Probable Red Fox Den Very Close to My Barn

[Saaniya]

Interesting, I recently spoke with someone from a fishing cat conservation group in India and he told me the same thing, and that the government will pay you for your livestock if a fishing cat (or other rare species) killed it. Is that true? He was very confused when I was telling him how we deal with livestock and mountain lion conflicts.

It's a little different here with these types of encounters (foxes, raccoons, mink, weasels, etc.). They are very abundant in North America, so when there is a "conflict" with livestock or pets, it is easier and cheaper to kill that animal than catch it and relocate it. That one fox family being killed doesn't affect the total population at all really, so it's just removing the problem animal. That's most of the scenarios.

Sometimes there are animals that kill livestock but you are not allowed to kill them yourself (hawks, bears, fisher, ravens, etc.), and then we would call our natural resources management office. Depending on the classification of the animal, they would either give you permission to kill it yourself, go kill it for you, or do what you said and relocate the animal.

That's a really simplified version, but you probably get the point.

Oh I get this

 

[Adela Farm]

I have a family of fox that make a den in my yard every year. Never lost a chicken to them. If that den is an attractive site, getting rid of these ones will only invite others. Have you considered a secure coop and run?

 

[centrarchid]

I have a family of fox that make a den in my yard every year. Never lost a chicken to them. If that den is an attractive site, getting rid of these ones will only invite others. Have you considered a secure coop and run?

They have moved somewhere to south. Dogs knowing den location probably something foxes do not like.

 

[CatWhisperer]

We have lots of fox living around us. The chickens have a secure coop to stay in at night and their ranging area is pretty well secure. We have couple feral cats that live with the chickens and we live trap whenever something starts cleaning out the cat food overnight. Usually coons and possums. Last year we trapped several young foxes in the chicken yard. We just set them loose ( they are so cute). We trapped one of them twice but they seem to learn the lesson. The adult foxes must ego savvy to get into the chicken yard. I even put out foo for the foxes cause I like to watch them. A neighbor feeds them also.

 

[centrarchid]

We have lots of fox living around us. The chickens have a secure coop to stay in at night and their ranging area is pretty well secure. We have couple feral cats that live with the chickens and we live trap whenever something starts cleaning out the cat food overnight. Usually coons and possums. Last year we trapped several young foxes in the chicken yard. We just set them loose ( they are so cute). We trapped one of them twice but they seem to learn the lesson. The adult foxes must ego savvy to get into the chicken yard. I even put out foo for the foxes cause I like to watch them. A neighbor feeds them also.

For fun, go post that in the following thread. Just for fun.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/show-off-your-games.106767/page-1475#post-21233038

 

[roosterhavoc]

 

[Trish1974]

View attachment 1740268

The only good fox is a dead fox.

 

[centrarchid]

I am OK with a fox not eating my chickens or eating too many of the baby rabbits.

 

[Ms Clucky]

Live trap where it's coming in.

 

[centrarchid]

It has shifted point of entry from a tight location to a much larger area lacking a well defined trail. Last night it did not even come in. Coyotes and my dogs like reason for that.