We have foxes that live all around our home in the woods. While they will occasionally raid a bird feeder when they have young, for the most part we hardly ever see them. Maybe it was the time of day you were walking?
We live out in the country in a wooded area and have always had to take precautions because of predators. Animals like foxes like to hunt at night unless they have young. When they are feeding babies they have to work around the clock but still are very fearful of humans and stay away.
If you had a fox out in broad daylight I would be concerned about rabies. They as well as other small mammals are prone to rabies. Either that or they have run out of their normal prey and are starving. They are great at catching rodents and that is their main diet.
Sadly, when this kind of animal gets into a neighborhood setting many times they do not have the amount of prey they need to survive. They may need to be relocated.
I wait to walk Gracie for a few hours after sunup and a couple of hours before sunset. Any other time there is still a chance of the night hunters still being active. I keep her on a short leash and we have never had a wild animal attack of any sort although we have a forest full of wildlife. |