Probable Red Fox Den Very Close to My Barn

[The Dapper Duck]

View attachment 1740268

Pretty. Do you ever use the fur or know anyone who does? Our new place is across the street from a river and wildlife refuge. I am expecting to have the materials for a full raccoon quilt and a gray fox throw by next year, haha.

 

[centrarchid]

Darn fox is not working with me. It is not coming anywhere near traps. Camera traps show it approaching west boundary of outer perimeter only. I tightened fence up a little although not enough to stop incursions. Visitations are in the range of 2230 to 2345 but only of very short duration. Fox just passing by. My German Pointer sits near deck watching barn over entire interval fox might come through. She chuffs when ever the chickens cackle on roost, but has yet to race in. She goes out before and after to sniff around and scent mark which can be seen on cameras.

All my dogs had to run off an LGD last night. It was male yet females did most of work. My male just trailed behind and scent marked.

 

[roosterhavoc]

Pretty. Do you ever use the fur or know anyone who does? Our new place is across the street from a river and wildlife refuge. I am expecting to have the materials for a full raccoon quilt and a gray fox throw by next year, haha.

I use a lot of fox tail fur for tying flies. I sell most of the fur I catch though. I have a few boxes of tanned beaver and raccoon pelts I’m saving to have a blanket made. I have enough jus haven’t got around to sending them off yet.

 

[roosterhavoc]

Darn fox is not working with me. It is not coming anywhere near traps. Camera traps show it approaching west boundary of outer perimeter only. I tightened fence up a little although not enough to stop incursions. Visitations are in the range of 2230 to 2345 but only of very short duration. Fox just passing by. My German Pointer sits near deck watching barn over entire interval fox might come through. She chuffs when ever the chickens cackle on roost, but has yet to race in. She goes out before and after to sniff around and scent mark which can be seen on cameras.

All my dogs had to run off an LGD last night. It was male yet females did most of work. My male just trailed behind and scent marked.

Have you tried any canine specific lures with the traps? You can use snares around your dogs as long as you use a relaxing lock and nothing smaller than 5/64 cable in areas where a caught animal can’t tangle up too bad. Dogs do not pull and fight a snare like a wild animal.

 

[The Dapper Duck]

I use a lot of fox tail fur for tying flies. I sell most of the fur I catch though. I have a few boxes of tanned beaver and raccoon pelts I’m saving to have a blanket made. I have enough jus haven’t got around to sending them off yet.

That’s great! I wish California would let us trap or at least sell our furs. If I didn’t trap for part of my job I would have gone crazy by now.

@centrarchid what size/type traps are you using? I’ve never had great success trapping red fox in a cage trap but at least for felines the height of the trap makes a difference. They don’t like to duck low to enter or have a low ceiling. If you’re experienced with legholds or snares then that would be the better route.

 

[CatWhisperer]

Must we post pictures of dead animals?

 

[roosterhavoc]

Must we post pictures of dead animals?

You’re in the predators and pests forum which involves trapping, shooting and otherwise killing animals that are causing problems with chickens. If you don’t like it you don’t have view the thread. You can move on elsewhere to something that won’t upset you.

 

[centrarchid]

@centrarchid what size/type traps are you using?

If you’re experienced with legholds or snares then that would be the better route.

I am using like linked below. Fox not coming in. I have only seen it once with light since I started going after it; no recent evidence in camera traps. This is how it works, fox gets a bird, dogs then get on to it and fox stays away for a while. It is where fox does not just keep coming in just because you have chickens as a buffet. Owls do same.
https://www.cabelas.com/product/Bri...mkjE3E0Doc9TRyUfeJcaAt2fEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[The Dapper Duck]

I'm assuming you have fur trapping experience. What type of set are you using? I'm not trying to direct you, I'm just curious what your go-to set is for snooping foxes. I was mostly a water trapper and my land experience isn't relevant.

 

[centrarchid]

I'm assuming you have fur trapping experience. What type of set are you using? I'm not trying to direct you, I'm just curious what your go-to set is for snooping foxes. I was mostly a water trapper and my land experience isn't relevant.

Almost no experience with furbearers. Got a fox easily last year (see post #47 https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/red-fox-in-barn-at-0415.1244409/page-5.) Will be getting a good number of muskrats and possibly a couple of otters as the production season progresses.