Fox after my baby! A couple of months ago we saw three half grown fox kits playing in our backyard where it backs up to the deep woods. They were rolling around like puppies and they looked so cute. Then a few weeks later the lady up the road told me she'd been shooting them because they came around in broad daylight and she was afraid they were rabid. We didn't think that indicated rabies in foxes, but we let it go because she has small children and what can you say to a woman protecting her children? All this was before I got my Susan and we'd all but forgotten about it; besides we knew the neighbor had killed one and wounded another and was after the third. About a week ago when I was outside with Susan at dusk I saw an animal come into the yard, but I couldn't make it out and I thought it might be the neighbor's cat except that it had awfully big ears for a cat. Then yesterday afternoon, I had Susie out off lead and a young adult fox came into the yard. She saw it and started wiggling and running toward it. Then it snarled and I looked and saw it. At first I thought it was a bobcat because of the snarl. Susie's getting to that independent stage and she wouldn't stop immediately when I told her to and I panicked. Fortunately my husband was out working on the car and he came running and threw a rock at the fox and it ran off and Susan came back when he yelled. So now Susie has lost her off lead priviledges. It gives me the creeps to think that fox is out there waiting for her. It's pretty scary. The fox was really close yesterday, about the distance you have to leave between the last parked car and the corner when you have cars parked along the street. I guess it really could be rabid. The neighbor called some sort of official and they told her to just shoot it, so I don't think we're going to get any action out of whatever they call Animal Control here. I'm going to tell the vet this week when we go. Plus I want to get a pump bb gun that I can pump up just enough to give a nasty sting. I don't want to use anything more powerful because the fox sometimes goes into the woods between our house and the neighbors' and I'm afraid I might shoot one of the kids. They're not supposed to be in the woods there, but you never know. I'm not as skilled at gun safety as my husband is. |
OMG! One more animal to protect our babies from!! If you are in the Ozarks, which I am as well in the Arkansas side, you might consider calling the Wildlife extension office. I know around here, they have relocated animals like bears and bobcats that take up residence in people's yards. They might be much more helpful than animal control, who seems to be more involved in domestic animals. |
Oh wow...I am glad your baby was ok! We do not have foxes here but we had been warned about hawks (But so far no sightings)...I know where my ex mom in law lives in NJ there are soo soo many...I would not let Sammi out of my site becuase they carry the lil ones off...They are mighty strong!! XoXo Fran and Sammi |
Thank you! I am in Arkansas too. That's a great idea! We used to see foxes in broad daylight in the middle of city neighborhoods in Tulsa, OK, too. We even saw a news report that said that foxes and coyotes are learning to adapt to urban life. The City of Tulsa recommends that owners of small dogs like Yorkies paper train their dogs and NEVER let them outside alone. A lot of pets have been killed by coyotes. One older lady witnessed a coyote tear her Maltese apart. Isn't that just awful? They had to put the woman in the hospital because of shock. So not even cities are safe. I'm glad you mentioned hawks! I've been wondering. One day a vulture circled us when we were outside with Susan but my husband said he thought it was just looking for thermals. I took her inside anyway. |
Susansmom-you must not be too far from me! Northwest Arkansas is absolutely beautiful with mountains, trees, bluffs, and rivers-but there sure is a lot of wildlife to look out for. Even as urban as Fayetteville is getting, we still have our share of wild animals around. Kind of off subject, but if you are anywhere near the MO border, did you know Extreme Makeover Home Edition is in your neighborhood? They just finished doing Camp Barnabas in Purdy, MO. A nurse from our pediatric clinic was there for it. Camp Barnabas is a summer camp for disabled kids of all types: CP, Blind, CF etc. They give them a "normal" camp experience-it's simply amazing. Anyway, EX. Home makeover did the main house, and did alot of stuff in the camp altogether! It will be airing in October sometime. |
I told my hubby about your scare and he said that a b b gun might not have enough power to get through a fox fur and to use a pellet gun instead. It shouldn't kill him, but would be what you need to let go of your Susan if he got a hold of her or to get his attention not to come around your house again. :rolleyes: T. |
That's the third time this week I've heard that! Quote:
Then this week a friend at work (her daughter has a Yorkie) said they saw a hawk snatch a squirrel from their back deck, take it up high and then dropped it killing it for dinner! :eek: We live in the suburbs (she's in a condo community) so it TOTALLY freaked her out!! We're not used to 'the wilds'. She said the squirrel was about the size of their Yorkie... |
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what a scare you must be very careful....wild things like that can have rabies |
OMG! thats so scary! my b/f parents live out in the country and when bentley use to stay out there i would get so paranoid if he was outside during the day b/c of hawks..then at night i was so afraid a coyote was going to get him!! Plus we never had ben on a leash so he would've been a goner! It's just hard to really think another animal would try to come and eat our babies! |
Holy cow, that is scarey! Thank goodness everything is okay! |
That is very scarey! Our house is completely fenced in with a concrete fence so I always felt pretty safe that nothing could get in, but recently I have heard stories of owls swooping down and taking animals so needless to say Teddy is never allowed outdoors without close supervision. |
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OMG! Get a stun gun! When I get my yorkie...I'm gonna make him "wear" an umbrella! :eek: An acquaintance of mine mentioned a co-worker had her ****z Su carried off by a Hawk? Is that possible? It 2 years old! It must have been at least 15 pounds! Francie |
These stories are so sad not just for our babies but also for the wildlife. We keep building and using up land and pushing the wildlife out of their homes then they have to adapt or die. Get in touch with your local wildlife agencies and find out humane ways of handleing the problem you'd be surprised at all the alternatives available. |
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