Foxes!

[Tracy Rimmer]

We have what appears to be an entire FAMILY of foxes living in a den not too far from the house. Yesterday, I found a magotty offering -- the headless body of one of the grey doves that roost in my barn. It had been de-headed torn apart a bit and left under the trailer parked in the yard -- moved the trailer and YUCK! I suspected foxes, the neighbor said he saw some pups playing in the far field one evening as he passed, and the signs have been there -- but now I've seen them, too.

*SIGH* -- looks like I'd better rethink the design of the chicken house

[JayinCT]

I'm not so sure the design of the Chicken Coop has to be changed. You just need to build a good fox trap first, then the Chicken Coop.

[Raptor]

Hard to trap a fox. Hence the term "Smarter than a fox". Time to load the shotgun with some 3 inch buck 4's.

[JayinCT]

Never had a problem catching Foxes. Well, I can't say never, but not since I made a proper size trap. Foxes won't go into an average live trap. I like to have one at least 24 inches by 24 inches and 48 inches long and the bottom covered with screened dirt. Some foxes don't like to walk on wire.

If the live trap fails, a number 2 leg hold and a "dirt hole" set with some good bait will get them without a problem.

Scent is the main reason people have problems catching Foxes, once you figure that out, and get some good bait, it's not that hard. Specially the Pup's. They are the easiest.

Jay

[big rockpile]

Unless it is bothering the Chickens I wouldn't worry about until.

But I would set Traps durring Trapping Season.I think you will be surprised at the number of other animals that you will catch other than Foxes.

I trap around the House catch everything from Mink to Bobcats.

big rockpile

[suburbanite]

Have you determined if they are red foxes (introduced) or native ones?

In California the natives are protected (I think unless you are after the *individual* guilty of livestock predation). But reds are ok to kill for sport with proper licensing.

The natives here tend not to go after domestic poultry anyway. Their habitat usually has more than enough wild quail.

[yankeeterrier]

I have had a fox den in my pasture for the 12 years I have lived here. I have many chickens, ducks, guineas and peafowl and the only time I ever lost any fowl to them was when we were out of town for a few days and the friend who watched the farm didn't get all the chickens in one night, lost one hen and one cockerel. I always see 'mine' with mice and rats in their mouths, and the rats cause more trouble for me than they do. Plus the kits are adorable. Why would anyone immediately go out and kill a valuable predator that is not causing any harm? A good coop and a good dog should keep poultry safe.

Dianne

[Jennifer L.]

That kill wasn't from a fox. Fox take their stuff away and eat it all, especially when there are kits around to feed. Your dove was probably an owl kill, or maybe a raccoon. Foxes leave only a pile of feathers from a bird.

I have a fox family that live in the older hay in my hay barn. They and/or their relatives have lived there for years. They take any poultry that *I* don't take care of properly, as in, close them in at night. In any case, I don't mind sharing with them. They are by far the most interesting wild animal I have around the place. When I'm baling or raking they can be seen out in the hayfield drifting around at a nice "foxtrot" hunting for mice, and will get within 20' of the tractor lots of times without worrying about me and what I'm doing. Then they are off at a tangent across the field to catch up with me on another round of the field.

I feel privileged to have them live that close to me.

As for the poultry, if it's not the foxes it's going to be some other predator after your birds, so if you want them, you have to secure them. Shooting or trapping the foxes does nothing but open the way for the other predators to move in and clean you out.

Jennifer

[Toads tool]

Jennifer L. and I of are a same mind. She just put it better than I could.

I also like the fact she picked up on the "kits" instead of pup.

If you must trap, think of them as more of a cat or "Kit" than a dog / pup.
Trapping a cat takes a different approach than a dog, unfortuantely it is much harder.

good luck

[Colorado]

I have foxes. They kill my cats. Yes, I have seen them go for cats. Cat came in this morning hurt. Cats will fight them. Seen it and so has the neighbors. They dump my pans of plants, they take out ditches I have made in garden before I get watered. They play and pull up stakes and run off with things. Dig holes you could step in a break a leg or flip the tiller in the garden. I yelled at one to get and it sat just out of the fence and yapped and barked at me. I found chicken feathers, bones and wings in the garden. Other stuff. Don't know where they were getting chickens but denned on my place. I use live trap and haul off. Raccoon trap and they have to crawl in but I have gotten them. Big trap be better and faster. You know what a trap cost? I have not priced the big one but this one was $85. You let out the skunks and cats. I am with in a city. I am not out in the wilds. I can tell you that one is scaring me. I presume she and I would head for corner and she would head for the corner. The foxes are hungry and they will get in the trap. This last one I have not been able to get yet. So far I have a total of 7 hauled off. 20 miles each way makes couple gallons of gas at $3 a gallon or better. I do not like foxes.

[tamatik]

Hi Tracy..when I lived near Dauphin the mnr lent,loaned,gave us some power snares to catch? the coyotes that were taking my ducks.The fella came out and instructed me how/where, to use them and I had to sign a paper of sorts,but he told me they dont expect the snares back.they even lent me a live trap..they DO want that back.

[Tracy Rimmer]

Originally Posted by tamatik

Hi Tracy..when I lived near Dauphin the mnr lent,loaned,gave us some power snares to catch? the coyotes that were taking my ducks.The fella came out and instructed me how/where, to use them and I had to sign a paper of sorts,but he told me they dont expect the snares back.they even lent me a live trap..they DO want that back.

Thanks, Gord -- I'll look into that.

They're red fox -- not unattractive -- quite pretty actually -- but "pretty" doesn't mean I'm going to feed them for free. If they want to clean up the mice and other rodents (we have more ground squirrels than we know what to do with) I'm happy to live next to them, but if they start on things that are destined for MY table, we're going to have a problem

[Shinsan]

Lost 10 chickens to a fox in one early morning raid. 4 had been taken clean away, but the other 6 had been decapitated and left where they had been killed. Was going to burn the bodies the next day as I had a stack of old timber to get rid of, but next morning went out to find that the fox had returned to take the rest of his kill.
I plan to decorate my car's antenna with a fox tail soon.

[steff bugielski]

My fox problem is that it comes during the day. My birds are all locked up at night. The fox will find a way into the chicken yard and carry one off a day. Must say I am tired of feeding the chickens so the fox can have a good meal. We have the shotgun ready but have not seen it in a while. It was calling for a mate, I guess, a few weeks ago. I even called back and it came right to the fence line but took off beforeDh could get a shot off.

[CGUARDSMAN]

you need one of these. He's a smooth coat fox terrier and is h_ _ _ on ground burrowing animals!

[Tracy Rimmer]

Darn, he's cute! I don't suppose you'd be willing to part with him, huh?

My Aus Shep has no interest -- whatsoever -- in the foxes. I looked out the kitchen window last night to see the little red terror SNIFFING THE DOGS TETHER -- when I shouted at it through the open window, it looked at me like "Yeah, so you've got a dog. Think that scares me?" And then walked off like it was king of the world. The dog spent the entire time this was going on ASLEEP at the back door -- ten feet from the fox.

I'm thinking stronger measures are required

[CGUARDSMAN]

when i take him on walks through our property he dives down every hole we pass. No he's a keeper plus my DW would kill me as he is her lap ornament

[Shinsan]

CGUARDSMAN,

Every man should have one!

(I noticed your circular saw in the background.)