General Chat

I would consider it highly unlikely that a fox would get near enough to a human being to hurt it - vice versa. They are generally very shy and avoid humans whenever possible. They are becoming more prevalent in built up areas I know because people leave food hanging around but I would not class them as a health hazard by any means

I would guess the fox that sparked this thread probably hid from the kids under the Portacabin as it recognized they were just as much wild animals as it was and thought they might try and eat it. ;) Kids being what they are at playtime I can imagine them doing that. :)

I wouldn't think there was a problem. I used to be a midday supervisor in a school and I am sure we wouldn't have panicked, it was as Sally said probably hiding from the kids, perhaps got caught out snoozing in the sun or something and bolted under there when they came out. If there are food scraps about it will tempted so best just to make sure the children don't leave any food out and just watch to see if it turns up again.
Interesting for them to see a fox, had many seen one up close like that before? A chance for a nature lesson at school.
Lizx

I fully agree with Liz about the nature lesson at school. If it's still under the Portacabin tomorrow. it may have cubs. Tell the children keep away and leave it alone - a bit of self discipline can do no harm!! The fox won't attack unless cornered.
There's many a bug in the school pond that is probably more harmful than can be caught from a fox that isn't touched!!!

maggie

I LIVE IN SORT OF TOWN
WE HAVE HAD FOXES
RUNNING AROUND ALL
NIGHT
THERE FASINATING
AND SO FAR IN 40 YEARS
NO PROBLEM

have you thought that maybe one of the children could be leaving food for it?
Its possible:-)

Foxes have more protection under UK legislation than the foetus in the womb.

2 foxes broke into my hen run this morning and killed my chooks, so not feeling very kind towards them. My 9-year-old tried to chase them off and is very upset as she treated the hens as pets.

They're usually very timid, but this time of year are much bolder because they have cubs to feed.

Well OH and I have HAND fed foxes in our back garden.

We love them they are cute and part of the countryside and have every right to roam this planet the same as us. We also have badgers who roam our garden as well. Plus the occasional rat, dog, cat, mouse, frog, toad, worm, ant, hedgehog, bats, squirrel, ferret, sloe worm ..........

Tina x

It's no more likely to spread disease than any other wild animal and will run off if approached.

Just leave it to get on with its life.

Going to live with Tina. I think all wildlife is beautiful & think the children were lucky to have seen a fox. Like Liz says a wonderful oppurtunity to start a wildlife project at school. Usually the only reason foxes are around humans is because we have left so much mess behind. Unless it was hurt there would be no danger from it. If it was hurt it would'nt have run off like it did.
Hilary. x

Have a look on here.

http://www.thefoxwebsite.org/urbanfoxes/urbanconflict.html

Marion

I have never had a problem with them

have a resident family of foxes at the bottom of my garden , they rarely come up to the house end of the garden only to drink from the pond when we are in the house

they are timid and even frightened of the cat who chased one away one day.

they will not attack the children , treat them the same as a dog if you are cruel to them they may turn.

some do carry mange but i've never heard of an british fox carrying rabies

found this info on our local council website

do not worry about the fox he was more frightend of the children than they where of him


Do Foxes Harbour Rabies?
No. Rabies has not been found in the United Kingdom for some considerable time. However, if rabies does come to the UK, Local Authorities have emergency plans which do include the rural and urban fox.



Are Foxes a Hazard to Pets?
Firstly, foxes do not attack dogs because they are simply too large and aggressive. Attacks on cats are not unknown but are rare. Typical cat/fox encounters are characterised by mutual fear and respect. Foxes do, however, attack pet rabbits and guinea pigs, so every effort should be made to protect them with weld mesh and sturdy hutch construction. Foxes do not mate with either cats or dogs as both are biologically different.



Do Foxes Attack Man?
Attacks are very rare and are normally the result of provocation or cornering. Whilst some urban foxes seem to be fearless of man, the first instinct on coming into close contact with a human is to escape. Many people express concern regarding foxes and young children, fearing that foxes will attack them when they are at play. But unlike other members of the dog family, there has never been a recorded case of a child being attacked by a fox, urban or otherwise

The fox is yet another wild animal who has taken advantage of humans litter and waste. We (the human animal) leave our towns/villages/countryside littered with food and other rubbish, then get upset when the fox, pigeon and rat population grows and moves into towns etc.

Tip for the school? Instruct children (and staff) to disgard their waste food and other rubbish safely and securely. If there is nothing around for the fox to eat, he will go elsewhere.

Fox kills indiscrimanently? Bit like humans eh? lol

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~waves to Hilary~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You are welcome.

(our foxes have not smelt and one of them was a dog).

We had quite a few earlier on in the year but they seem to have gone. Our favourite one - whom we hand fed and came knocking on the patio door for his supper - yes you read read - he would scrap the patio door and sit and wait - we have not seen for a while. We are concerned that he may have got run over.

We have allotments at the back of our gardens so plenty of wildlife lives and roams there.

Tina xx

maryjane-sue:-))
I love your reply,you are so right:-)

One of our friends has a graveyard at bottom of their garden & they get foxes & deer through the hedge. Have been lucky to see both. Unfortunately the only foxes & badgers we usually see are squashed on the roads.
Yes, I would be one to encourage it into my garden.
~~~~~~~~~~waves back to Tina~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hilary. xx

We have then visiting in our garden daily,no problem at all.**M**.

My daughter had two foxs familys at the top of her garden she has two boys and a dog they only came down the garden when there was know one about we would watch them from the window Valxxx

Have them in our garden, when the cat is out, they just look at each other, as the fox passes to go in next door's garden.

I was in the garden one day and a fox came along carrying one of it's cubs in it's mouth, took no notice of me.

I agree though, keep all rabbits, and other such pets, and chickens locked up if you dont have your eye on them.