Anyone Heard Foxes Screaming Around Their Home?

[devora]

We had a young fox trapped and dispatched last month. Now I'm hearing what I'm almost sure is another one screaming in the distance. It's very loud, sounds like a cross between a bark and a meow.

Claiming territory? Ugh. more trapping.

 

[thebanthams]

possible, maybe mating time? or pups around?

 

[janinepeters]

Foxes are very vocal, and not only during the mating season. Google video of fox barking, and you'll find some nice footage. If you killed a juvenile, you might be hearing its parent calling for it. If the one you killed was old enough to breed, you might be hearing its young calling for it.

 

[my peeps and me]

Last week I was sittng on the side steps drinkng my coffee at about 9;30am. My hens started squaking and flying to the end of their run banging into the fencing. I got up so I could see wh they were all scurring down the end of the run. What I saw was a fox by their coops. I tossed a rock towards him and he ran out the other side of my yard over a 4 foot fence. I might mention my coops are only about 50 feet away from where I was sitting. I now only let my girls out to free range when I am out side . I knew there were foxes in the area as we are so close tothe forest, I just never thought they would be in the neighborhood at 9:30 in the morning. I went to the site mentioned above and now realize the "strange sounds" I have heard are really foxes.

 

[JackE]

A fox is a 24 hr a day threat. Both of my fox attacks happened in the afternoon. My coop is like FortKnox, so the birds have nothing to fear at night. I could not let the birds freerange unless I was out there with them. I ended up buying and installing a 100X100' electrified poultry net run/enclosure. No problems after that.
Jack

 

[gpwelding1]

umm,that sounds more like a young bobcat to me

 

[7L Farm]

Bobcats usually scream during mating season its one way for them to locate each other.

 

[devora]

Thanks everyone for info. It did sound kinda cat-like. And it did sound hormonally induced! The noise has ceased since last week so maybe there's a bobcat out there mating somewhere.

Fox or bobcat, I'm continuing to free range but keeping them close by restricting the hours (as in less of them!).

 

[ChickyBangBang]

oh my gosh. Banshee Bobcats, Ferocious Foxes, Occult Opossums, Cujo Coyotes?

...I keep complaining that we live in the city (big back yard for chickens though). I am upset that we can't move to the country where I could have TONS of chickens. After reading all the threads here about predators (including this one) I have to say maybe I'm not so upset about it after all!

I hope whatever it is doesn't attack your chickens OR you for that matter. Maybe you will be blessed and someone will smack it with a tire.