I have a MAJOR fox problem hunting DURING THE DAY.

[Smallfarminwisc]

I have lost six roosters and a hen in 2 days. The chickens are free ranged but currently Locked up tight due to the attacks.
The fox was in my driveway at noon. I had my dogs out with me one a lap dog which I immediately picked up. the other a shepard mix. the fox was neither scared of me or my dogs. It was only about 20 feet away from me and the dogs. It just stood there and looked at me. when I walked towards it it just slowly turned and walked away then laid down behind a clump of weeds where I could see it looking at me about 30 - 40 ft away. (the dog had not caught it scent apparently and was busy rolling in chicken poop ( definitely not your normal shepard)

I ran and got my dad BB gun out of the closet so he could shoot at it. The hunting gun is on loan to an uncle.

The fox merely got up and walked 10 feet further away after being shot at then just turned to look at us. Repeat~ shoot at it it moves 10 feet back and waits till it gets shot at again. My dad shot at and chased it in a four wheeler till he lost it in a corn field. ( he is unsure if he hit it or not) It truly didnt sprint away just kind of did a slow jog with lots of stops to turn and look at us.

I came inside to quick text my neighbors about the fox cause they have chickens as well. My dad was outside teh barn talking to a friend about it. I went back outside and went in the barn and the fox was back IN THE barn, It took less then 10 min for it to get back.

It attacked and killed 3 roosters yesterday middle of the day while we were out in the hay field. We came back to find the bodies. It is not taking the kill with it and it is killing 2 -3 chickens at a time. It only eats part of 1 and leaves the rest to rot.

If I hadnt seen teh fox I would not have believed it was a fox.

It looks like a young fox. It is thin missing part of its tail and looks to maybe have mange on its legs.

What do I do with such a bold fox. Is it legal to kill them in wisconsin?

Last we saw it it was walking up the side of the road towards the other farms. It wasnt even scared as the cars past it it just moved 2 feet off the road then went back on it.

I think my chicken run is secure but its determined and not afraid of us if it worked at it I am sure it could find a way in.

Help?

 

[redsoxs]

Sounds maybe more like a fox family than a single critter. I think the one you shot/chased wouldn't come back. So it could be a single fox that is sick - thus losing it's fear. I'd stake out with a .22 or high powered pellet rifle or I'd live trap him with a can of stinky cat food. Hope you get him...or them!

 

[Smallfarminwisc]

Me too I am very proud of my poor roosters though, they did protect the flock the best they could.

It's just the one fox that I have seen. it is pretty distinctive with half a mangy tail. I could not believe it turned around and came back so soon after being shot at and chased in a 4wheeler. It worries me that it is still circling the farm even with us outside with the dogs making noise and blaring the radio. Especially since it gets so close to us.


I hadn't thought fox at first cause the first 2 I found were un eaten, looked like they just tipped over and died Only found a couple of small puncture wounds when I was looking through the feathers to see why they died. I assume it broke their necks. The third one was partially eaten and it hadn't taken any of them with it just left them laying where it killed them, in the middle of the yard in broad day light.

Thank you for your advice. I just want to make sure its legal to dispatch it before we do it.

RIght now we are just going to spend as much time outside as possible to scare it off. I worry about my ducks though as their pen is not nearly as secure as the chickens. I am going to have to fix that.

 

[bobbi-j]

That doesn't sound typical fox behavior. I'd be worrying about rabies if I saw one acting like that. Animals with rabies can become bolder, unafraid of humans. Killing and not taking the food with is also unusual for fox, in my experience. I don't know how far into WI you are, but there was a rabid fox in the Twin Cities in MN this summer that attacked two people. Are your dogs up on their shots? I'd either get the "hunting gun" back from the uncle, or find someone with a little more fire power than a BB gun and get rid of that fox.

ETA - If you live trap it, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE don't "relocate" it. Kill the thing. Don't take a chance on spreading rabies or mange in a new location.

 

[Trish1974]

That doesn't sound typical fox behavior. I'd be worrying about rabies if I saw one acting like that. Animals with rabies can become bolder, unafraid of humans. Killing and not taking the food with is also unusual for fox, in my experience. I don't know how far into WI you are, but there was a rabid fox in the Twin Cities in MN this summer that attacked two people. Are your dogs up on their shots? I'd either get the "hunting gun" back from the uncle, or find someone with a little more fire power than a BB gun and get rid of that fox.

ETA - If you live trap it, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE don't "relocate" it. Kill the thing. Don't take a chance on spreading rabies or mange in a new location.

Agreed! There is something wrong with that fox; rabies, distemper, SOMETHING! It definitely needs to be disposed of.

 

[Smallfarminwisc]

It is not typical fox behavior as far as I am aware either. It is really strange that it is killing them and not taking them or eating them, I was unaware that that was a sign of rabies though. I learned something. I posted in the Wisconsin group to see if they knew if I need a permit or license to kill it. I received a reply from one of my neighbors and they had seen the fox a few days ago in their yard. Her exact words were that it was quite tame and right in her yard right outside her house. :/

I have everyone locked up tight and hopefully secure tonight. Ducks are in the barn in a stall that is completely enclosed. We stayed out after night chores and waited around and it has not shown up that I have seen. We left all the outdoor lights on as well but I dont think that will deter it. Its not acting like a fox so I am at a loss predicting what it will do next. Thank you guys all for responding.

Don't worry we have no plans of relocating it.

 

[Chonke]

Agreed! There is something wrong with that fox; rabies, distemper, SOMETHING! It definitely needs to be disposed of.

I would also bet its distemper. So play it safe and dont let your dogs close to it. Also, if you see any fox being playful with your dogs, dont let that fool you. Foxes are intelligent and tricky creatures.

 

[Smallfarminwisc]

Quote:
The dogs are all up to date on their shots and are not allowed outside alone at the moment. As soon as I got my dads attention to point out the fox I took the dogs inside. But you are right that is good to post, I know so many people think about how cute foxes are and not about their dangers. I have warned the neighbors I could so hopefully word will spread and they will all be on the look out for it.

 

[cheep82]

Could there be a possibility it is tame? As in someone feeds it in the area? I've known of some tame foxes that had killed for fun (a bit like your normal domestic cat does) and there's one near a restaurant that people feed. It's illegal here to have foxes but noone really has any way of killing them other than calling the council as guns aren't a big thing here. My friend a block away lost all her hens in one day due to a fox. It just left them all there dead.

 

[Chonke]

Could there be a possibility it is tame? As in someone feeds it in the area? I've known of some tame foxes that had killed for fun (a bit like your normal domestic cat does) and there's one near a restaurant that people feed. It's illegal here to have foxes but noone really has any way of killing them other than calling the council as guns aren't a big thing here. My friend a block away lost all her hens in one day due to a fox. It just left them all there dead.

it could be, however, even if it was tame, i would think it would still show some sort of reaction when you try to scare it away. Wether it tries to fight back, run away, or play, it would do something. Distemper or rabies will make them not think straight including lack of reaction. It honestly could be anything, I would just personally play it safe unless im sure that its ok.