There is a fox having a nap in my garden right now...

[Startingagainandagain]

I was in my kitchen and just saw that there is a fox having a nap in the middle of my garden.

Any suggestion of what to do?

We used to have urban foxes living in our communal garden and they just went about their lives when I was in London but I have never had the pleasure of finding one in my own garden....

I don't want to chase it away but I also am wondering if it might be injured (and who to call if it is?) or if it is planning on squatting my garden from now on...

Any advice on how to deal with this?

Pic of the fox below.

I have a cat but it is staying indoor at the moment as I have only had her for a couple of weeks so I am not worried about her being at risk.

Do people have foxes in their garden? do you feed them?

Awww Bless You for Caring

Fox looks very healthy from what I can see.
I agree with PPs, its having a rest after a long Saturday night out .

We had one in our garden last week. It was drinking out of the ponds. We just stood at the window and watched it. My DH has an allotment and a fox has it's den there and comes back and has cubs every year.

Don't feed him. Once you've stepped in fox shit you'll not forget it in a hurry.-

Nice looking little guy. I’d just leave it be myself. Agree that it’s probably best not to feed him/her.

Like PP, I’m surprised when people are surprised to see foxes as there are loads where I am.

We’re in a large town in the SE and they’re a very common sight here. People ignore them for the most part. Some years we have more than others. The first year we lived in this particular neighbourhood there were ten or so, including several cubs. It was normal to arrive home to my street to see them all dotted about relaxing in gardens/on top of hedges. Some of the neighbours have had to set up elaborate protections around their cars due to brake cables being nibbled. Foxes do other strange things like shitting in deliberately inconvenient places, eg directly onto children’s toys/dog toys in the garden. They’re also exceptionally noisy in mating season. For all these reasons, I don’t like the little fuckers, though I obviously would not be cruel to a fox. We’ve done what we can to fox-proof our garden (as we have a dog who gets over-excited when they’re around). They still sometimes get in as they’re bloody good at climbing and jumping.

Anyway, just leave him be OP!

We have them day napping in our garden too! We are se London, I leave them be and never feed them (though my neighbour sometimes does!). They seem to rub along happily with the dozens of cats/squirrels who also frequent my garden!

Oh he is so gorgeous, I'm jealous! I would sit at my window and stare at him all day long if he was in my garden! Despite the fact that I live on the moors I hardly ever see foxes, I saw more of them on a trip to London!

Sadly not, though given how much they mate at night it's surprising. When I drive home after dark it's unusual not to see one & 3 or 4 in the street at night, but the disappear quickly if they see a human.

in our old house we had a few who were regulars. And a squirrel who came to the French doors for treats. Until one night the fox brought the squirrel to the French doors... to show us his treat. We fell out after that!!

Yes we have foxes but no to feeding them

For anyone saying this isn't normal behaviour actually a fox will take a sleep where it feels safe and cosy. He looks very healthy from the picture, his fur is just right and it doesn't look an old one either. I've grown up around them, beautiful animals

One of the interesting things about discussion about foxes being a nuisance in residential areas is that you’ll always get people saying ‘well, we’ve built all over the countryside so they’ve nowhere to live’ (not that anyone has said that here but I read/hear it a lot). This confuses me because a) there is in fact still loads of countryside in the UK and b) those who actually live rurally often say that they don’t see many foxes. As a species, they seem to have twigged that living in towns works better for them than living in the countryside. So it’s not that there isn’t any countryside for them to live in, it’s that they know lots of humans will feed them and if not, there will be waste and scraps to forage from.

Nobody has said it isn't normal behaviour.

I live semi rurally and have seen the same fox about 5 times in the past week, he/she is quite unbothered by seeing me but I wouldn't put any food out

I used to see loads of foxes when I lived in S London, at one point I was doing night shifts and commuting home by bike at 4-5 am, I’d often see more than a dozen on my 3 mile ride home. They were everywhere, often feeding from bins and quite bold and brazen too, hardly even got out of my way sometimes.

Since I moved 30 miles away, to a small town surrounded by countryside 5 years ago, I don’t think I’ve seen a single one. They’re certainly not around the estate I live in at all.

Foxes have twigged years all the KFCs and McDonald's are in towns. So are all the leftovers. Foxes - keeping our pavements free of rats.

we had one once, sleeping in the garden, i had to keep the dog in, i was quite concerned but it did go eventually

I stand corrected re the day time napping, that's really interesting! I live in a small seaside town, there are foxes living in the dunes and in the woods and on the golf courses. I see them maybe once a month or so, but very fleetingly. Interesting to think that we are actually perhaps not urban enough to see more of them!

Hedgehogs are a concern if you see them out in daylight hours .

He'll nap then wander off no doubt .
If you want to be kind , dig over some garden, they like earthworms (which is why the little blighters dig over your newly planted plants )

We had a pair of cubs a few years ago. One was bold, the other not so bold. Bold one would sleep in our garden like that, or on a sun lounger.

They grew up and the bold one became well known, people fed them. Then they began doing normal fox things like leaving poo and playing with shoes that were left out and people complained.

One night there was a single shot. Bold fox that many loved was no more. She was too tame and not afraid.

My advice is, do not feed or make friends and do not post on FB or groups because people are arseholes and your beautiful visitor will be killed.

They were here before buildings, but people only think of themselves and consder them as vermin.

That sounds fantastic. It's a long time since I've lived near foxes. They're great to watch playing.

How fabulous! I'd leave it.

They like meat, so dog food or cat food, bacon rind, etc. see www.bbcwildlife.org.uk/urban-fox#:~:text=Virtually%20anything.,dogs%2C%20cats%20and%20other%20wildlife.

Common occurrence in London.

Beautiful! She's just there because she feels safe so you've obviously got a very nice protected garden.

Last year in the sheep field opposite me we had a baby fox that used to pay with and nap amongst the sheep during the day which was a bit like watching a Disney film

Foxes are quite often active during the day, and they like a nap, so hopefully he's fine. If you feed him, he will come back! We have a garden fox.

I would have thought they are more likely to hide away if injured

he/she looks heathy

I have seen more foxes these past few months than ever (in south London) they are certainly getting more confident. One strolled past the nail shop and has a little look at us getting our nails done apparently she (nail technician told me she is a lady fix) often does this 😆