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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:
altiara · 14/10/2020 22:06

Think the fox must’ve thought you were running from someone huge and he’d better join in to be on the safe side!
I’ve roared at foxes before, I was cross and didn’t want them attacking my dog or being attacked by the dog. One looked quite put out and stalked off down the road.
Have also met badgers while walking the dog, they can run really fast! I’d describe them as a beautiful striped head attached to an enormous wobbly bottom.

Meadowland · 14/10/2020 22:51

This is from the RSPCA website :
"Fiction: Foxes are dangerous to people and pets!
Fact: This is simply scaremongering.

Confirmed attacks on people are extremely rare and as TV presenter and wildlife expert Chris Packham pointed out, you're in fact approximately 62 times more likely to be bitten by a human than you are a fox.

There's also no evidence that the parasites and diseases foxes may be carrying pose any significant risk to people or domestic pets and there are very few attacks by foxes on domestic pets as foxes are natural scavengers"
They also keep down the rat population.
They are not classed as pests but as wildlife.

RattleOfBars · 15/10/2020 21:15

Erm, would you do the same to a dog? Fox attacks (on anyone, let alone children) are incredibly rare....maybe one every 5 or more years. Dog attacks, in the other hand, are common and often deadly.

Yes, if I felt threatened by the dog eg it was displaying aggressive body language or growling and no owner was in sight!

FunnyRobin · 15/10/2020 22:13

RattleOfBars
You would kill a dog for growling at you??!! It sounds like an incredibly irrational response, unless it was a big dog and actually attacking you.

I’ve seen hundreds upon hundreds of foxes on my walks home at night and never once seen any sign of aggression. They aren’t dangerous animals. I don’t think there’s been a single documented death by fox bite in the U.K.

Original poster
ChasedByFox · 16/10/2020 12:12

you're in fact approximately 62 times more likely to be bitten by a human than you are a fox

Hmm, as I have a very bitey, licky DC2, that's definitely more likely @meadowland ! Grin

@FunnyRobin

I’ve seen hundreds upon hundreds of foxes on my walks home at night and never once seen any sign of aggression

Yes, I see them frequently- he wasn't actiing aggressively, but I couldn't judge his expression and admittedly panicked a little.

Had it been a dog, I would have been very worried (we're not in an area that ever has strays, and any poor dog out at 5am would likely be very hungry, or perhaps injured)

Anyway, I've been out a few times since and no sight of Mr Fox. I did hear him crying in the undergrowth this morning though, but I stomped and huffed a bit more than usual, and he didn't show himself.

OP posts:
yetanothernamitynamechange · 16/10/2020 12:18

I only ever get chased while running by very small dogs which is annoying as it just makes the sight of me running even more comical than it already is.
I also think that the people posting that foxes are generally shy dont live in the city - bold as brass some of those foxes are.
Finally, I think that actually you are a Disney Princess and just don't realise it yet. Do you also find youself bursting into song when having internal monologues? Do you secretly hope that one day your prince will come? Are you an orphan/ do you live with a cruel mother figure? All tell-tale signs...

OpEd · 16/10/2020 12:30

Ffs this is all PETA's fault, the hunters have become the hunted 😂

RattleOfBars · 16/10/2020 21:47

RattleOfBars
You would kill a dog for growling at you??!! It sounds like an incredibly irrational response, unless it was a big dog and actually attacking you.

Kill it for growling? No, I’d pick up a big stick or get my Swiss Army knife out. Then I’d shout at it (most dogs back down when they realise you’re not an easy target). If it attacked I wouldn’t hesitate to kill it.
Any dog that bites or attacks someone on public land would be seized by police and put down anyway.

OntheWaves40 · 16/10/2020 21:49

Waw what an amazing story

Purplealienpuke · 16/10/2020 23:05

I was staying with a relative in London a few years ago. Im always up early and heard some weird noise from the garden and went out to find foxes shagging on shed roof... they were looking right at me, a very awkward few minutes before they jumped down into a neighbours garden, still going at it 🤣

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