To help a mangy scrap of fox?

[HarrietKettleWasHere]

I know I know, urban foxes get a lot of bad press. Yes they are naughty when they rip open bin bags and make a mess.

And yet, I think they are beautiful. We live in a block of flats (on the back of a big park) and around about Christmas time I noticed one sloping about at night. Actually we used to have a lot of mice/rats down where the rubbish room is so maybe he was attracted to that. He's beautiful- all rusty and bushy. I know it's a bit naughty but I started slipping him the odd bit of chicken or bit of ham. I would never want to get too close as he should be wary of humans would kill to stroke that gorgeous tail but he knows where I live and he will often trot by about 11pm to see if I'm at my window.

So a few nights ago he started bringing a little friend. I thought he looked a bit odd- like stumpy and mishapen and tonight I got a good look at him and he's all bald-patched and mangy

Poor little scrap! And also it'll probably spread to my beautiful original fox as it's contagious. Can I help him? Are there mange tablets you can put in food? He comes every night pretty much so he would eat it. Would dog tablets work? Obviously I couldn't bathe him or give him drops totally would if I could

Please can I add the foxes are very respectful of the neighbours. They do all their shagging in the park and they can't get into the bins! There are a couple of cats here but they are totally unbothered by them.

derxa- I know!

And people feeding them are making it worse.

@WineAndTiramisu that photo is hilarious! Can you remember which camera it is you ordered?

Well done for helping the mangy fox OP! Have enjoyed looking through all these photos.

Well, I have two, who don't cause any trouble to anybody else- I'm not going to stop.

And they've been pushed out of hundreds of miles of countryside as a result of human development.

More likely they've move in because of the easily available food sources.

who don't cause any trouble to anybody else

How do you know that? You can't possibly know that at all unless you follow them around every night. No doubt someone thinks the 3 I have in my garden don't cause any problem. They're deluded.

They've certainly capitilsed on urbanisation in the same way as pigeons have. Some animals adapt and some don't/can't, and that makes me sad as I don't like the fact that society has a such a devastating effect on nature. If the foxes can live with what humans have created then fair play to them.

I saw our local fox last night and s/he is HUGE. Like, medium/large dog sized.

Unfortunately he ate both our rabbits but no hate here, a fox has got to eat

Because;

1. they can't get in the bins as they're in a concrete outhouse and have very heavy lids

2. we back onto a park- I know they spend most of their time there when they're not under my window

3. I've never seen any mess around at all on the communal lawn that they could have been responsible for

4. they scarper as soon as they hear anyone approach, so not exactly likely to pose any threat

5. cats totally unbothered by them

6. no digging, no dens, nothing dug up anywhere.

7. no noisy shagging; as far as I am aware they are same-sex.

So I am confident they do not cause harm/trouble to anybody.

Well, I have two, who don't cause any trouble to anybody else

How do you know they don't cause any trouble?

Someone else may be feeding the foxes who destroy our garden, get into our bins and leave rubbish strewn everywhere, and think they don't cause any trouble

We've tried all the methods the Fox project recommends for humane deterrence. Scoot does sod all.

Hundred quid on garden lights down the drain, as the foxes have completely wrecked them. They dig up our lawn and foul the garden. They're pests. Very cute pests, but they definitely cause trouble.

Cross post!

I wish the urban foxes in North London were as well behaved as the foxes where you are, OP

We've just had our first lamb. If one of your precious foxes took it I wouldn't be pleased to say the least.

Id be amazed if one of my foxes managed to get a lamb, quite frankly, unless they nip over to Vauxhall city farm.

I think you know I mean a Borders Scottish fox.

sorry derxa. I really do hope no fox does get the lovely little lamb, though!

My dh said he nearly shit himself the other day.

Heard a big crash and when he got up to look outside he was confronted with a large pair of eyes...

A fox had jumped over the 6 foot fence straight into the garden.

Quite a large adult. Saw dh looking at him so legged it back out the way it came.

Im gutted that I didn't see it

Oo well done on your first lamb of the year derxa

Will there be your annual thread?

Soubriquet I might start a thread.

Oo please do. I do love seeing your little lambs

1) they can't get in the bins as they're in a concrete outhouse and have very heavy lids

Your bins. Just your bins.

2) we back onto a park- I know they spend most of their time there when they're not under my window

Unless you are following them, you have no idea. They are urban foxes. Scavengers.

3) I've never seen any mess around at all on the communal lawn that they could have been responsible for

And everyone else's lawn? Patio? Front doorstep?

4) they scarper as soon as they hear anyone approach, so not exactly likely to pose any threat

You have no idea what they are likely to pose a threat to really.

5) cats totally unbothered by them

All cats everywhere in your area? A fox certainly killed a childhood cat and I've seen one chasing mine (and my cat is huge)

6) no digging, no dens, nothing dug up anywhere.

Again. In YOUR garden.

7) no noisy shagging; as far as I am aware they are same-sex.

Yeah... that's likely. They will be shagging elsewhere. Animals have an imperative to breed, they aren't going to just be good friends.

So I am confident they do not cause harm/trouble to anybody.

And I am confident that you are mistaken.

Just to be clear, I'm not advocating doing them any harm I just don't think they should be encouraged and nurtured. They do cause a lot of problems.

Agree to disagree then Soupdragon but thank you for the points you've posed. I really can't explain anymore without giving you quite a detailed description of the location of our block of flats but please do rest assured that it really is a set-up that means the foxes are highly unlikely to impede into others. Urban living situations are really not as black and white as you might think.

Not a subject we can agree on, clearly, and I do not wish to argue!

I love foxes. We don't feed them, but they seem to use our garden as a dining room. Often find empty chip packets and similar in the morning. Bit of a nuisance, but they have to eat.

The first time I heard a fox at night, I honestly thought there was a small child shrieking outside. I was really worried until DP said it was just a fox.

I wouldn't encourage foxes.
I remember some years back twin baby girls in London being attacked by a fox as they slept in their beds.
They were hospitalised.
Foxes also spread mange to domestic dogs. It is very expensive to treat ( in Ireland)
I hate having them in our garden.

I'd feed it without a second thought. I love foxes and think they get a bad press. I live in a very urban area and we have quite a few foxes around here. I sometimes stand at my bedroom window at night watching them running around on the green in front of my house. I've known some people to say that foxes are a danger to cats,injuring or even killing them. In my experience,no self-respecting fox would attack a healthy,adult cat,as they would not fare well against a cat's teeth and claws. My late DM would often get foxes in her garden,but at the sight of one of her 4 cats would run off.