Foxes are getting much braver!

[cazza]

I know people are probably going to berate me for this post. But I have noticed that since the hunt ban we have far more braver foxes on the farm. Only last weekend we had 2 beautiful foxes (and yes they were stunning animals) chasing my foals round the field, nipping at their heels, with the mares in hot persuit. I have never seen this behaviour before, it was almost like they were hunting as a wild pack of dogs would do. So I will have to leave it to the gamekeeper to come down and shoot them. It seems as shame but we can't have this happening on a stud. And next problem is we can't have the gamekeeping shooting in the field with the horses. So stuck in a catch 22. I know that with traditional hunting it would probably not be these foxes that would be caught as they are exceptionally fine and well animals, but then they would probably not be chasing the horses if the infirm or ill foxes were culled. Sorry those who are anti's but I am a pro, and you can slate me all you will, but having seen a fox die of mange over a week resulting in a long and painful death to be honest I would rather not wish that on any of natures creatures.

 

[severnmiles]

Seeing as you need them gotten rid of but cannot allow shooting because of the horses...well that leaves snaring...what do you think antis?

 

[Fairynuff]

I dont understand what the culling of old or sick foxes has to do with healthy young foxes chasing foals?? Have I missed something? I doubt very much if any fox would take a foal at this time of year seeing as they will be on their way to becoming yearlings-or do you have winter foaling? To be honest, I cant see any fox taking a foal. Why not just leave them alone and enjoy seeing them around. Mairi.

 

[Clodagh]

I'm amazed at them chasing a foal - would love to see photos!

 

[Jemayni]

Well I had an interesting expreience with a brave fox the other week. I was out bloodhounding, and I was up at the front; out on my own a little, I looked to the far edge of the field and there was a fox - just sitting there watching us. Obv it remained sitting their as blood hounds didn't even notice! But it was still very funny. Also I found it rather ironic that some *cough* person came driving past 2mins later, beeping horn on his car scaring the life out of all the horses, and shouting what sort of effin ban do you call this?

 

[eohippus]

'but then they would probably not be chasing the horses if the infirm or ill foxes were culled' ??????? what?????

A fox wandered into our paddock the other day, right into the mouths of my two dogs. took me 20 mins to part them and keep the dogs away long enough for the fox to run off. Was a bit wet and ruffled but none the worst for it. Nice looking animal as well.

regards
Dawn

 

[Mid]

We have city foxes, which, like the pigeons, are mange ridden and diseased.

 

[Jerome]

I think it's quite justified to shoot foxes for chasing horses. Pesky Charlie could quite easily kill one of them!!!!!

 

[Fairynuff]

LMAO! Never heard such utter tosh in my life. I would shoot stray dogs instead-they do the damage, not a bloody fox or two. Mairi.

 

[Vicki1986]

I cant see any fox taking a foal. Why not just leave them alone and enjoy seeing them around. Mairi.

anything chasing a horse or foal is dangerous. im sure the foal, sepearated from its mother and panicking, wouldnt know the fox may not technically kill it.

what happened in the end did the fox get bored and run off or did the mares frighten it away?

 

[cazza]

Mothers actually chased the foxes out of the field, but with the really wet weather and very slippery ground, foals were not overly balanced on their legs and mainly worried about them doing themselves an injury.

Mari, I was not implying that the foxes were about to eat the foals, only that their chasing them were causing them to run in blind panic, which I presume you would be aware can cause horses to run straight through fencing.

 

[cazza]

Mothers actually chased the foxes out of the field, but with the really wet weather and very slippery ground, foals were not overly balanced on their legs and mainly worried about them doing themselves an injury.

Mairi, I was not implying that the foxes were about to eat the foals, only that their chasing them were causing them to run in blind panic, which I presume you would be aware can cause horses to run straight through fencing. I would be a very irreponsible owner to stand by and watch two foxes chase a foal into hurting itself. So to be honest no I don't enjoy seeing them around and am currently arranging for the game keeper to get rid of them.

 

[cazza]

was implying that if the population of foxes in the area was kept lower they would then have more acreage per head to roam, so less likely to see 2 foxes together in the same field nearly every day.

 

[Vicki1986]

must admit i have never seen so many foxes as i have done this year. they wander round our yard and frighten the horses when schooling. they also get in the barns and sh1t all over the hay and straw. charming creatures!

 

[endymion]

You must have very spookish horses!

And dont horses [****] all over the place as well??

 

[Vicki1986]

have you ever smelt fox poo ?! its rank!

and i would say there arent many foals in the world that wouldnt be terrified being chased by a fox !!

 

[wombat]

ummmm horse poo.. they don't seem to s*** on things that we have to eat where as when the foxes s*** on our hay.. our horses have to eat that stuff!
and you must remeber horses are prey animals or did you forget that?? so yeah if the foxes are in the school at night.. and if the horses catch sight of them ..yes it will spook them..

 

[endymion]

Not any worse than dog or cat [****]. Don't you have dogs or cats on the yard?

I think the incident described is very rare. I've never seen a grown horse bothered by foxes and most of the foals at ours have no fear of the mental dogs we have running around so it's difficult to imagine them scared by a fox.

 

[Vicki1986]

Do you let you the mental dogs chase your foals then ?! as no i doubt they would be scared unless they were chasing and "nipping at their heels"

And maybe its just southern foxes then but yes we have dogs and cats on the yard and i can tell the difference very easily !! And no the dogs and cats dont poo on the hay that my horse has to eat!

 

[Jerome]

This hatred of foxes would be funny if it wasn't so pathetic.

 

[Vicki1986]

I wouldnt say i "hate" foxes. just find some of their habits annoying. as im sure they do vice versa!

 

[endymion]

What exactly does removing fox [****] from hay entail? Getting rid of a handful of hay, hardly decimating the stocks is it? It's the bloody countryside, there are lots of animals and they tend to [****] a lot in case you never noticed. lol!

J's right, your hatred of foxes is pathetic and irrational. I mean of all the naff excuses I've heard for their persecution (and believe me I have heard lots) this has got to be the worst.

I doubt very much whether there is a strain of horse-hunting foxes down south, more than likely it was a one off, a strange occurance as happens in nature from time to time.

Also how exactly do u plan to track down and kill the exact same foxes?

 

[Vicki1986]

Read my replies properly. Not once have i said i HATE foxes. quite the contrary. i find them pooing on my hay irratating (sp) have i said it makes me want to kill them ??

I presume your aggressive defence is because you presume i am Pro hunting and go around killing foxes every weekend. If so, you are also wrong !

 

[Eagle_day]

What exactly does removing fox [****] from hay entail? Getting rid of a handful of hay, hardly decimating the stocks is it?

It taints the whole bale and horses won't touch it, Countryboy.

 

[wombat]

and i woundn't like to give my horse some hay that has had fox poo on it.. not after wombat got ill after eatting hay that did have poo on it which got cleared away... learnt from that mistake! and dont say she wasn't ill coz she was.. and would you really wanna feed your horse hay that has poo on it?

 

[Fairynuff]

Wow, first time I find myself agreeing with you! M.

 

[cazza]

Dear Endymion, don't have any cat's on the yard and do have dog's but they are kept well away from the young horses. Also don't really approve of having dogs running loose on the yard. Yes I agree it is very strange that the foxes have taken to chasing the foals, but then when doesn't nature throw up a new one on us. And yes usually horses wouldn't be afraid of foxes but try telling my 3 month old foals that. I think I am rather lucky in the fact that I am not on a livery yard and we are a private yard and therefore do not have to deal with external people. I appreciate people's comments, we don't all have the same ideal's and that is what makes people individuals and unique. Wouldn't we be a boaring bunch if we all thought and acted the same all the time.

 

[Boudicea]

Yes they are definetely getting braver and who can blame them?

One came up to me the other night (bit of a shady character really) and told me about this new group that is being formed called "Foxes for Justice". Apparently the Countryside Alliance buildings are the first to be scaled in protest.

 

[wombat]

lol gd one boudicea

 

[endymion]

I assumed you were in support of the poster who is calling in the gamekeeper. which I think is a rather strong over-reaction to what is probably a freak occurance.

I didnt assume you were pro-hunt, but please accept my apologies anyway.

See everyone, I can admit it when I'm wrong, hehe :grin: