Foxes!

[SarahD1017]

I have a 6 year old and 12lb Sulcata named Squeegee and it spends the majority of the time in our backyard. Well today I come out and see two grey foxes skittering through the back portion of our yard. Do I need to be worried about them hurting her? What precautions should I take?

 

[Yvonne G]

Foxes probably wouldn't be interested in a tortoise of that size.

 

[MichaelL]

I just saw a gray fox around last week, they are smaller than I thought. I agree, I don't think they would bother him.

 

[Tom]

Very unlikely they would even try to harm a 12 pound tortoise.

I'd do something to scare them away and make your area unpleasant for them. Teach them to fear and avoid humans, and they can live a long happy life out in the wild away from people. Mouse traps, BB or paintball guns on low power, Predator smell type sprays, and motion activated sprinklers can all work. You could also trap them in a Hav-A-Hart trap and go release them a half a mile away. That would literally scare the crap out of them and make them avoid your back yard forever, but they'd still easily get back to their home territory unharmed. If you teach them that humans are terrifying horrible beasts, they will stay away and also teach their kits to stay away.

 

[Sa Ga]

Please don't use anything that hurts or potentially can harm them! I agree in making ur place undesirable, but something like a mouse trap or BB gun can cause a seemingly harmless wound (or worse) that can get infected or otherwise impinge upon their well-being.

 

[Tom]

Please don't use anything that hurts or potentially can harm them! I agree in making ur place undesirable, but something like a mouse trap or BB gun can cause a seemingly harmless wound (or worse) that can get infected or otherwise impinge upon their well-being.

Neither of those options are going to do lasting harm. Both will scare them and literally save their lives.

 

[Srmcclure]

Neither of those options are going to do lasting harm. Both will scare them and literally save their lives.

We've had to do that to multiple animals on my grandparents farm. It stings, but no lasting damage. You just want that animal to remember that area isnt fun/safe for them and they usually get the idea really quickly. Coyotes and hogs are really the only ones we've had any real trouble with them coming back after that, but that's a never ending battle anyway lol

 

[Sa Ga]

Neither of those options are going to do lasting harm. Both will scare them and literally save their lives.

Hogs and coyotes? Eek.

I think both can cause potential harm inadvertently (break toes, cut them, make a wound that becomes infected...).

You just need to get an elephant. ?

 

[Tom]

Hogs and coyotes? Eek.

I think both can cause potential harm inadvertently (break toes, cut them, make a wound that becomes infected...).

You just need to get an elephant. ?

Have you ever been shot with a BB gun on low power? It doesn't break the skin. You barely feel it if it hits your clothes the right way. We used to have BB gun wars when I was a kid. No shooting at the face, and no more than two pumps. At very close range on bare skin with a direct hit, you'd get a welt. Nothing more. An animal with a fur coat across a whole backyard? Not going to leave a wound, but it will leave a lasting mental impression. Just the sound of it scares them, even it you don't hit them.

Likewise, ever stuck your finger in a mouse trap? Not a big rat trap, but the little mouse traps? Its scary more than painful if you are larger than a mouse. Its not going to do any damage, but that snap with scare the crap out of them and teach them to avoid all things human, which is the best favor we can do for a wild animal if we want it to live.

If we fail to scare them away, they are going to die in one of many horrible ways. Wild animals that lose their fear of humans and start hangin around get dead. I'd rather the fox stick its nose in a mouse trap, turn around and run for its life and never return.

 

[Relic]

Well...after seeing the title of this thread...with an exclamation point no less...I never expected it to be about, you know, actual foxes...

 

[Srmcclure]

Have you ever been shot with a BB gun on low power? It doesn't break the skin. You barely feel it if it hits your clothes the right way. We used to have BB gun wars when I was a kid. No shooting at the face, and no more than two pumps. At very close range on bare skin with a direct hit, you'd get a welt. Nothing more. An animal with a fur coat across a whole backyard? Not going to leave a wound, but it will leave a lasting mental impression. Just the sound of it scares them, even it you don't hit them.

Likewise, ever stuck your finger in a mouse trap? Not a big rat trap, but the little mouse traps? Its scary more than painful if you are larger than a mouse. Its not going to do any damage, but that snap with scare the crap out of them and teach them to avoid all things human, which is the best favor we can do for a wild animal if we want it to live.

If we fail to scare them away, they are going to die in one of many horrible ways. Wild animals that lose their fear of humans and start hangin around get dead. I'd rather the fox stick its nose in a mouse trap, turn around and run for its life and never return.

Too true! An animal that has no fear of humans not only is a danger to itself, but also us. No fear = way too brave animal.

It might sound mean, but like @Tom said, that fur isnt going to let much happen other than a good scare. Those animals aren't going to let you get to point blank range to do the damage I think you worried about anyway. Once they see you they usually stay a certain distance away, this just suggests a much SAFER distance lol.
Those pump action BB guns at 2 pumps is nothing. We did the same thing as kids. I had 3 brothers, paint ball and BB's were everywhere. Wars were going to happen lol.

And idk, I think some of these scrappy coyotes out here would take on an elephant if they could lol. No fear. And they are everywhere. I know of a few that are right in the middle of the city. No need to go far.

 

[Sa Ga]

Have you ever been shot with a BB gun on low power? It doesn't break the skin. You barely feel it if it hits your clothes the right way. We used to have BB gun wars when I was a kid. No shooting at the face, and no more than two pumps. At very close range on bare skin with a direct hit, you'd get a welt. Nothing more. An animal with a fur coat across a whole backyard? Not going to leave a wound, but it will leave a lasting mental impression. Just the sound of it scares them, even it you don't hit them.

Likewise, ever stuck your finger in a mouse trap? Not a big rat trap, but the little mouse traps? Its scary more than painful if you are larger than a mouse. Its not going to do any damage, but that snap with scare the crap out of them and teach them to avoid all things human, which is the best favor we can do for a wild animal if we want it to live.

If we fail to scare them away, they are going to die in one of many horrible ways. Wild animals that lose their fear of humans and start hangin around get dead. I'd rather the fox stick its nose in a mouse trap, turn around and run for its life and never return.

So, if I want my dog, Tidus, to stay out of the garden, I should put down mousetraps? I think most people would be against that idea. But why? If they're as harmless as you posit, what is the issue?

And shooting a BB into the eye may not not be so harmless...

I see where you're coming from, but there have got to be more humane choices like the live traps you suggested).

 

[Sa Ga]

Too true! An animal that has no fear of humans not only is a danger to itself, but also us. No fear = way too brave animal.

It might sound mean, but like @Tom said, that fur isnt going to let much happen other than a good scare. Those animals aren't going to let you get to point blank range to do the damage I think you worried about anyway. Once they see you they usually stay a certain distance away, this just suggests a much SAFER distance lol.
Those pump action BB guns at 2 pumps is nothing. We did the same thing as kids. I had 3 brothers, paint ball and BB's were everywhere. Wars were going to happen lol.

And idk, I think some of these scrappy coyotes out here would take on an elephant if they could lol. No fear. And they are everywhere. I know of a few that are right in the middle of the city. No need to go far.

Dare I say it? *sigh* BOYS!

 

[Srmcclure]

So, if I want my dog, Tidus, to stay out of the garden, I should put down mousetraps? I think most people would be against that idea. But why? If they're as harmless as you posit, what is the issue?

And shooting a BB into the eye may not not be so harmless...

I see where you're coming from, but there have got to be more humane choices like the live traps you suggested).

No, put cayenne pepper in the garden lol. Keeps bunny's away atleast lol

 

[Sa Ga]

No, put cayenne pepper in the garden lol. Keeps bunny's away atleast lol

Hey, Tidus ate steel wool about 2 years ago. Nuthin' ain't keepin' that hound down!

 

[Tom]

So, if I want my dog, Tidus, to stay out of the garden, I should put down mousetraps? I think most people would be against that idea. But why? If they're as harmless as you posit, what is the issue?

And shooting a BB into the eye may not not be so harmless...

I see where you're coming from, but there have got to be more humane choices like the live traps you suggested).

We are not on the same page here...

Dogs are trainable. You have, or you should have a good working relationship with your dog and you teach the dog to stay out of wherever you don't want him/her to be. That ain't how it works with wild animals. And some people DO use mousetraps to keep cats off of counter tops, or dogs out of places they shouldn't be. They use electric shock for these purposes too. It goes back to basic training: If a behavior is followed by positive consequences, it is likely to occur again. If a behavior is followed by negative consequences, it is not likely to occur again.

Who in the heck said anything about shooting them in the eye??? Are you not familiar with how guns and gun sights work? If a bunch of wild kids can run around playing army and never shoot each other in the eye, what makes you think a grown adult taking careful aim from a still position would hit an eye instead of an ***? We aren't talking about just wildly flinging projectiles in the general direction of these predators. We're talking about aimed, purposeful, correctly timed shots.

The live traps are the least humane option I've mentioned. Talk about absolute terror... Have you ever trapped a wild animal in any type of trap? They are at much greater risk of rubbing the skin off of their snout in a trap than they are from a two pump BB gun.

Since you can't tell tone from the typed word, I want to be clear that I'm not mad or angry in any way. Just having a friendly back and forth conversation on the subject matter. I appreciate you sharing your opinion on the matter, and taking the time to debate differing points of view with me.

 

[Sa Ga]

We are not on the same page here...

Dogs are trainable. You have, or you should have a good working relationship with your dog and you teach the dog to stay out of wherever you don't want him/her to be. That ain't how it works with wild animals. And some people DO use mousetraps to keep cats off of counter tops, or dogs out of places they shouldn't be. They use electric shock for these purposes too. It goes back to basic training: If a behavior is followed by positive consequences, it is likely to occur again. If a behavior is followed by negative consequences, it is not likely to occur again.

Who in the heck said anything about shooting them in the eye??? Are you not familiar with how guns and gun sights work? If a bunch of wild kids can run around playing army and never shoot each other in the eye, what makes you think a grown adult taking careful aim from a still position would hit an eye instead of an ***? We aren't talking about just wildly flinging projectiles in the general direction of these predators. We're talking about aimed, purposeful, correctly timed shots.

The live traps are the least humane option I've mentioned. Talk about absolute terror... Have you ever trapped a wild animal in any type of trap? They are at much greater risk of rubbing the skin off of their snout in a trap than they are from a two pump BB gun.

Since you can't tell tone from the typed word, I want to be clear that I'm not mad or angry in any way. Just having a friendly back and forth conversation on the subject matter. I appreciate you sharing your opinion on the matter, and taking the time to debate differing points of view with me.

Lol. I didn't take it offensively in the least, Tom. ? Just remind me never to walk in your yard!

You're a hoot, Tom!

 

[Srmcclure]

We are not on the same page here...

Dogs are trainable. You have, or you should have a good working relationship with your dog and you teach the dog to stay out of wherever you don't want him/her to be. That ain't how it works with wild animals. And some people DO use mousetraps to keep cats off of counter tops, or dogs out of places they shouldn't be. They use electric shock for these purposes too. It goes back to basic training: If a behavior is followed by positive consequences, it is likely to occur again. If a behavior is followed by negative consequences, it is not likely to occur again.

Who in the heck said anything about shooting them in the eye??? Are you not familiar with how guns and gun sights work? If a bunch of wild kids can run around playing army and never shoot each other in the eye, what makes you think a grown adult taking careful aim from a still position would hit an eye instead of an ***? We aren't talking about just wildly flinging projectiles in the general direction of these predators. We're talking about aimed, purposeful, correctly timed shots.

The live traps are the least humane option I've mentioned. Talk about absolute terror... Have you ever trapped a wild animal in any type of trap? They are at much greater risk of rubbing the skin off of their snout in a trap than they are from a two pump BB gun.

Since you can't tell tone from the typed word, I want to be clear that I'm not mad or angry in any way. Just having a friendly back and forth conversation on the subject matter. I appreciate you sharing your opinion on the matter, and taking the time to debate differing points of view with me.

Exactly! They actively do this to bears that are in an area that they shouldn't be. They use bean bag guns and it has an incredible success rate. My family in Pennsylvania have had to call fish and game a few times.

Yea, we aren't saying to just go out and start lighting them up like an action movie lol, just a few shots to scare them off. Most times you dont even hit them (especially with a cheap pump action lol)

 

[Srmcclure]

@Tom You said shoot in the eye and all I heard in my head was a christmas story hahaha

 

[Tom]

@Tom You said shoot in the eye and all I heard in my head was a christmas story hahaha

"You'll shoot your eye out, Kid..."