People do treat them as semi-pets here. Not going to be good news for them or us in the long term. As with dogs and cats, things get very emotive online in seconds. "Our fluffy babies... " etc.
Dove, what's your take on risk to infants? Is there any hard evidence in the UK that infants have been attacked - over suspicion, tabloid hysteria and worry?
[I hope it's ok to tack the topic on here. I can start a new thread, if you prefer. x]
@Fire 😊 I have no idea about the veracity of such newspaper articles … however IME if you treat animals in a way that alters their behaviour in one way you can’t be surprised if it changes their behaviour in other ways too. Hence the law of unintended consequences.
We gave up hand feeding robins in this garden when they started coming into the house, perching on the back of the rocking chair and ‘shouting’ at us to feed them … I was worried that one day they’d come into the house without us noticing and we’d ho out for the day shutting them in the house.
If I lived in a very urban environment (such as where I lived or where @WonkyWomble lives now) I wouldn’t leave a small child in a bedroom with a window opening that was accessible, whether to foxes, cats, rats or burglars without a metal safety grid secured over the opening.
I’d be happy with the top of a sash open as long as the window is secured and there’s no ‘taking off point/launch pad’ eg top of garden wall, NDN’s extension roof etc within at least 6ft of the window opening.
It’s not just foxes that are opportunists.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Foxes, around here, are very brave. On a Saturday recently, when I was weeding in my back garden, a fox came and was coolly digging in one of my rose pots. When I tried to shoo it away it just stood there and glared at me before leaping over the 8" fence.
Oxford. The City of Dreaming Spires.
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils (roses). Taking a bit of liberty with Wordsworth
The foxes are almost eating out of people's hands where I am. I think Covid intensified the relationship and feeding habits and the 'pet' obsession.
I think the "Pet" obsession began long before Covid - Foxes, Grey Squirrels to name just 2 - if it moves and is furry or, heaven forbid, looks "cute", people will encourage, feed (whether intentional or unintential due to food waste ) and ultimately alter their behaviour to an extent that they are regarded as pests. The sooner we learn to differentiate between a pet and a wild animal the better - probably a bit late in the day unfortunately.
A few years ago a fox entered a house in a town and took both baby twins. i wouldn’t trust them. They are an absolute pain at lambing time, they stand by the barn door ready to pounce on the lamb as soon as it’s born, if they don’t get that they’ll pounce on the afterbirth.
Theres a big different between town and country folks where animals are concerned.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
@Dovefromabove. Lovely temperament from the L.Sussex but you should have seen him protecting his flock when the fox stated attacking them, it was like a cock fight, he did his best, the big trio survived but I lost quite a few others. We went down to the hounds kennels and the keeper came up on foot on the night.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
There are plenty of people in London who are terrified and hate foxes. Our community is pretty split about it. As with cats. Neighbours spat about it often. My NDN leaves food out in the alley for foxes every night, to the fury of other neighbours.
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If I lived in a very urban environment (such as where I lived or where @WonkyWomble lives now) I wouldn’t leave a small child in a bedroom with a window opening that was accessible, whether to foxes, cats, rats or burglars without a metal safety grid secured over the opening.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
The sooner we learn to differentiate between a pet and a wild animal the better - probably a bit late in the day unfortunately.
i wouldn’t trust them.
They are an absolute pain at lambing time, they stand by the barn door ready to pounce on the lamb as soon as it’s born, if they don’t get that they’ll pounce on the afterbirth.
Theres a big different between town and country folks where animals are concerned.
We went down to the hounds kennels and the keeper came up on foot on the night.