Talk to me about foxes!

We recently discovered we have foxes. So far we've seen them in the early morning hours, usually around 630am well after daylight has started. Yesterday around 8pm (while it was very much still daylight) I saw one trot across my neighbor's lawn, cross the street and enter the woods between my neighbor's house and mine. I've also seen them walk across my back yard and down my driveway into the woods behind my house.

Should I be concerned??? We have a 15 mo old daughter and a 5lb Yorkie, neither of which are ever outside alone. We do let our Yorkie run around our yard (which isn't yet fenced in) without a leash and now I'm getting nervous about this. Does anyone have experience with foxes? Are they dangerous/aggressive? Should I be worried about my dog and kids playing in the yard? Is it strange that we're seeing them when it's light out? It's always near dawn or dusk but it's bright out and I'm always shocked to see them.

Re: Talk to me about foxes!

I saw one cross in front of my car on my block during the afternoon. It was a red tailed fox. I was shocked!

I did read up...doesnt mean anything is wrong if you see them during the day. I read they could be looking for food.

Anyway, I would not personally leave my dogs out alone or child out alone, but I wouldn't for various reasons so I am no help I guess.

Another concern I always had is we have hawks by us alot, and if I had a teeny tiny dog I would be worried about a hawk swooping them up.

We always check the yard before letting our dogs run out, always. Oh and we fenced our yard so we could see if anything was running at us or away from us...and so that animals can't quickly appear out of nowhere while we are outside.

And we always stay with the dogs but my dogs would eat dirt and grass so there are many reasons I wont leave them alone.

Message edited 6/29/2012 9:21:19 AM.

Re: Talk to me about foxes!

They can be aggressive both to children and animals. I would probably call wildlife control and have them look at the situation

Re: Talk to me about foxes!

I have fox family in my neighborhood. Mommy. Daddy and 4 pups.

All my neighbors say they are fine. You don't bother them, they wont bother you.

HOWEVER. I would not leave the dog outside alone unless you have a fenced in yard. We let the dog out in our fenced in backyard but just keep an eye on him at night. He is 22lbs. The neighbors have also said that if I'm walking the dog and we come across the fox better to turn around. The fox's are fine, but they can get a bit territorial.

So I'm just cautious. But the fox out during the day is normal.

Talk to me about foxes!

We have foxes, too. We were freaked out at first! They don't bother us, though. I would be most concerned about your dog and just be a little extra cautious. FYI, my SIL has foxes and said they have even dug under her fence to cross through her yard. So, a fence is helpful, but it's not necessarily going to stop them.

Talk to me about foxes!

Ah, the uban fox. We hve tons of foxes here where I live in the UK, to be honest, they are probably more scared of your dog than your dog is of them. They are more interested in eating your garbage than fighting over live prey, they are harmless really. I wouldn't worry too much about them. They have very noisy sex! lol

Re: Talk to me about foxes!

we have them too, we see them all hours of the day now. I saw maybe one ten or more years ago and last couple of years mannnnny. Rumor has it Fire Island was crawling with them and they were trapped and let go on the other side. I dk if its true or not, doesn't matter to me, lol. I have dogs n chickens and back in the day a pot belly pig. The pig was the smartest out of all the animals with how close to the door it should stay.
They will just sit and watch my husband shovel the snow and all.
Live and let live.

Re: Talk to me about foxes!

When I was growing up in Michigan we had a couple of chickens and one day we came out and just had feathers A fox had dug under the fencing and got them both.

Re: Talk to me about foxes!

We have foxes as well as coyotes in our yard. We live behind acres of wetlands and woods. Our neighbors have dogs (we don't-only cats) and they have told us they will never leave their dogs outside alone, so i agree with PP advice-don't leave your dog out unsupervised if you don't have a fenced in yard..