountain lion tracks beside the coop (and people who don't even know each other in the area asking if we've seen or heard the cougar, not knowing we'd seen tracks).

 

[Kazfam]

Mountain Lion tracks? Really...in N. Georgia...wow.

I did read this:

The Mountain Lion was once found throughout the United States in varied habitats from swamps to prairies, and mountains of the eastern and western states. Now it is restricted to wilderness areas of the American West and a remnant population in southern Florida. In Georgia it is possible that the Mountain Lion may occur in wilderness areas of the Blue Ridge mountains and within the Okefenokee Swamp.
http://naturalhistory.uga.edu/~GMNH...?page=speciespages/species_page&key=fconcolor

That is a bit unnerving...and near your coop.
Be careful y'all.

 

[speckledhen]

Yes, they are finally admitting they can be found here. And we are in the Blue Ridge mtns. So, there you have it.

 

[enola]

DNR in WV continues to be in denial about the presence of mountain lions.

I have friends who took pictures of their horse after being attacked by "some wild animal", texted the pictures to a vet in a western state and got confirmation that the wounds were probably from a mountain lion.

WV wildlife officials still insisted the wounds were caused by coyotes or dogs.

:-(

 

[speckledhen]

I confirmed with a friend who has seen cougar tracks as well as online sources that what I thought I was seeing was actually what it was. My DH was the first to see them-he was walking between the pens, stopped and called me over, pointed and said with a gulp, "Cyn, is that a track??" Was as wide as his hand, plus two others that appeared to be a double stamped, one on the other, about 3 feet from the clearest one. The cat was apparently investigating a pile of bantam feathers (covered pen, no worries) next to the edge of the pen from where wind had gathered up a pile against the fence.

 

[sassybirds]

Yes, they are finally admitting they can be found here. And we are in the Blue Ridge mtns. So, there you have it.

I too am in the North Ga mountains and I have definitely noticed A LOT of foxes this year. I have probably seen close to 8, not to mention we had a family dig into our coop and take all 17 chickens away. We tracked the feathers to a stream bed across the road and found a den. Also found a young fox ran over in the same spot. Rascals were also coming by in the daytime to cart off a chicken dinner. Since then we have gotten a lot smarter and haven't had any losses since. I also "encouraged" a fox to leave, but did so forcefully. Let's just say he won't be coming back.

 

[speckledhen]

Then, it's probably true that we have an increase in certain predators this year. You're a bit more than an hour south of me-I'm in Fannin Co.

 

[cgmccary]

Hello Cynthia,

We've had a lot of coyotes this year too in NE Alabama & they can get really loud at night. It is rumored there is a cougar / mountain lion in the area and people are missing some large dogs. I am missing one of my dogs. I've put out fliers & he is chipped.

Some nice fox videos (of them as pets or captive):

(this fox sits on command and plays fetch-the-ball)

Here is a couple of "Chuckles," a captive red fox:

 

[rancher hicks]

Here in NYS there are more Coyote than there used to be. In suburban areas especially. Foxes I knew where around but as more and more building has been going on they have to move. One place I've seen a fox before is being clear for some sort of commercial building.

We have had Black Bear siting in areas they were not seen previously too. Of course we have those #$%^ casinos being okayed now and I'm not happy about that at all. Apparently those who want them don't mind the $8 hr jobs they will bring nor care about the habitat that will be destroyed.