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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To leave some food out for the fox in our garden.

407 replies

MrsMotherHen · 25/02/2018 15:23

We have a fox that frequents our garden last few occasions hes been out in the day and DH has just seen him sunbathing on the patio. We are not rural but live about 50m away from the beach front along a promenade with a park quite close.

To leave some food out for the fox in our garden.
OP posts:
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5
HarrietKettle · 26/02/2018 19:29

How does a fox pass on ticks to a cat?

A tick is something that animals pick up from long grass. Once it's found a host it remains stuck fast until you pull it out.

Do you mean fleas?

abbey44 · 26/02/2018 19:41

Manylights sympathies to you too. It's a horrible way to lose a pet.

SlackPanther · 26/02/2018 22:23

No, if you don’t pull a tick out it feeds and then drops off to go and breed. Hopping on and off foxes, lots of handy food for them...

Mintylemons · 26/02/2018 22:25

I saw a fox attack a neighbour’s cat. I had to spray the hose to stop them. Cat was ok luckily.

OutyMcOutface · 26/02/2018 22:27

YABVU. If one of my neighbours attractedfoxes lile that I would be really annoyed. They're wild animals. They may look pretty but they can be quite dangerous to let's and smallchuldren.

overnightangel · 26/02/2018 22:29

Dogs cause more injuries to humans than any other pets, lets have a conversation about that before foxes shall we

MrsMaxwell · 26/02/2018 22:32

My NDN does this and the fox sits on my gate post.

It’s really manky looking and very very tame and it’s poo absolutely stinks. I am nervous around dogs anyway and I worry it will bite me or the kids.

If you like your neighbours don’t do it.

HarrietKettle · 26/02/2018 22:35

Well ALL wild animals (and indeed lots of domestic ones!) harbour parasites. That's not exactly unusual or exclusive to foxes...

HarrietKettle · 26/02/2018 22:39

Those links have been covered here already, and people have responded.

Read the thread.

No, foxes do not attack babies when inclined and able. Yes I know what the stories say. The lumber baby's bites look small-terrier sized, to me.

HarrietKettle · 26/02/2018 22:40

Baby bouncer.

Upsidedownandinsideout · 26/02/2018 22:45

Nooooo! Our neighbours do this, and now we have manky foxes continually getting into food bins, pooing all over the lawn, digging under our shed and frightening away (/hopefully not eating) the hedgehogs we used to have in the garden.

Don't see why people disbelieve the reports of them hurting children, when the RPSCA says it does happen- though is of course very rare.

HarrietKettle · 26/02/2018 22:47

Have the RSPCA confirmed any attacks on small children, then?

MrsMaxwell · 26/02/2018 22:48

I dunno about the attacks Harriet but having an urban fox hanging around your front door and shitting in your garden is rank.

HarrietKettle · 26/02/2018 22:49

It isn't to me, or quite a lot of people on this thread.

DietCokeGirrrrrl · 26/02/2018 23:01

The main reason you shouldn't feed foxes IMO is that it does wild animals no favours to be made tame. If the fox hangs around one area enough that it becomes a nuisance to neighbours etc there is every likelihood of it being trapped or even poisoned. Or, if it loses its natural fear of human contact, it could easily be hurt by a less decent person.

Wild animals are absolutely best left alone. They don't need human help except in very rare circumstances. More often than not, human interference will do them harm not good.

If you love them then by all means enjoy watching them, but don't risk causing them harm to satisfy your own desire to engage with them.

MrsMaxwell · 26/02/2018 23:21

I do not enjoy have a mengy fox hanging around my house and shitting on my patio.

JoeyMaynardssolidlump · 26/02/2018 23:34

Does anyone really know anyone in RL whose toddler has been attacked by a fox?

No thought not!

WithTwoGiantBoys · 26/02/2018 23:37

No but they killed my chickens! Neighbour started feed the local foxes, then all our hens were taken.

catfishsally · 26/02/2018 23:41

I do if I have left over chicken or something just put it outside and they collect it. I don't see anything wrong if it he is beautiful

JoeyMaynardssolidlump · 26/02/2018 23:41

I have dog poo on my front lawn! Not my dog but selfish neighbours who can’t fix their fence. The dog is lovely poor thing. I can live with fox and badger poo. I just clear it up.

It’s worth it to have the pleasure of seeing and feeding these animals.

I am so sorry for the poster who lost her cat. Cats snd foxes usually co exist well.

JoeyMaynardssolidlump · 26/02/2018 23:42

They do kill chickens but chickens should be well protected. If they are not well kept they are vulnerable. Not really foxes fault but obviously very very upsetting

catfishsally · 26/02/2018 23:45

seeing the replies maybe not I live in London so rats cats dogs ext are always here so it's nothing something takes my chicken anyway

mydogisthebest · 27/02/2018 09:08

Foxes eat babies!!! I've heard it all now.

I don't want them near because they make a noise, shit on my grass, might attack my child etc etc. What a pathetic lot some of you are. Why don't we just wipe out all the wild animals that some people don't like so they can have immaculate gardens and peaceful nights.

I am sorry to read that some posters have had cats killed by a fox but very very surprised. Cats should be able to run from a fox and/or defend themselves with their claws. Of course if cornered I guess a fox could kill a cat.

Far more cats are killed by dogs though. I know of at least 5 cats that have been killed by a dog and none that have been killed by a fox.

HarrietKettle · 27/02/2018 10:37

A fox is a very convenient scapegoat in many situations where a dog could well be to blame, i'll wager.

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