Any fox experts here? - the 4-legged kind, that is.

[FlaGranny]

We have a fox in the neighborhood. It's quite a built-up area with little or no wooded areas. I think it must be living under an unoccupied mobile home (people back north for the summer). We walk our dog every night before bed and we first encountered the fox last Thursday night. It started "barking" (not really a bark, but I don't know what to call that sound) and it followed us a bit. A neighbor came out and told us her cat had an encounter with the fox a bit earlier. Her cat is one of those fearless types. She said her cat was nose to nose with the fox and batted it on the nose about a half dozen times and then the fox ran away.

The fox scared me a bit, because I've never seen one so brave. Other foxes I've seen have been running away, not stalking you and not barking. I was worried about rabies.

Anyway, a couple of days later, we walked the same way and the same thing happened. The fox barks at us and follows us a bit. My husband turned around and walked toward the fox and the fox ran away. So, I'm thinking maybe this fox is a female with a den and might have pups in the den. I can't imagine why else it would be so brave. After seeing the fox the second time, it doesn't appear sick.

I'm afraid when the homeowners come back, this little fox may be in trouble. I'd just as soon see it stay if it is healthy.

Has anyone seen a fox act like this and can you think of another reason for a fox to stalk you other than puppies in the den or rabies?

[slappypan]

1. sounds like someone has been feeding it

I have seen foxes become very bold at busy campgrounds where they scrounge for scraps. It sounds like te one you are talking about may even have been a pet. It is probably harmless. I think you should ignore it, don't feed it, and hope it goes back to looking for its natural sources of food.

[protect freedom impeach bush now]

2. warning - RABIES

my sis had something similar happen --

fox followed her, 'barked' at her car while she was in it,

fox was not afraid of people....

she called animal control, and they came and 'put it down'
with a rifle.....tests show it was rabies.

SO be careful !!

[Feanorcurufinwe]

3. No, I'm not a fox expert.

But I've got a lot experience living with wildlife.

Fox kits are generally born between March and May, start coming out of the den after about a month, and stay with the mother and near the den for about 7 months (http://www.wildernessclassroom.com/www/schoolhouse/boreal_library/animals/fox.htm). So if you just saw this fox Thursday for the first time it seems unlikely that it is defending its young. More likely it has just become acclimatized to people and doesn't have the fear it should. But the fact that it ran at your husband's approach is a good sign.

You probably have a choice of learning to live with it or calling animal control (which would most likely mean the death of the fox).

I don't know how close-knit your neighborhood is but if the above poster is correct that someone is feeding it, that should be stopped. Feeding wildlife just leads to their deaths.

[Robb]

4. Indeed

Someone wasn't feeding it, necessarily; there's plenty in a neighborhood to support a fox!

I would call animal control, however. Usually if you ask nice they'll trap it, let you look at it, then take it out to a less built-up area.

[FlaGranny]

6. The place where I live is a very

odd place for a fox to live, but there are many rabbits and probably rats and mice for prey. There are no wooded areas nearby. Just miles of suburbia. It seems to be living a couple of blocks away from us. I don't think anyone would try shooting it in this heavily populated area. I would hope for a humane trapping and observation for rabies. Then maybe a rabies vaccination and release in a remote area.

I see I can rule out babies as a cause for the bravery. I hope it doesn't have rabies.

Thanks for all your replies.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

7. Don't call animal control ----

in too many areas they will simply trap the animal and kill it. I would find a local wildlife rescue group and ask them for help. If you PM me with your location, I can have my sister (who is a wildlife rehaber) find some possible contacts for you to get help from.

Hell

[morningglory]

5. If it is a female with kits under the mobile home and anyone walks near

the young ones, she will attack. Not normal for a wild animal to be confrontational unless a female with kits or crazed by rabies. I would call animal control and report it.

[Gato Moteado]

8. i'm guessing it's an abandoned or escaped pet.....

....because i can't imagine a wild fox allowing a cat to bat it on the nose.

[FlaGranny]

9. I can't imagine that either.

Evidently, the fox didn't try to harm the cat.

When I was a kid I had a cat that used to chase critters away. One day a pretty good sized dog showed up in our yard and I watched Whiskers, our large gray tomcat, send it hightailing. If he found it necessary, he would jump onto the poor unsuspecting critter's back with all claws extended. He used to greet me by jumping onto my shoulders and draping himself around my neck when I came home from school. Cats can be awesome.

The fox could be an abandoned or escaped pet, I guess. I'm thinking that since I saw the fox first on Thursday, that if it is still hanging around, it probably does not have rabies. I did some research on rabies and an animal dies in 3 to 7 days after first showing symptoms (losing fear of humans, etc.). Since it is now 4 days, it would either be dead or very sick by now. It looked pretty healthy last night from about 40 feet away.