Red Fox - Should I be Concerned?

[TresCrows]

I am sure somone will come up with "Red Fox Eats a Cow or Kills a Human" story but the facts are that a fox is a very small animal. It may have been curious. I really doubt it intended any harm to the child.
Why does every one always want to kill every thing. No zoo is going to take the animal and relocating it without it's mate and pups is cruel and likely impossible.
I would leave the animal alone, tell your wife and daughter to stay away from that area during the time it is birthing or caring for very young offspring. I doubt that once the pups get a few weeks on them you will see the fox again until next Spring.
The fox will keep rodents under control and in general is a plus for your place unless you have chickens. If you suspect it has rabies then everyhting changes. I doubt it has rabies but if you suspect it does then I guess you will have to kill it.
When I was growing up, there were several fox dens around in the woods, none of them ever attacked me or my siblings, neither has the coyote or the fox that have dens back behind my fence line here. It is a red fox and a nice plump coyote. I leave them alone and they don't bother me. J

 

[Gatorboy]

I've got about 8 Red Fox that live on my property. They usually run when they see me. I've got a momma who has 4 little ones, and she will just sit and watch me because she has no intention of leaving her young ones behind.

I just do my thing, and make no attempt to go towards them in any way.

I love having them around /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[bmac]

TresCrows,

I couldn't resist the temptation to satisfy your prediction.

<font color="blue"> I am sure somone will come up with "Red Fox Eats a Cow or Kills a Human" story </font>

Just last week there was a local news story about a teenage girl bitten by a rabid fox in the suburbs of north Atlanta. They did mention that rabies in foxes is kind of rare.

Sorry, no dead cows and I'm sure the girl will live. But, I think this will qualify as a response that proves your point.

 

[JTC]

Thanks to everyone for their input.

I wouldn't think anything of it myself, but anytime I've ever seen a fox, it's always been in a hurry to put some distance between me and it. The fact that this one was coming out of the woods and toward my daughter who was in the open is what concerned me most.

Avoiding the area is the best solution I guess. It will be a little tough for her since her tree swing is about 25' from the den.

The feed with the rabbis vaccine is a good idea. I hadn't heard of that before. Haven't heard of a state program that does this but I'd buy it myself if I can.

The animal control people here only deal with domesticated creatures. We called a couple years ago about a sick looking coyote and they just said, yep - that's wildlife.

Jim

 

[riptides]

Well, I'd be very cautious. Watch the kids and your animals.
Give it a few months and it might move on.

We had a kit that popped out along the roadside every now and then. Absolutely beautiful. Put a smile on my face when I saw it.... I am saddened to say it got killed by a car. The road in that area is a very sharp turn, someone should have been more careful. Too bad.

Good luck,
-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Chances are your kids scooter was squeaking if she was riding it. That will get the attention of a fox. They are easy to call in all you have to do is make a squeaking noise and they will run right at you and never realize you are there because they are looking for a mouse or other small animal. Once they do realize you are there they will run. I would leave the fox be. After the pups grow up and move out they will leave for a while. I have called foxes within 6 feet of myself before I waved my arms to get their attention (their eyes will just about pop out of their head when they finally see you).

 

[TresCrows]

I belong to the NRA /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif.

Bmac, rabid animals will attack, I meant non-rabid animals. I know rabies can be a concern but I doubt the animal has rabies. Animals are creatures of habit, I imagine that her/his path crossed that of the child and it was confused by the child.
There are known attacks of foxes on humans that were probably not rabid. There was one widely reported that a lady working in her garden was attacked by two foxes. A neighbor came to her aid and he was attacked. The foxes pursued the man and woman into her house and continued the attack inside the house. They escaped from an open door and fled into the woods.The victoms were treated I think for rabies but there was never any indication that they had been exposed. I kinda figure that sometimes nature tires of us humans and the foxes decided they wanted to go down in a fight with their boots on, or maybe they were actually rabid, or it was a freak of nature or whatever. I still hold the opinion the fox is no danger to the original poster and is of little concern--I would tell--not ask--my wife and children to live the animal alone and let him/her rear it's offspring in peace but in the end only the poster can know the total situation and decide what is the best course. J

 

[BillG_in_TX]

Well, after reading TresCrows wild story about "When Foxes Attack!", I had to google and see if I could find any corroboration. (I could not.) However, I did find this very interesting and well-written article about a rabid fox attack in Spencertown. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[SPIKER]

wow: nice post, you are lucky to have the fox there, when I aws a teenager there was a nice den down abotu 1/2 mile, it was a challange to get close enough ti watch them play, mother & 3 kits/pups. and like someone said makeing a squeeking/squeeling noise really attrackts them. myself was unable to get them to come close, but my brother could get them within a few yards and againe, when that wounded rabbit noise is made they come running for lucnh and looking for a rabbit, a person isn't noticed as anything more than a tree standign there untill you move.

as for rabies, not often heard of, but with the resurection of a lot of game / rodents the rabies thing is again making a come back similar to lime desise. skunks, bats rats, blue jays and the like are usually ones to get it, but the fox is above those in the food chain there for a weak infested food can infect the fox.
I have deer that I can walk right up next to on my property. a buck and doe, the buck will run once I'm with in 15 feet or so, the doe just wiggles her ears at me. though I don't TRY to get very close unless I have some form of gun with me. sunday I supprized HER and MYSELF. almost stepped on her. ya I know how do you step on a deer, well she was laying under some bushes beside a log avoiding the midday heat. I saw the buck jump & run, and snuck up to try and get a better look she was still sleeping fat with fawn and grass. (or my peas from the garden! gggrrrr something ate 1/2 a row) she didn't know quite what to do other than blink profusely and quiver her ears I think I scared her pertty good. I stepped down and away talking to her she didn't even bother to snort at me that day. but then I didn't have the gun either!

as for the fox I'm sure one drop kick would send it running if it did get too close they only weigh a few lbs anyhow...

Mark M /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[TresCrows]

Billy G, I cannot find it now either. It was reported on a talk show and then I found it in that towns newspaper. I thought I marked the page and saved it but I did not---I have gotten a new computer since then and I guess it was stored in the old one. In any case, to the best of my memory, what I said is correct according to the reported events. Both victoms had numerous bites. Concerned health folks supposedly titered their blood for rabies virus and none was found. This makes me think the Foxes were not rabid. In any case, the world is full of strange things but I got more to worry about than being attacked by animal that is not much mre than a 20 lb squirrl. Ever see Christams vacation--------------"Squiiiiiiirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreelllllllllllllllllll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif.

The next thread can be "I saw a squirrel in my tree--should I be concerned?" /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif J