Stormcrow's Hobby Farm

[U_Stormcrow]

Why the special treatment of fox? Are they endangered?

I haven't figured that out. They don't seem to be endangered or threatened, just "special".

 

[NanaK]

Florida does not have a Grey Fox trapping season?

NC has a trapping season, license required. Not sure when it is though.

Here it is also possible to get a permit to take nuisance animals killing livestock as long as it's not a protected species like hawks,etc.

Fox are pretty as long as they are not eyeing my chickens.
I see the sneaky rascals often here even in the middle of the day
Believe me, they are trap shy and run to the woods when they see me.

 

[Molpet]

I have a persistent Red Fox the last week. First time I have seen one in years. Not sure what I'm going to do about it. Last week I found 5 feather piles from 4 birds. 3 hens were ok. One old lame rooster I thought was dead but severely injured . I was blaming coyotes, now I'm thinking fox.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Florida does not have a Grey Fox trapping season?

NC has a trapping season, license required. Not sure when it is though.

Here it is also possible to get a permit to take nuisance animals killing livestock as long as it's not a protected species like hawks,etc.

Fox are pretty as long as they are not eyeing my chickens.
I see the sneaky rascals often here even in the middle of the day
Believe me, they are trap shy and run to the woods when they see me.

Are there Special regulations regarding foxes?

Yes, taking fox by any method is prohibited, but foxes may be chased with dogs year-round on private lands. Foxes or untanned fox pelts may not be possessed, except under FWC authorization.

Source.

 

[Sally PB]

but foxes may be chased with dogs year-round on private lands.

You have a dog... Just sayin.

 

[NatJ]

Fox are one of the only fur bearing mammals we can't touch here in Florida. Pretty much everything else we can take if it is doing property damage, is about to do property damage, or just because (hogs, a few others). Also can't touch a few turtles and some odd ball critters people don't see often. Everything else, as the Byrd's song goes, has a season...

Are there Special regulations regarding foxes?

Yes, taking fox by any method is prohibited, but foxes may be chased with dogs year-round on private lands. Foxes or untanned fox pelts may not be possessed, except under FWC authorization.

Source.

That is talking about furbearing animals, but what about this?

https://myfwc.com/license/wildlife/nuisance-wildlife-permits/gun-light/
A quote from that page:
"The Gun and Light at Night Permit authorizes individuals to take depredating wildlife (beaver, bobcat, fox, opossum, rabbit, raccoon, otter, skunk or nutria) at night with a gun and light on land that they own or possess the written permission of the landowner."

That seems to ALLOW taking foxes, with specific conditions. And your fox would logically fall more under "nuisance" than "furbearer" (as in, that is your reason for wanting to remove it.)

 

[U_Stormcrow]

That is talking about furbearing animals, but what about this?

https://myfwc.com/license/wildlife/nuisance-wildlife-permits/gun-light/
A quote from that page:
"The Gun and Light at Night Permit authorizes individuals to take depredating wildlife (beaver, bobcat, fox, opossum, rabbit, raccoon, otter, skunk or nutria) at night with a gun and light on land that they own or possess the written permission of the landowner."

That seems to ALLOW taking foxes, with specific conditions. And your fox would logically fall more under "nuisance" than "furbearer" (as in, that is your reason for wanting to remove it.)

Yeah, I've been reading that, but the process is "don't bother trying". and my dog cant make it down the steps w/o assistance. Also, the fox likely outweighs it. My dog is a 14-16 yr old old chihuahua mix.

 

[NatJ]

Yeah, I've been reading that, but the process is "don't bother trying". and my dog cant make it down the steps w/o assistance. Also, the fox likely outweighs it. My dog is a 14-16 yr old old chihuahua mix.

https://myfwc.com/license/wildlife/nuisance-wildlife-permits/
This has a whole list of different permits for taking nuisance wildlife. More than one of them mention foxes (as in, you are allowed to take foxes with that permit.)

But you may not need a permit at all, if I read this correctly:

https://www.flrules.org/gateway/ruleno.asp?id=68A-9.010&Section=0
Section 68A-9.010 - Taking Nuisance Wildlife
"Any person owning property may take nuisance wildlife or they may authorize another person to take nuisance wildlife on their behalf except those species listed in subsection (1) below on their property by any method except those methods listed in subsection (2) below."

https://www.flrules.org/gateway/ChapterHome.asp?Chapter=68a-27
The list of forbidden ones is in here.
After I opened the .pdf, I found it contains several long lists (federally protected, state protected, that sort of distinction.) But every one of those lists was sorted into insects, birds, mammals, etc. And there are no foxes in the "mammals" section of any of those lists. The closest it comes is "Big Cypress fox squirrel" (not an actual fox.)

The list of prohibited ways to take the wildlife are basically the ones that require a permit-- strongly implying that you can take them in other ways without needing a permit. (I'm not a lawyer, and I can't tell for sure, but this sure LOOKS like you could remove the fox without needing a permit.)


Another source of the same rules, but doesn't require opening a .pdf to read them:

https://casetext.com/regulation/flo...its/section-68a-9010-taking-nuisance-wildlife


https://casetext.com/regulation/flo...ered-and-threatened-species-list-prohibitions

 

[U_Stormcrow]

https://myfwc.com/license/wildlife/nuisance-wildlife-permits/
This has a whole list of different permits for taking nuisance wildlife. More than one of them mention foxes (as in, you are allowed to take foxes with that permit.)

But you may not need a permit at all, if I read this correctly:

https://www.flrules.org/gateway/ruleno.asp?id=68A-9.010&Section=0
Section 68A-9.010 - Taking Nuisance Wildlife
"Any person owning property may take nuisance wildlife or they may authorize another person to take nuisance wildlife on their behalf except those species listed in subsection (1) below on their property by any method except those methods listed in subsection (2) below."

https://www.flrules.org/gateway/ChapterHome.asp?Chapter=68a-27
The list of forbidden ones is in here.
After I opened the .pdf, I found it contains several long lists (federally protected, state protected, that sort of distinction.) But every one of those lists was sorted into insects, birds, mammals, etc. And there are no foxes in the "mammals" section of any of those lists. The closest it comes is "Big Cypress fox squirrel" (not an actual fox.)

The list of prohibited ways to take the wildlife are basically the ones that require a permit-- strongly implying that you can take them in other ways without needing a permit. (I'm not a lawyer, and I can't tell for sure, but this sure LOOKS like you could remove the fox without needing a permit.)


Another source of the same rules, but doesn't require opening a .pdf to read them:

https://casetext.com/regulation/flo...its/section-68a-9010-taking-nuisance-wildlife


https://casetext.com/regulation/flo...ered-and-threatened-species-list-prohibitions

I've read the entire statute myself, plus the cross references, AND a keyword search of the entire Florida code. No answer for you, but I've been deep in that rabbit hole.

Trying to get hold of someone at FWC that can explain it to me, because its nowhere in statutes but seems oft repeated on many 3rd party sources, as well as FWC itself. Guessing its some agency rulemaking.

Anyhow, no voicemail, and the person I need to speak with isn't picking up. Will try more tomorrow.

 

[NatJ]

I've read the entire statute myself, plus the cross references, AND a keyword search of the entire Florida code. No answer for you, but I've been deep in that rabbit hole.

Trying to get hold of someone at FWC that can explain it to me, because its nowhere in statutes but seems oft repeated on many 3rd party sources, as well as FWC itself. Guessing its some agency rulemaking.

Anyhow, no voicemail, and the person I need to speak with isn't picking up. Will try more tomorrow.

In that case, I am still puzzled by the whole thing, but you are obviously beyond me in researching it. If you finally figure it out, I'd love to hear what the final answer is!