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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To help a mangy scrap of fox?

374 replies

HarrietKettleWasHere · 30/03/2017 23:46

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 Sad

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.

OP posts:
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Original poster
HarrietKettleWasHere · 04/04/2017 00:14

I would do the same for a rat, or a pigeon, or a bloody BEETLE, yes, because I care about wildlife. It's s really good quality to have, I think.

If certain posters read further up the thread, there is an explanation re the killing of the chickens- and really, it is kind of the owners responsibility to protect their animals from wildlife acting on natural instinct if you do not wish them to be part of the food chain at that time.

Vermin? Not foxes, no...

OP posts:
Soubriquet · 04/04/2017 07:12

I remember when I was younger, there was a mummy duck with her ducklings looking rather distressed.

Nearby in a drain was 4 of her babies. I lifted up the cover, put my hand in the water and lifted them up and let them go. Ran straight to mum who took them straight under her wing.

Every little helps.

Maxwellthecat · 04/04/2017 08:09

I would definitely do it for a rat, I used to keep pet rats and they are lovely intelligent creatures who the capacity for pain, fear and recently studies have found they show empathy too.
I don't like seeing any creature in pain and even rescue worms from puddles.

Original poster
HarrietKettleWasHere · 04/04/2017 16:15

I have the drops...here's hoping ScrapFox appears later. I'm going to pick up some cheap jam donuts to put them in.

OP posts:
Soubriquet · 04/04/2017 16:36

Fingers crossed for you x

StoatofDisarray · 04/04/2017 17:10

Good luck, OP! shamelessly placemarking

Original poster
HarrietKettleWasHere · 05/04/2017 00:03

First dose in!

I got DP to go to one window and I was at the other and he distracted the Big Fox with a frankfurter sausage to eat while I dropped down a dosed jam donut down to Scrap Fox, as the Big Fox is pretty bloody nifty at getting to the food first. Donut scarfed down by Scrap Fox. I gave him a frankfurter too though just so he had a bit of protein on top of his sugary donut Grin

OP posts:
GinSwigmore · 05/04/2017 00:05

Yay! Go foxy lady! Flowers Biscuit

thecatneuterer · 05/04/2017 00:05

Well done.

CrikeyPeg · 05/04/2017 06:00

Yay! Great stuff Harriet :)

Soubriquet · 05/04/2017 07:14

Well done!

Anasnake · 05/04/2017 07:27

Well done you, they are beautiful animals. I get deer at the back of my house but no foxes.

OrraBoralis · 05/04/2017 09:03

Yay! so glad to see this bumped. I read the OP on Friday morning just as I was going out. I will admit I thought there would be loads of "don't feed them, they are vermin" posts and was really pleasantly surprised to see the opposite. Made my day it did Grin

Thank you Harriet for caring for our wonderful wildlife Flowers

ohfourfoxache · 05/04/2017 11:29

Absolutely fantastic! Well done Thanks

silkpyjamasallday · 05/04/2017 11:38

I really miss the urban foxes that used to live near us in SE London, it was a trio of young foxes and it was lovely watching them play. Although the noises of them shagging at night scared the shit out of me the first time, I thought a cat had been run over or something so went out in my pjs to see if I could help and saw them standing in the middle of the road. There was a massive boy fox with no tail near London Bridge who was very fearsome looking I wonder how he is sometimes I used to see him everyday. There don't seem to be any where we live now which is a shame, they are such lovely creatures.

silkpyjamasallday · 05/04/2017 11:41

Juniper on instagram isn't a wild fox though, she is a fur fox, the foxes that were previously bred for fur (and so are tamer/more used to humans) are now popular as pets as they are fluffier and cuter than a wild fox. But as the owner says many get abandoned because they are much harder work than a cat or a dog.

Original poster
HarrietKettleWasHere · 06/04/2017 00:02

Juniper's furr is incredible!

After fox-watch tonight, my DP was wondering why the fine big bushy healthy fox 'lets' the poor little mangy scrap one hang around with him. There's no aggression between them at all over food (although the big one usually dives in first) and they just seem to knock around together. Any ideas?

OP posts:
Original poster
HarrietKettleWasHere · 06/04/2017 00:02

Juniper's furr is incredible!

After fox-watch tonight, my DP was wondering why the fine big bushy healthy fox 'lets' the poor little mangy scrap one hang around with him. There's no aggression between them at all over food (although the big one usually dives in first) and they just seem to knock around together. Any ideas?

OP posts:
LoveMySituation · 06/04/2017 19:02

Perhaps foxes have empathy. Or scrappy's his friend and he's loyal. Loving this thread. No foxes here in rural Worcs, all in the city it seemsGrin

ShoesHaveSouls · 06/04/2017 23:08

Animals show altruism - I did a whole term on it in Psychology. can't remember much though Grin

Possibly that animals showing altruism have a better chance of survival as a whole species.

V cute though - well done OP Star

ThatsNotAKnifeThatsASpoon · 06/04/2017 23:18

This thread is hilarious.

Homeopathy for mangy vermin ConfusedHmm

Knock yourself out, OP, hope you enjoy picking up the fox poo which stinks to high heaven imo

Sparklingbrook · 06/04/2017 23:19
Hmm
PamplemousseRouge · 06/04/2017 23:20

Ah this is lovely - thanks so much for the update OP! Well done for helping the fox! Smile Shameless request - any chance of more photos of the foxes soon??

gobbelinothewitchescat · 06/04/2017 23:45

Place marking on this - what a lovely thread! Thanks for the updates OP please keep them coming. As PP have said, it's a living creature capable of feeling pain. No matter what views you have on anything they do, you can't overlook that. Well done you for caring - this thread really warmed my heart and cheered me up

Original poster
HarrietKettleWasHere · 07/04/2017 00:23

Ok ok- I was/am a bit sceptical of the 'homeopathy' treatment.. all I can say is, I've done the research, it came from a fox rescue centre, (that give it away for free) and it contains stuff that has been proven to work..like, lots of plants are used in medicine!! Anyway if it doesn't do owt I'll get something stronger, from a vet, or try and organise a pick-up for captive treatment.

Oh Thatsnotaknife... Wink it really is cool to think of and help local wildlife...try it sometime.

OP posts:
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