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Best time to feed foxes?

debs64debs64 Posts: 5,184
in Wildlife gardening
Hi all, we have spotted a vixen with a single cub on our allotment and want to feed them, I have some food rejected by my fussy cats and was planning to leave it for them. There are rats on the allotment too, I don’t mind them but maybe shouldn’t encourage them so is there a good time to feed the foxes when rats are less likely to take the food? Hope someone can help. 
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Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    My neighbour feeds the local foxes at dusk every night - throughout the year and for all the 30+ years I've lived here!
    They wait under bushes in their front garden to be fed.
    When they go on hols I get given a box of dog biscuits, a pile of cooked sausages and lumps of cheese to feed them...
    I have no strong views on feeding them but they usually leave a little thank you on my drive that I don't appreciate.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Very wise words Dove!

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Never.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • TenNTenN Posts: 184
    It's a nice idea but we can't make wild animals reliant on us, she needs to teach that cub how to feed itself. In the wild they only have to worry about morons in red coats but in cities they have the risk of cars, dogs, transferable disease, plastic ingestion, and rat poisons.
  • steephillsteephill Posts: 2,841
    The foxes will eat the rats and mice around the allotments so don't offer easier food.
  • GemmaJFGemmaJF Posts: 2,286
    Best time to feed any wild animal, never. Enjoy them for what they are. I know it is nice to feel you have a special bond, but really it is not doing the fox any good at all.
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    Sorry Debs, but l have to agree. I know where you're coming from, but they are wild animals. 
    They may well help with the rat problem though! 
    Bit of info here
    https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2019/08/what-foxes-eat/
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    Another vote for " Never" 
    Devon.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Never.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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