Fox mortality is quite high in the UK. Only about 40% make it to adulthood and most don't make it much beyond that. 80 000 are shot per year. Around 100 000 hit by cars. Other common causes of adult death are - poisoning, hypothermia, entanglement, attack by domestic dogs, and attack by badgers. Mange mites and infections via them also kill large numbers . Numbers in the countryside seem to be well down on the historical average. Numbers in cities are up.
Our neighbourhood and the UK seem pretty split. Foxes were voted most loved British animal. And most hated.
Foxes nip because it’s how they explore and investigate things. They don’t have hands to poke and prod … they nip like a wild dog does … to see what happens.
So you think it’s a good thing to have wild dogs in suburban gardens “nipping” adult humans?
I really don’t get the reason anyone posting in this thread is against discouraging it.
Foxes nip because it’s how they explore and investigate things. They don’t have hands to poke and prod … they nip like a wild dog does … to see what happens.
So you think it’s a good thing to have wild dogs in suburban gardens “nipping” adult humans?
I really don’t get the reason anyone posting in this thread is against discouraging it.
No I definitely don’t … I think anyone feeding foxes in their garden is very misguided.
Foxes bite … I explained why.
If you read my posts you’ll see I suggested some methods of discouraging foxes from urban gardens and making them more wary of humans.
Remember this?
“…Pump action water guns would be a start … but in that situation I’d get one of these …
Foxes nip because it’s how they explore and investigate things. They don’t have hands to poke and prod … they nip like a wild dog does … to see what happens.
So you think it’s a good thing to have wild dogs in suburban gardens “nipping” adult humans?
I don't get the impression Dave was making a judgement on it - just answering my question as to why a fox might nip you in a hammock.
I certainly think, as B said, it's better for foxes to be wary and wild - better for them and for us. It's probably best for all wild animals (like hogs) to stay clear of humans and roads. Crossing paths is rarely a good idea. Some people somewhere get the wind up and start talking about guns and poisons. Traffic deaths go through the roof. wild stories start to circulate.
Having said that I would quite like mange to be banished in the wild populations. It's a horrible disease, very easy transmission.
Mange is much more common in urban foxes … as someone who has spent most of her life in the country and seen many foxes I’ve never seen one with mange except in London and other urban areas.
Urban foxes tend to be overcrowded, territories overlap and foxes come into contact with each other far more than is normal for rural foxes … this results in fights over food and territory and that’s how mange spreads amongst a population.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Farmers understand that as stock density increases so does the incidence of infestation and disease.
The solution is either to decrease density of stocking or use insecticides and antibiotics.
Do we really think treating a wild population with chemicals in order that the sentimental and misguided can continue to treat wild animals as pets is really the way to go?
Haven’t we done enough damage already?
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Posts
humans?
I really don’t get the reason anyone posting in this thread is against discouraging it.
I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful
“…Pump action water guns would be a start … but in that situation I’d get one of these …
https://patterdaleterriers.co.uk/patterdale-terrier/ …”
That was me that was!
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
or use insecticides and antibiotics.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.