Sly little fox

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Kezzabell2

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This morning I was locking up the tackroom, having mad feeds! I have an alarmed padlock, which beeped, then as I turned around a fox came walking out of the stable next door, bold as brass, like it was totally normal!

Luckily we don't stable the horses unless the weather is really horrendous, so this stable is just used to store the hay and straw! but my goodness did I poop myself!! I froze not knowning what to do!

Do you think the fox sleeps in there every night? the mornings are getting darker now, and its was noticably darker this monring than it has been recently. Maybe I've missed her the rest of the time!
 
Kezzabell2 said:
Really??? I didn't know what the heck to do!! I just froze!! took me a few minutes to work out what it was, hehe

I guess its the wrong time of year for it to be leaving babies in there??
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If you don't want the fox in there, can you not just keep the stable door closed? But it's not something to be frightened of. It won't hurt you unless you cornered it and tried to grab it, which by your reaction, I don't think is going to happen!
 
The stables were sort of chucked up, in about 6 weeks, in the barn around 14 years ago, by someone not horsey, so when they did the doors they don't all touch the floor, this particular stable is on its own next to the tackroom (not sure why they built it like that! so as I wouldn't use it for the horses, I've always just kept the hay in there!

I was worried that the fox might leave something nasty in there!! Will make sure we don't use the bottom sections of hay thats for sure.
 
A friend of mine was once chased by a mad fox (rabies, mouth foaming) while she was riding her trainers' horse. It was a dead run until the YO unleashed her hounds who snapped its' neck. I'd be a bit weary if I saw a fox in the stables, although I do enjoy seeing critters around...
 
Sleipnir said:
A friend of mine was once chased by a mad fox (rabies, mouth foaming) while she was riding her trainers' horse. It was a dead run until the YO unleashed her hounds who snapped its' neck. I'd be a bit weary if I saw a fox in the stables, although I do enjoy seeing critters around...
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Is this true? sounds pretty horrific if it is!!!
 
It is, she showed me a photo bystanders managed to snap right before the hounds were let loose - the fox was right at the horses' heels, fortunately, didn't manage to bite him. I'm extremely cautious around foxes since then.
 
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Horses aren't in the least bit bothered by foxes, there's one at our yard that has a habit of sitting in the arena washing its balls when I go in to school. Takes no notice of us strolling past and my horse acts as though it's normal.
 
There is a family of foxes where I keep my boys, the place is rabbit heaven for them!

One of them comes into my feed/hay room and sleeps on the hay bales when its rainy. It doesn't bother me apart from occasionally startling me by getting up when I haven't noticed it! However I arrived yesterday to the the little b***** had poo'd on the floor of my feed room!! Now I don't mind it so much on the yard as it can just be hosed away, but it was vile! He will not be welcome anymore if that happens again!

I do sometimes worry that they would spread mange or something through the hay, but I guess they roam around the fields anyway so would spread it there too.
 
they do get very bold very quickly...........we used to have the earth(from when the arena was built) piled up in the field right next to the finished arena. Foxes moved in and they all (incl the babies) used to sit on top and watch you ride.................all very cute until the youngsters started going on to the yard whilst i was riding and helping themselves to sponges, over reach boots, towels, hoof picks etc-anything small and below head height they could jump and grab!

the earth pile got removed so no more foxes now, i do sort of miss them, funny little ******* :) I can live with them quite peacefully albeit am pro hunting/culling to prevent numbers exploding. But as long as they are healthy and not becoming what i would say is dangerously bold(entering houses, squaring up to people) i dont mind them....................but then i dont have poultry lol!
 
Better than the enormous rat with it's head detached lying on my hay yesterday, I expect one of the feral cats had it, which is good, just not pleasant to come across on your hay.
 
Pedantic said:
Better than the enormous rat with it's head detached lying on my hay yesterday, I expect one of the feral cats had it, which is good, just not pleasant to come across on your hay.
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I'd rather a dead rat than a rat that runs out from underneath the feed scoop you've just picked up - not a good way to wake yourself up at 6am. Feed scoops now religiously put into feed barrels!
 
ester said:
Err we don't have rabid foxes in the UK...
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No, but there is the potential for some rabies in our bat population - but incredibly minor, and only at risk if you work with them

Kezzabell2 said:
Is this true? sounds pretty horrific if it is!!!
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Sleipnir said:
Oh, sorry, I didn't see a marker "only UK inhabitant comments and tales allowed", so I thought I'd post. My bad. :D
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There is no such marker :) But reactions like the above mean that you need to add some context so that people in the UK who aren't sure don't worry unnescessarily about meeting rabid foxes when out and about!
 
I see - thank you for a kinder explanation and sorry if my story confused anyone. :)

Although foxes are being vaccinated against rabies in these areas, there is the rare case now and then, so I think caution around them is advisable even in areas where rabies are thought to be gone for good.
 
Thank's to stencilface for apparently putting it better, I just thought that might be why some were surprised it really did happen.
 
Ah, I'm jealous! Foxes are one of my favourite animals!

I came face to face with one a couple of years back, it gave us both such a fright!
I had just got out of my car, at almost midnight. Everything was dark, except a dim streetlight. I heard a sudden rustling of the bush across the road and I froze - it sounded big!!
Then, a little fox leapt out with all it's might and skidded to a halt just in front of me! It looked horrified and it made me jump out of my skin! I wish it had stuck around longer, but it was gone in a flash. :(

The horses at my yard aren't bothered at all, and I do think Ned is rather curious, as we have sat and studied one, who was sitting and studying us right back!
 
Prince33Sp4rkle said:
they do get very bold very quickly...........we used to have the earth(from when the arena was built) piled up in the field right next to the finished arena. Foxes moved in and they all (incl the babies) used to sit on top and watch you ride.................all very cute until the youngsters started going on to the yard whilst i was riding and helping themselves to sponges, over reach boots, towels, hoof picks etc-anything small and below head height they could jump and grab!

the earth pile got removed so no more foxes now, i do sort of miss them, funny little ******* :) I can live with them quite peacefully albeit am pro hunting/culling to prevent numbers exploding. But as long as they are healthy and not becoming what i would say is dangerously bold(entering houses, squaring up to people) i dont mind them....................but then i dont have poultry lol!
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What on earth, (pun intended, sorry) did those foxes do with all the stuff they pinched? perhaps they wanted to open their own tack shop :D

Oh no OP.... and you were doing so well before you brought out that old chestnut, "/culling to prevent numbers exploding". :D
 
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I walked into the hay barn in the summer to see a fox standing there. Really shocked me and I ran out, heart pounding, don't know why, it was hardly going to jump at my throat! Ring the yard owner as we have loose chickens roaming, he came back with his gun but it had disappeared. I'd shut the door tight and we never did find out how it had escaped. Wierd. Never saw it again. But, a few months later the chickens were slaughtered, headless and laying in the horses paddocks😔 not very nice.
 
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chillipup said:
What on earth, (pun intended, sorry) did those foxes do with all the stuff they pinched? perhaps they wanted to open their own tack shop :D

Oh no OP.... and you were doing so well before you brought out that old chestnut, "/culling to prevent numbers exploding". :D
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i dont wish to de-rail the thread at all, but its clear that in some areas there are a LOT of foxes fighting for very little food/resources and as a result having more and more close encounters with people. I do believe numbers need some sort of mild control but i dont think this is the place to start that debate :)

i liked the idea of them having a good brush and a towel down before bed at night and mummy fox chasing the babies round with a sponge to clean their faces lol!
 
No fox this morning, although the stable door was wide open, so I wonder if the fox opened it as she was coming back out before I got there! which might make sense because it was wide open the other morning too!!
 
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