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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 · 10/04/2017 18:39

Ooh great Guardian article too! I'm not Paula though.

OP posts:
LassWiTheDelicateAir · 10/04/2017 18:48

Well done, OP . This has warmed my heart a little tonight

Seconded or thirded or whatevered

Seryph · 10/04/2017 21:39

That is so great to hear OP, you are doing an awesome thing.

This is Bloody Stupid Fox, who I found begging for chips near my old university burger van at 3am. I was very cross with the idiot students offering him all manner of crap and trying to get a cuddle. He was young and obviously had no fear of people when I called him to follow me down the road to the park! All the students thought he was my pet I wish

To help a mangy scrap of fox?
Badcat666 · 10/04/2017 22:12

Oh what a bloody lovely thread. Am feeling all foxy fuzzy!! You go OP!

I do leave out any meat scraps for the ones that live close by. In the summer last year one used to saunter by the back door at night when I was having a sneaky fag and so I started chucking him bits of cheese. After a couple of days I'd open up the back door to find him sitting there waiting for his cheesy noms and he would have a lie down whilst I had a smoke and a peppermint tea bless. He loved whole eggs as well and used to carrying them off to dine on.

When I was a teenager I was tasked with walking my huge dog at night. The cats would often with me and I noticed a fox would tag along as well at the back. After a couple of weeks I got some cat food and sat on the front steps whilst I left the plate at the bottom of the steps to see if he would eat and he did. Nearly every night for about 2 years this would happen and he was a beautiful huge bushy thing. None of the cats or my dog were bothered as it was like he was part of the evening walking gang. Many a happy warm summer evening was spent sitting on the front steps of my mums house reading a book and throwing bits of food to Mr Fizzgig and sharing it which the cats as well. We got to being able to feed him from our hands and he slept under the bush under the front window in the summer. Wish I had the family albums to dig up some pics of him!!!

We also had loads of rabbits and guinea pigs in the garden never lost one to a fox. I wuv fluffy foxes

Reow · 10/04/2017 22:25

I love this thread Flowers

Well done for helping a needy creature. Foxes are beautiful.

ohgoonthenjustonemore · 10/04/2017 22:54

I'm really loving this thread ! Please don't stop the updates OP !

Original poster
HarrietKettleWasHere · 10/04/2017 23:22

Getting quite attached to my little ScrapFox Blush

He was on his own tonight and was just sitting ever so quietly staring up at my window, quite a bit earlier than I normally feed him so he was obviously just ready to patiently wait! Probably it's too early to tell if the medicine is helping him but he seems perky enough so maybe he's not quite as irritated by the mange. Fingers crossed, I'd love to see his poor little back all covered in fur!

OP posts:
etsiketsi · 10/04/2017 23:30

Sorry. It's late and I've skim read. Can I just say many farmers such as myself are no longer using ivermectin and it's various derivatives. I'd really advise against it if you care about wildlife. It affects insects in dung/poo and therefore affects most particularly bats, but also birds too.

TimeIhadaNameChange · 11/04/2017 09:03

Love - when I said "jumping over cars" I meant jumping onto the bonnet, running up to, and along, the roof then jumping down again. Sorry!

LoveMySituation · 11/04/2017 15:27

Ah, got it TimeGrin Thanks Wink

LoveMySituation · 11/04/2017 15:30

What a beautiful fox 🦊 Seryph.

TimeIhadaNameChange · 11/04/2017 15:47

Love - sorry, it was my fault, the way I worded it.

Used to be lovely to watch them, though. Shame my mum moved from street as you don't see them so much where she is now. You do hear them though.

Oh, and as for foxes taking hens I have more battle with mink, otters and pine marten.

LoveMySituation · 13/04/2017 22:51

I've getting scrap fox withdrawal OPGrin, any news?!

countrygirl55 · 13/04/2017 23:03

Great job, OP.

Hope the silly person has now plucked off.

LoveMySituation · 13/04/2017 23:41

How do you mean country?

Original poster
HarrietKettleWasHere · 13/04/2017 23:45

Scrap fox is fine! They've had pork chops tonight. Scrap ate his but Russel has buried his in a flower pot Blush

I'm inpatient and I want to see some results on the mange! I can't bear to think of him scratching away down there. It's only been a week or so I know but I'll have to try and get something stronger or get him treated by a rescue centre if this doesn't work.

OP posts:
Original poster
HarrietKettleWasHere · 13/04/2017 23:46

Scrap fox is fine! They've had pork chops tonight. Scrap ate his but Russel has buried his in a flower pot Blush

I'm inpatient and I want to see some results on the mange! I can't bear to think of him scratching away down there. It's only been a week or so I know but I'll have to try and get something stronger or get him treated by a rescue centre if this doesn't work.

OP posts:
DreamingOfAFullNightsSleep · 13/04/2017 23:57

Place marking!

LoveMySituation · 14/04/2017 19:22

Russell must be saving the pork chop for later HarrietGrin

LoveMySituation · 14/04/2017 19:26

Does anyone know why some foxes get mange and others don't. Do they not catch it off each other? As I'm interested that scrappy has it, but Russell doesn't

Original poster
HarrietKettleWasHere · 14/04/2017 20:24

I think they can catch it off each other. It worries me!

Apparently the treatment I have doesn't kill the mites but makes the skin a bit toxic so it's not a great place for the mites to live.

I'm really praying that's not just homeopathic bullshit.

OP posts:
Original poster
HarrietKettleWasHere · 14/04/2017 20:28

Also I had some slightly stale cheddar a couple of nights ago. I wondered if they'd go for a piece.

They loved that. I ended up chopping it into cubes and they had it all. I think they looked a bit sad when I had no more Grin

So glad DP is ok with my mad animal ways.

OP posts:
LoveMySituation · 14/04/2017 21:05

It's not mad, it's normal IMO. People who aren't kind to animals are odd I think. Why do all animals seem to love cheese?! It's not like they can make it themselves Grin

Original poster
HarrietKettleWasHere · 14/04/2017 21:09

Haha Love. That made me laugh. It's true! My little blue tits that visit my window-feeder go mad for cheese too!

It was Pilgrims Choice Extra Mature that the foxes had. Clearly they have good taste Wink

OP posts:
knittedbynanas · 14/04/2017 21:43

Loving the updates. I sometimes see a fox trot down the drive here but he isn't awfully welcome after eating our ducks.
I still think he is beautiful tho!

Surprised nobody has asked the obvious question tho....

What does the fox say?

(I'll get my coat)