To not want to double bag a dead fox

[marryinhaste]

I noticed this morning that the fox I saw "sleeping" in my back garden yesterday is still in the same position, and there's quite a lot of flies buzzing around it.

I called my local authority out of hours number, and was told there's no out of hours service for this (fair enough) but that I should double bag the body and leave it on my driveway for street services to pick it up on Monday. Really? It's a full grown fox, and I couldn't even face going out there to look closely.

I've recently separated from H, and have been facing all the challenges I meet head-on, but this seems a step too far for my bravery! Am I being pathetic? Also, H is being rubbish with contact so unless I want to do it in the dark, the kids will be looking over my shoulder while I do it.

[sarahseashell]

scarlet it's getting like that scene from the peep show with the dog


but obviously YANBU - no-one is likely to come on here and say YABU I'm always double-bagging dead foxes

[VerySmallSqueak]

Put some gloves on and think of something else.

I reckon the thought of doing it will be worse than the actual doing it.

I don't think you can leave it.

[marryinhaste]

Scarlet - I like the idea, but it's under a 20ft hedge so probably not a great idea!

Sarah - it was more I was a bit that that's what the council want me to do - I kind of assumed someone would come round and deal with it without me having to get so hands on!

[sarahseashell]

I agree OP! am frankly that the council expect you to do it as it would surely be a potential health hazard? I suppose pest control would dispose of it but would cost you. Nightmare!

[scarletforya]

Aw, Pity about the bush.

Yes Sarah -surely it's mad to expect a member of the public to dispose of it. What about diseases etc...

OP, maybe you could lay down the open bag and push it in with a stick, tie a scarf around your mouth or use a mask if you have one. I wouldn't directly touch the thing under any circumstances though.

[Softlysoftly]

It's just a dead animal you wuss :)

[VerySmallSqueak]

I thought that with dead animals ,unless its obstructing the highway,it isn't the councils responsibility (rightly or wrongly).

Really,you can do this OP.

Deep breaths and have a on standby for when you're done.

[TheBigKidsDidIt]

We had a dead deer (!) in our garden which would be fairly tricky to double bag. It was on a hot bank holiday weekend in August so I phoned the council who referred me to out of hours - when i said I have children, they had someone round in half an hour. This poor poor man had to wear a fluorescent jacket and scrape bits of deer into a bag. i am ashamed to say i failed to help and spectated behind a (closed) window. I would try the council again and make a stink (sorry).

[Glitterknickaz]

Ahh fuck the hedge, I'd cremate that too!

[ThatVikRinA22]

i would get some rubber gloves on, and use a spade to lift it onto a plastic bin liner if you cannot face picking it up.

then tuck another back over it and pull another on properly. i wouldnt leave it any longer.

[lindsell]

What borough in SE London are you in? We're in lewisham and when we had a dead fox in our garden the council sent someone out within 2hours on a bank holiday weekend to remove it - I was very impressed. The council has other failings but dead fox removal services are good

[FuckityDuck]

Think I would rather unashamedly be thinking of the best neighbour to help or phone gardener and ask him to come Monday morning.

[nearlyready]

Surely you can't leave it much longer?

Bribe the teenager!

[ConferencePear]

This will get worse the longer you leave it. Someone suggested rubber gloves which are a good idea. It will be horrible but it won't take more than 15 minutes. Then you can be proud of yourself and have a clear garden. Go for it.

[LineRunner]

If you really need to get this done, try this:

Spread out a large bin bag next the fox, with the bin bag opened as wide as possible. Wearing disposable gloves (carrier bags will do), use another bin bag or thick carrier bag as an extra 'glove' to pick the fox up by its back leg or legs and drop it into the black bin bag. Drop extra 'glove' bag in after fox. Tie it up. Put it into another black bin bag with your disposable gloves.

If the fox has got a bit gloopy you can get a freezing spray from pet shops (for dog poo!) to stiffen it up a bit before you move it.

[fluffygal]

I am in SE and one of my old ladies had a dead fox in her garden, council said they will only remove once it is off her land and on their 'property' ie the pavement outside, no special treatment for an 85 year old lady! She had to get her gardener to move it there. Dead foxes really do stink.

[ladymariner]

Good grief, it's a dead fox, that's all. The longer you leave it the worse it will be. Can't believe you honestly expected the council to come out just to shift a dead fox from your garden......

Rubber gloves, a big black bin bag and quick speed of hand is what you need.....poke it into the bag with a stick if you have to, then chuck it in the bin or next doors bin

[ZacharyQuack]

Oh come on. Rubber gloves, spade and bin bags. Harden up.

[dearcathyandclare]

Get a grip woman! What actually is the problem here? It may stink but it will not kill you and it was never a cuddly cute pet.

[marryinhaste]

I am in Bromley lindsell, and am now annoyed that others have had it dealt with so quickly - I did mention that I had kids, but lady on out of hours line was adamant there was nothing they could do. I know it's not a huge thing but I'm hanging on by my fingertips at the moment, and this is something I really don't need - especially knowing that if I lived a mile down the road it would be sorted by now

Will sleep on it and ask neighbour in the morning. Don't think out of hours will change their mind, and I've got a really busy week at work next week so calling back on Monday won't do much good as I won't be there to let them in. I hate being a grown-up!

[topbannana]

OP YANBU but are making matters worse sorry
The council will be very unlikely to come into your garden and pick up the body. They will collect it from you but that is the limit of their involvement.
The longer youleave it the worse and runnier it will get
SO..... get thick gloves and something to cover your face (its the smells that get me personally) Get two bin bags (or 10 if yours are at the flimsier end of the market!) Turn the bags inside out as if you were picking up dog poo, approach the fox from behind and grab. Shake a little bit to get the bag(s) a little underneath the body and then go to the other side. Grab the top of the bags and pick them up, allowing the body to slide gracefully and effortlessly inside.
Honestly, the thinking will be worse than the doing unless you leave it too long, in which case the doing will definitely be worse than the thinking!!
Good luck

[dearcathyandclare]

Why can't you do this? Are you physically disabled or just squeamish?

[dearcathyandclare]

Paying a council employee to sort this out for an able bodied adult is a ridiculous waste of resources.

[marryinhaste]

No I'm not physically disabled, I'm just not keen on doing it, especially with my 2 kids no doubt "helping".

[marryinhaste]

Ok, I get that you think IABU, I was just going by what the website I found said, and others on this thread have had their council deal with it.