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.  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I used to live on the edge of the woods and occasionally saw a fox walk through the property behind me. They never got close to my property, even though I also did not have a fence. They are pretty shy and skittish, I think. I haven't heard of any foxes attacking dogs, or even trying to, unlike coyotes. I don't think the fox will do anything unless he is attacked or cornered. But I would definitely keep an eye on Quincy when he's in the yard. 

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

I have an occasional fox and although they are beautiful, I'm not thrilled with them either.  They kill rabbits and small animals but I've never heard of them attacking dogs. They are very wary and usually stay out on the perimeter of the property.  But if you see them during the day, that can be a bad sign.  I had one who came up to my deck during the day and a few days later, was in my driveway and came up to the car.  My neighbor shot him the next day.  His behavior was so odd, and his condition so poor, we suspected he was rabid.  If you see anything strange, call animal control.  Otherwise he'll steer clear of you and Quincy sounds big enough to be just fine.

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

The one I saw this morning was raggedy and thin but did not seem sick- who knows.  I am always anxious when Quincy is outside-so now just more so.  Funny- our lab would go way up the hill every morning on her "rounds" and I never worried.  

[Lynda Kamrath]

We have seen all kinds of animals here, foxes included.  A fox had a den on the bottom of our property when we first moved here and had kittens (I think that is what they are called).  It was a grey fox and I told my son to stay away from those rocks while she had her babies there and to keep his dog in the yard.  After the babies were raised, she moved on.  We have also had skunks and one had her nest under our deck.  Same thing - you and your dog keep away from there.  When the kittens were raised she moved on also.  We have had opposums and raccoons also and my neighbor has deer and coyotes hanging out on her property.  So, living in the country, you have to expect that there will be some wild animals also in the area.  Think about it from their point of view.  Humans have taken over everything and believe the property belongs to them.  Do the animals have equal rights?  True, they have no mortgages, but they need to have a place to live and raise their young also.  And killing, yes they kill.  They are carnivores, so usually kill small animals.  I do, however, have a problem with pumas (mountain lions).  I decided long ago that if we encountered one on the trail, I would walk away and my dogs would be on their own.  They really scare me and they are also around here.  So, do I not walk the dogs because we may encounter a puma?  The same neighbor mentioned above would not take her lab to the beach because he got in the water and she was frightened that he would be swept out.  I told her she did not need to worry at all about a lab, but he never went to the beach because of her fears.  Too bad.  

[F, Calla & Luca]

What a beautiful fox. I was saw one across the brook in back of my house. My dogs would definitely chase a fox if they could.

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

Yikes!!  We've had our share of critters passing through - but mostly the docile type like deer and rabbits.  We did see a bobcat once, but he was just wandering by on the perimeter of the property.  I'd be really scared to have a fox THAT close with an unfenced yard!!!  Hope he has moved on, never to return!!!

[Bonnie and Kona]

No fox experience here, just saying, "Good luck!" That would concern me too so I'm glad people have posted that they are shy and skittish. Whew!

[Star and Goldie]

I don't live anywhere near woods and there is a fox that hangs out around my house too. Over the last several years they have become more domesticated and venture into towns and seem to have lost their fear of humans. I once put my daughter in the car and by the time I shut the door I was staring in the eyes of a fox. My heart hit the ground. I was frozen. I had no idea if I should move or not. This fox was literally 3 feet away from me just staring at me. After 3 minutes that felt like 3 hours he just turned around and walked away. That was the first time I saw him, about a year ago. Since then I see him at least once a month. He has no problem getting close to humans or animals but he has never seemed to be a threat... maybe he thinks he is a lost puppy looking for a home.

So I dont think you should be overly concerned but just keep an eye out.

[Star and Goldie]

P.S. You snapped a beautiful picture of the little creature! It looks like a post card :)

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

My two, especially Bella would bark, loudly! Bella is like a Bull and reacts quickly so Im sure she would charge after it and try to chase it up our 7' block wall. Murphy would bark and growl and scope it out first, then cautiously follow 10 ft behind Bella. Like I've said before, he's a bit of a wimpy boy.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

We have lots of Foxes in Ireland some of them are urban foxes and can regularly be seen late at night, not usually during the day. They forage in the trash cans. There have been some cases of Foxes entering homes in the UK. We used to have a regular Fox visitor and I used to leave out chicken carcasses for him.  I don't think they would attack a dog as they are very shy and generally nocturnal. Of course we don't have any Rabies here. Feral cats are my major problem as people keep feeding them and they are not neutered. I have tried to find cat charities but in the area that I live they just don't exist: (

[Kelly]

Probably just making the rounds. Only the rabbits should really be concerned.