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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:
worlybear · 09/10/2020 21:17

The fox thought you were a chicken.
(Should've gone to Specsavers.)

MissyEllyPants · 09/10/2020 21:18

I would guess, being a canine, it is the prey drive kicking in. I think ceasing running and facing it would have probably stopped it, but growling is fineGrin. I'm sure it won't be traumatised.

FunnyRobin · 09/10/2020 21:36

TheLovleyChebbyMcGee

According to PHE:

Rabies does not circulate in either wild or domestic animals in the UK, although some species of bats can carry a rabies-like virus. Human rabies is extremely rare in the UK. No human cases of rabies acquired in the UK from animals other than bats have been reported since 1902. A single case of human rabies acquired from a bat was reported in 2002 in Scotland; this individual had sustained a number of bat bites. 5 cases of human rabies associated with animal exposures abroad occurred between 2000 and 2017.

SirGawain · 09/10/2020 21:36

@Picklypickles

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.
Revenge!
TheMamaYo · 09/10/2020 21:39

YABU!GrinGrin I'd have loved an experience like that with any wildlife. I HAD to vote YABU.

Also, though, I might be jealous that you're out jogging that time anyway, whilst I only wobble my fat bottom out of bed at 7. So YABVU!Grin

TracyBeakerSoYeah · 09/10/2020 21:56

@worlybear are you insinuating that the fox was actually Dominic Cummings in disguise? Grin

Thecurtainsofdestiny · 09/10/2020 22:20

Often see urban foxes here. One night I arrived home in the car and encountered one that was crossing the road.

It was so startled that it opened its mouth in surprise, thereby dropping a sausage that it was making off with.

I felt quite sorry that it had lost its supper. It looked like it was looking forward to that sausage.

Rowgtfc72 · 09/10/2020 22:30

Were urban and have 3 foxes that live in the local cemetery. Weve nicknamed the biggest one Gary( Leicester city pun).

Gary's not keen on 13yr old dd. He plays hide and seek behind the car and wont let her down the drive. If shes not quick he will block the front door.

Gary likes to sit on dhs and the neighbours car roofs and chew the aerials. Dh is unamused as he leaves paw prints. He also let's himself in the kitchen when dh leaves the back door open.

Gary's my mate. When I leave for work at 445am he waits the other side of the gate and walks me down the drive. If I'm late he sits on the pavement banging his tail on the floor. He trots alongside me as I bike up the street and leaves me at the end of the road.

If we shout gary out the bedroom window hell come over to say hello. However when we first met him I will admit he scared the living daylights out of me in the dark and I did stamp my feet and growl at him as hes a big bugger. I think hes forgiven me.

To growl at a fox that is chasing me?
ILiveInSalemsLot · 09/10/2020 22:33

The foxes around here own the land. They sit atop cars, surveying their manor, Mark their territory all over the place, like my front door step (I was livid about that), the decking and anywhere else.
They just stroll around at all hours.
They can be a bit sinister but do tend to run away if you march purposefully at them.

timeforanewstart · 09/10/2020 22:39

Foxes here run its the bloody badgers that don't
They get to my food bin and i shout from window at them ( no way im going too close ) and they just look up at me and continue trying to get in the bloody bin

timeforanewstart · 09/10/2020 22:43

And the bats scare the crap out of me , they fly too low foe my liking

Original poster
ChasedByFox · 09/10/2020 22:47

Ooh- more pictures, thank you!

@timeforanewstart the badger doesn't chase me though, he just runs away when he sees me. The first time he saw me, I must have terrified him, because he made a noise like a startled pig and blundered off into undergrowth.

OP posts:
Shxx · 09/10/2020 22:48

first LOL
maybe he wanted a jog partner, if he was going to attack it would have been in a group, I regularly see foxes on my outing with my XL bully dog who love them

ILiveInSalemsLot · 09/10/2020 22:49

I’d love to see a badger. And an owl.

TracyBeakerSoYeah · 09/10/2020 22:50

Seen those so I'll raise you a deer sauntering across the road

Original poster
ChasedByFox · 09/10/2020 22:56

@ILiveInSalemsLot We have owls too, so many owls. They're so noisy, they never shut up! (Well, they do in the daytime, but all night I mean). I've never seen one though.

OP posts:
Original poster
ChasedByFox · 09/10/2020 22:57

@Shxx but he could have been the distraction fox- while I was watching him, the others could have been encircling me, unnoticed.

OP posts:
Original poster
ChasedByFox · 09/10/2020 22:59

Badgers are weird close up though, aren't they? I assumed they were sort of dog shaped, but they're more like large boxes of cornflakes on legs.

OP posts:
Original poster
ChasedByFox · 09/10/2020 23:00

We don't get deer @TracyBeakerSoYeah - they would all be hit by cars in no time Sad

OP posts:
2bazookas · 09/10/2020 23:02

foxes can be very playful. We had a big dog fox living nearby which used to come to the door at night and bark for my female dog to go out and play. They took turns chasing each other and having fun, no aggression. When I went to call the dog in to bed, the fox used to run to the door with her, grinning at me, no fear at all. I've often seen that fox playing with the kids football at night.

grassisjeweled · 09/10/2020 23:02

You outfoxed him

timeforanewstart · 09/10/2020 23:02

Badgers are bigger than you think really you can see how strong they are , we have loads round here .
Also bats and i an scared of them , seen an owl twice but my mum has one out back of her that you can here but can't see
I live in area where we just keep building in all surronding fields so wildlife is being pushed info the town
I would be petrified if i got chased by a fox op so you are braver than me, I would only go out in light again
When im out and the bats appear i take that as a sign to go in Smile

itchyfinger · 09/10/2020 23:02

You need a tetanus jab for puncture wounds ie wounds that have not been exposed to oxygen. Not animal scratches.

TracyBeakerSoYeah · 09/10/2020 23:11

but they're more like large boxes of cornflakes on legs
I love that description!

This is a really lovely thread
(I may have had too much wine & dark chocolate with raspberries)

Original poster
ChasedByFox · 09/10/2020 23:23

He was really wide and flat, kind of like a black and white furry footstool!

OP posts:
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