Discussion
If you think foxes are disease ridden, vicious baby-slaying scum then this probably isn't the thread for you.
Anyway, We've got a fairly wildlife friendly garden on the edge of Bristol and have had regular visiting foxes since we moved in (about 18 months ago). But this year we've had cubs born nearby and one of them is surprisingly bold, possibly habituated to people by someone else from a really young age. Anyway I've taken the opportunity to make a friend (mostly feeding leftovers our cats haven't eaten) and it's fascinating being so close to it.
'bonding' with the cats..
I'm not hand-feeding as I don't want it to be too over familiar with people but I have been gaining it's interest/trust over the last week or so. It's interesting seeing our male cat chase him off when he thinks he's getting too much attention and the fox is still very wary of sudden movements and odd noises etc.
Anyone else feed and watch their garden mammals (we've got badgers too)?
Anyway, We've got a fairly wildlife friendly garden on the edge of Bristol and have had regular visiting foxes since we moved in (about 18 months ago). But this year we've had cubs born nearby and one of them is surprisingly bold, possibly habituated to people by someone else from a really young age. Anyway I've taken the opportunity to make a friend (mostly feeding leftovers our cats haven't eaten) and it's fascinating being so close to it.
'bonding' with the cats..
I'm not hand-feeding as I don't want it to be too over familiar with people but I have been gaining it's interest/trust over the last week or so. It's interesting seeing our male cat chase him off when he thinks he's getting too much attention and the fox is still very wary of sudden movements and odd noises etc.
Anyone else feed and watch their garden mammals (we've got badgers too)?
For god sake man, surely you know better ?
The last thing you want is a fox complacent of people, by all means watch it and take some photo's, but don't feed it.
As beautiful as they are don't compare these predators to your pet dog, they are natural killers and very accomplished fighters, they wont f
k around if accidently cornered.
Hopefully nothing will happen, but when this fox boldly goes up to your / neighbours kids looking for food and sinks its teeth into them you may have some explaining to do.
The last thing you want is a fox complacent of people, by all means watch it and take some photo's, but don't feed it.
As beautiful as they are don't compare these predators to your pet dog, they are natural killers and very accomplished fighters, they wont f
k around if accidently cornered.Hopefully nothing will happen, but when this fox boldly goes up to your / neighbours kids looking for food and sinks its teeth into them you may have some explaining to do.
A few years ago nearly every day at the same time a fox would turn up in my gran's back garden (daytime). Shortly after it used to arrive a black cat would also appear and they would play about a bit then fall asleep next to each other in the grass for about an hour before going on their separate ways. It was the strangest thing.
Don't listen to him, spoil sport!
I always wondered if we could gain the trust of foxes after throwing a sausage out for one and then having to find more sausages to feed the other 459(ish) that came out the local bushes within 5 minutes. One of the strangest things that night seeing all those wee beady glowing eyes staring up three floors waiting for food.
We moved away from there shortly after and rarely see them now.
I always wondered if we could gain the trust of foxes after throwing a sausage out for one and then having to find more sausages to feed the other 459(ish) that came out the local bushes within 5 minutes. One of the strangest things that night seeing all those wee beady glowing eyes staring up three floors waiting for food.
We moved away from there shortly after and rarely see them now.
martinnitram said:
For god sake man, surely you know better ?
The last thing you want is a fox complacent of people, by all means watch it and take some photo's, but don't feed it.
As beautiful as they are don't compare these predators to your pet dog, they are natural killers and very accomplished fighters, they wont fk around if accidently cornered.
Hopefully nothing will happen, but when this fox boldly goes up to your / neighbours kids looking for food and sinks its teeth into them you may have some explaining to do.
Hahaha. Amazing post, great trolling.. I almost believed you were real for a second! The last thing you want is a fox complacent of people, by all means watch it and take some photo's, but don't feed it.
As beautiful as they are don't compare these predators to your pet dog, they are natural killers and very accomplished fighters, they wont f
k around if accidently cornered.Hopefully nothing will happen, but when this fox boldly goes up to your / neighbours kids looking for food and sinks its teeth into them you may have some explaining to do.
Japveesix said:
If you think foxes are disease ridden, vicious baby-slaying scum then this probably isn't the thread for you.
Anyway, We've got a fairly wildlife friendly garden on the edge of Bristol and have had regular visiting foxes since we moved in (about 18 months ago). But this year we've had cubs born nearby and one of them is surprisingly bold, possibly habituated to people by someone else from a really young age. Anyway I've taken the opportunity to make a friend (mostly feeding leftovers our cats haven't eaten) and it's fascinating being so close to it.
'bonding' with the cats..
I'm not hand-feeding as I don't want it to be too over familiar with people but I have been gaining it's interest/trust over the last week or so. It's interesting seeing our male cat chase him off when he thinks he's getting too much attention and the fox is still very wary of sudden movements and odd noises etc.
Anyone else feed and watch their garden mammals (we've got badgers too)?
Whereabouts are you mate? We're near Longwell Green and see foxes routinely meandering up the middle of the road without a care in the world! Anyway, We've got a fairly wildlife friendly garden on the edge of Bristol and have had regular visiting foxes since we moved in (about 18 months ago). But this year we've had cubs born nearby and one of them is surprisingly bold, possibly habituated to people by someone else from a really young age. Anyway I've taken the opportunity to make a friend (mostly feeding leftovers our cats haven't eaten) and it's fascinating being so close to it.
'bonding' with the cats..
I'm not hand-feeding as I don't want it to be too over familiar with people but I have been gaining it's interest/trust over the last week or so. It's interesting seeing our male cat chase him off when he thinks he's getting too much attention and the fox is still very wary of sudden movements and odd noises etc.
Anyone else feed and watch their garden mammals (we've got badgers too)?
I wouldn't claim to be an expert on foxes, but as an old country boy I'm not overly impressed with the condition of that one. From the photos it looks very thin, almost emaciated, with a dull, matted coat, and I suspect the reason it is so "friendly" could be that it is slowly starving to death, possibly due to an underlying injury or health condition that is preventing it finding enough food, and getting desperate. Any fox experts out there to give a more informed opinion?
He (might be a she actually) is very young still and so like any other baby or puppy etc is in the stretched/lanky but not filled-out stage yet.
He also has a flat/short coat because it's the middle of summer and he has no need for a thicker winter coat yet.
As far as I can tell he's pretty healthy at the moment and simply finding his feet in the world.
He also has a flat/short coat because it's the middle of summer and he has no need for a thicker winter coat yet.
As far as I can tell he's pretty healthy at the moment and simply finding his feet in the world.
Japveesix said:
He (might be a she actually) is very young still and so like any other baby or puppy etc is in the stretched/lanky but not filled-out stage yet.
He also has a flat/short coat because it's the middle of summer and he has no need for a thicker winter coat yet.
As far as I can tell he's pretty healthy at the moment and simply finding his feet in the world.
He does look a bit thinner than the cubs where I live but I have always thought city/town foxes don't look as good (healthy?) as country ones. He also has a flat/short coat because it's the middle of summer and he has no need for a thicker winter coat yet.
As far as I can tell he's pretty healthy at the moment and simply finding his feet in the world.
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