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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To growl at a fox that is chasing me?

160 replies

ChasedByFox · 09/10/2020 18:35

Well am I?

TLDR: I imagine a bite or scratch from a fox would require a tetanus jab and I don't have time for that, covid restrictions aside.

Full Story:
I was out running this morning at 5:30 (yes, I probably am certifiable) and a fox crossed my path. He began to follow me, so I ran a little faster. He matched my pace, so I ran faster. Hmm

By now I'm pretty much flying along, and this bloody fox is chasing me!

I'm panicking. I've only got five minutes left on my podcast, and I so want to finish it, because I'm on W9R3 of couch25k Blush But if he attacked me, I would need to have a tetanus jab for a fox bite/scratch, surely?

So I growled at him, and he stopped in his tracks and shot away in the opposite direction Blush

WIBU? Have I scared the poor fox for life?

Yes, obviously I've namechanged- I've been here donkeys years, and there's no way I'm going to be able to keep schtum in RL about being chased by a fox!! Shock

YABU- you cruel animal abuser
YANBU- he could give you rabies! and tetanus, and fleas, and follow you home and attack your children

OP posts:
Qwom · 09/10/2020 18:38

I'm sorry but this made me lol.
We're ruralites and my oh has been bitten by a fox before. The hospital just gave him antibiotics.
It's not normal behaviour for a fox to run after a person - is this a rural or urban area?

Picklypickles · 09/10/2020 18:40

Awww that was mean, he was probably just full of the joys of Autumn and joining in with your run! Why would a fox chase a person? People are fucking terrifying and bloodthirsty.

Qwom · 09/10/2020 18:40

Loud noises will usually scare wild animals so if you're concerned it will chase you again maybe take a small bottle of gravel as a shaker to make noise or throw at it. It will survive

Original poster
ChasedByFox · 09/10/2020 18:41

I live in the middle of a huge city!
Last week I met a badger- but he harrumphed and ran off.
I think this chap was quite young perhaps, and was excited.

OP posts:
Original poster
ChasedByFox · 09/10/2020 18:42

@Picklypickles I am tiny- like a Y8 child- I am the least terrifying/bloodthirsty person you could imagine!

OP posts:
FunnyRobin · 09/10/2020 18:43

Depends where you live but I don’t think any animals in the U.K. carry rabies..and you would probably be more likely to get tetanus from a scratch on farmland. Foxes are usually shy creatures and wouldn’t normally attack without being provoked.

Stripesnomore · 09/10/2020 18:43

You are living the dream. I would love to have woodland animals following me around like I am a Disney Princess.

You should probably get an up to date tetanus jab regardless of any bites. They last ten years and it only takes a little bit of dirt to get in a graze...

Original poster
ChasedByFox · 09/10/2020 18:43

@Qwom why did the fox bit your DH? Shock

because he didn't growl at it!

OP posts:
amusedtodeath1 · 09/10/2020 18:44

I kind of like the idea of this cute little fox running alongside me, but in reality I'd have been worried too. It's not like you beat it with a stick OP. It'll be fine.

Qwom · 09/10/2020 18:45

Because it got in a fight with some dogs and was fatally injured. OH wanted to put him out of its suffering and it attached itself to his arm.

... he also didn't growl ferociously at it! 😂

MiddleClassProblem · 09/10/2020 18:46

Yeah we don’t have rabies. I think it was being playful. Or maybe was worried what you were running from and thought it had better go too 😂

Original poster
ChasedByFox · 09/10/2020 18:46

@amusedtodeath1 at first it was a bit "wow! This is surreal" and then I panicked a bit, and my heart rate was climbing, and I was wondering how I'd get help at 5:30 in the morning with my throat torn out...
Ok, maybe that bit wasn't quite rational, 5:30am isn't my best time!

OP posts:
Original poster
ChasedByFox · 09/10/2020 18:47

@Qwom oh, poor fox. And poor DH too, trying to do right for it and getting bitten

OP posts:
chipsandpeas · 09/10/2020 18:48

it probably wanted to play so chasing you was playing

HunkyPunk · 09/10/2020 18:48

GrinGrin
This reminds me of a story (true) which Rylan once told on 'Would I Lie To You' about being mugged by a fox which then stole his wallet. Shock You gotta watch these urban foxes!

Original poster
ChasedByFox · 09/10/2020 18:49

@MiddleClassProblem yes- maybe something else was behind us in the dark... Shock

That is quite terrifying actually. The scariest things in my neighbourhood don't usually get up before midday Wink

OP posts:
ChickensMightFly · 09/10/2020 18:49

What I want to know is, did you get a PB?

Original poster
ChasedByFox · 09/10/2020 18:49

@HunkyPunk wait, how did it steal his wallet??

OP posts:
peakygal · 09/10/2020 18:50

How selfish of you! Poor Mr Fox could have been in training Hmm 😂

Lurchermom · 09/10/2020 18:50

My DH chased one out of our kitchen barking at it a few years ago Confused Seemed to do the trick, it still hung around the gardens for a bit but didn't try the kitchen again.

Original poster
ChasedByFox · 09/10/2020 18:51

Haha @ChickensMightFly ! I think that may have been Wednesday, actually Grin

OP posts:
Qwom · 09/10/2020 18:51

It's lemurs you gotta watch out for - my little sis was mugged by a ring tail once! 😂

Original poster
ChasedByFox · 09/10/2020 18:52

It's ok @peakygal he didn't have any headphones on

OP posts:
HunkyPunk · 09/10/2020 18:57

Apparently he was on his way home after a night out, when he saw a fiox sitting on a wall. He stamped his foot at it to scare it off, but it jumped down and came towards him, then leapt up at him. In the ensuing fracas, he dropped his wallet and the fox made off with it! He told the same story on the One Show Grin

Original poster
ChasedByFox · 09/10/2020 19:02

@HunkyPunk I bet he was doing the same whole dialogue in his head as me.
"Oh, a fox!"
"That's amazing"

"Wait, what is it doing?"

"Um, could it hurt me if it attacked?"

"Erk". PANIC

OP posts: