A Fox in our own Backyard!

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

We live on the north shore of LI right down the road from a golf course and the back of our property and the surrounding ares is very wooded.  We have the usual complement of squirrels, chipmunks and rabbits and although we don't see them in the daytime, the raccoons will get into our garbage now and then at night.  This morning, while sitting looking out our picture window and sipping my morning coffee- a red fox sauntered by and checked out the area just above our retaining wall, then meandered up back into the thicker woods.  I am not happy about this woodland creature being on our turf in the middle of the day!  This picture is from 2009-did not move fast enough to get one this morning.  but this is our back woods, within the electric fence area we have for Quincy.     Our last dog was a 90 lb Lab who would have charged this guy while barking her head off and I have no doubt the fox would be gone in a flash.  But Quincy is such a wimp gentle soul, and still a pup really.  He does tear a$$ after squirrels.  We always keep an eye on him while he is outside-but I am just not happy to see a fox on his turf.  

  Apparently they live on the golf course and the idiots there feed them (or so I am told).  I called animal control years back when I first saw one, they were no help.  

  What are your thoughts, my DK friends?  Will Quincy's instincts kick in so he will bark and scare off a fox.  We have a large stuffed gorilla upstairs from when my son was little.  If we pick it up and move it toward Quincy he runs away and sometimes barks.  Same when you shake out a blanket or rug. Quince is 48 lbs but looks much bigger with his long coat. I just don't know if he would run away, bark and scare it away or run after it, like he does the squirrels.   It's also not like we see fox all the time- have not in years. My husband says he is more concerned with what the fox will do.  

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Well...... you have a lovely fox picture. :-}  I would guess that Quincy would chase the fox if given a chance. I think my guys would.

[Lina]

Hi Lori

I came to England 2 years ago where foxes are everywhere. When I first moved in, I could see them often in my backyard, some of them quite big it seemed to me. I share your concern since my Emily is also a very gentle soul who will sometimes chase rabbits and squirrels but nothing beyond that. I am told by my neighbours and friends over here that foxes will not approach Emily and be actually scared of her. There is some evidence of that since I have seen much less of them since, but I would never leave her alone in backyard.

[Sheila & Finnley]

I think that that fox, or any fox, unless it was sick, would take off running if it saw Quincy. I live in the city.... ok, not like one of the concrete jungle kind of city's, but it is called the city. We have skunks, raccoons, fox and even a deer or moose has passed through. I came face to face with a huge raccoon the other morning. I was leaving the house at 6:30 A.M. and was about 4 feet from the tree near my door. Thought it was one of the resident feral cats when I saw it out of the corner of my eye. When I turned around there was this HUGE probably 25 pound raccoon looking at me ! I was glad he didn't hiss, or growl. He walked away when I said "Good morning, what are you doing here?" I would much rather see a fox... or raccoon, then to have my doodle find a SKUNK ! That is one surprise that I don't want to deal with, not with Finnley's fur !!

Just always keep up to date on your rabies shots, and things should be fine !

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

No experience with a fox, but good luck! We just found a dead raccoon in our driveway and are hoping Fudge and Vern had nothing to do with its demise.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Oh no say it isn't so! Not our sweet Fudge and Vern.

[Ginny Nightingale]

Lovely! I am guessing that a healthy fox would run if it saw any dog, as they are not very aggressive animals--but we have had rabid fox in our area more than once and they have attacked people! One guy had to beat the fox off of his wife with his tennis racket! If there is a fix wandering around in the daylight in our neighborhood, we all call each other so that we are aware of the potential danger--and to make sure our dogs don't get tangled up with it.

So, I would keep watching for it during the day and if it is around the house during the day, report it to Animal control--they might want to check it out.

[Adrienne]

I've spotted a family of red fox in my backyard.  They typically run away.  Like others have said, a healthy fox will usually not attack but I would continue to keep an eye out because a rabid fox will attack and cause harm to anyone or anything in its path.