jyoutz
Super Member
We have PLENTY of coyotes in NM where I live, but their dens have much larger openings. If there are no badgers in VA, then it’s probably a fox den.
Is this a fox den?
- Thread starter Fuddy1952
- Start date
- Views: 6126
I like having them around, like Citydude said they are good at rodent control. Had a strange incident a couple of years ago, heard a ruckus one night turned on the backyard flood lights and startled a fox who had a skunk in its mouth, he dropped the skunk which promptly sprayed him and the front of the garden shed. The wife complained for weeks about the stink LOL.
Bill Guenthner
Platinum Member
Yeah, could be. Could be a skunk too. I didn't notice the size.
jyoutz
Super Member
Could be
California
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2004
- Messages
- 14,918
- Location
- An hour north of San Francisco
- Tractor
- Yanmar YM240 Yanmar YM186D
A friend with F&G said foxes live closer to people that we are aware. She said she gets lots of calls about foxes giving birth under peoples porches every year.
Here's our little guy. Just like a dog, he circled a few times in tighter circles before lying down for his nap with his tail over his nose under the tree nearest the house. Not very concerned that I took several photos from inside the window.
Here's our little guy. Just like a dog, he circled a few times in tighter circles before lying down for his nap with his tail over his nose under the tree nearest the house. Not very concerned that I took several photos from inside the window.
Last edited:
I have mixed emotions about predators. The first year that I tried to raise hens I was in my shed about this time of year and there was a raccoon halfway up the wall, glaring at me. Obviously she had a nest there so I went to the house, grabbed my pistol and chased her out. I then looked for the nest, and found 4 babies with their eyes still closed. I brought them all outside, placed them in a box covered with a towel and walked away, knowing well that I would regret it. An hour later they were gone...
Fast forward 2 months. I had 6 pullets in a pen secured in 1" chicken wire. One morning I came out and only had 3 pullets, and feathers on 3 corners of the pen. I still have no idea how they got the birds out. The pen was intact, there was no evidence of carnage in the pen. One must have been named "Scottie" and he just "beamed them up".
For a few years I had a fox denned up somewhere on one of the adjacent properties. My meat chickens were fairly young so were in a 4' tall pen near the house; I hadn't moved them up back where I generally keep my livestock. I was eating lunch when I heard them creating a ruckus; looking out I saw a fox running off. Again, I grabbed my pistol and tracked her as she skirted the edge of the tree line; again, I didn't want to shoot as I knew she must have babies nearby. After lunch we went up back to work and I knew as soon as I pulled in that something was wrong as my dog was going bonkers in the back seat. When I let him out he took off and found 2 dead hens and one injured rooster in a 200 foot radius. The rooster was paralyzed, and after giving him 24 hours to recover I ended up wringing his neck.
I've had weasels wipe out my flock (32 birds in one day) and had coyotes take a turkey. The first year that I raised pigs I saw one of the biggest bear tracks I've seen, in my freshly tilled garden about 50 yards from the 2 month old piglets.
Fast forward 2 months. I had 6 pullets in a pen secured in 1" chicken wire. One morning I came out and only had 3 pullets, and feathers on 3 corners of the pen. I still have no idea how they got the birds out. The pen was intact, there was no evidence of carnage in the pen. One must have been named "Scottie" and he just "beamed them up".
For a few years I had a fox denned up somewhere on one of the adjacent properties. My meat chickens were fairly young so were in a 4' tall pen near the house; I hadn't moved them up back where I generally keep my livestock. I was eating lunch when I heard them creating a ruckus; looking out I saw a fox running off. Again, I grabbed my pistol and tracked her as she skirted the edge of the tree line; again, I didn't want to shoot as I knew she must have babies nearby. After lunch we went up back to work and I knew as soon as I pulled in that something was wrong as my dog was going bonkers in the back seat. When I let him out he took off and found 2 dead hens and one injured rooster in a 200 foot radius. The rooster was paralyzed, and after giving him 24 hours to recover I ended up wringing his neck.
I've had weasels wipe out my flock (32 birds in one day) and had coyotes take a turkey. The first year that I raised pigs I saw one of the biggest bear tracks I've seen, in my freshly tilled garden about 50 yards from the 2 month old piglets.
Talk of using snares and Conibears really shows the difference of opinions between here and other places. While it isn't supposed to happen, neither of those is very forgiving and if the neighbors pet wandered off I wouldn't want to be responsible. Especially since the OP doesn't even know what it is. Instead I have some nice 1 3/4 Victor coilsprings which make a nice live trap for most canines smaller than a wolf. (Also some bigger traps for wolf sized animals, although we don't have to worry about that. Yet.)
That's one thing that I remember about working in Vermont; apparently they even set 330's on dry ground. I was working for the landowner, and had my dog; and not impressed when I came across an old 330 set next to my cruise line. The trap was gone but the set was still there.
That's one thing that I remember about working in Vermont; apparently they even set 330's on dry ground. I was working for the landowner, and had my dog; and not impressed when I came across an old 330 set next to my cruise line. The trap was gone but the set was still there.
OP
Fuddy1952
Elite Member
- Joined
- Apr 17, 2018
- Messages
- 3,191
- Location
- South Central Virginia
- Tractor
- 1973 Economy and 2018 John Deere 3038E
We have lots of groundhogs making a mess tunneling under buildings. I lived in the country all my life...just wanted opinions. I've seen lots of wildlife, I don't hunt...never hunted.
I've had coyote move in which decimate other animals. I understand the balance of nature but when I see rabbits, quail killed I'll shoot/snare the coyote. We have fox, they're OK, mountain lion, bear, bobcat, raccoon, etc.
Opossums I lived trap.
I've had coyote move in which decimate other animals. I understand the balance of nature but when I see rabbits, quail killed I'll shoot/snare the coyote. We have fox, they're OK, mountain lion, bear, bobcat, raccoon, etc.
Opossums I lived trap.
kenmbz
Super Member
- Joined
- May 8, 2019
- Messages
- 6,202
- Location
- S.E. PA
- Tractor
- Massey Ferguson GC1720/Simplicity Regents/Echo CS-490/CS-620
Does look like a fox den. We have the same Fox have litters here this year and last.
They keep the squirrel , mouse and rabbit populations down. Haven't seen a mole in a while.
Used to have squirrels massing up on trees here, dozens of them, now only see a few here and there.
Too bad they don't seem to go for groundhogs, the 2 under our shed still seem to be around.
And they are smart enough to not go after skunks, since we have a few around here.
They keep the squirrel , mouse and rabbit populations down. Haven't seen a mole in a while.
Used to have squirrels massing up on trees here, dozens of them, now only see a few here and there.
Too bad they don't seem to go for groundhogs, the 2 under our shed still seem to be around.
And they are smart enough to not go after skunks, since we have a few around here.
stuckmotor
Super Member
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2009
- Messages
- 5,302
- Location
- Lower Up State S.C.
- Tractor
- AC WD 34 hp/3500 lbs MF 261 60 hp/5380 lbs
I'm not knowledgeable about the housing habits of skunks but, we have a few that have a great deal of white colored by red clay. This makes me think they must dig to some extent. They could well live underground.