Constant Barking...A Reason??
By MsTickle
@MsTickle (25180)
Australia
May 6, 2008 7:00pm CST
I'm minding my friends dog while he gets his cattle loaded to go to the sale yards. We live in a small country town. His dog was barking foer a half hour and it was really starting to annoy me so I got up to investigate and thought she was barking at the horse in the paddock across the road. But no, I saw a really weird looking animal skulk into the long grass in the big block joining mine at the back. It seemes like a very dirty cat with and extra long tail and of course my camera was frozen....natch. By now several other dogs are going off and I see it is a filthy little fox that looks awful. The foxes I've seen in my travels have never been near towns and they have brushy tails and golden coats. This one's tail looks like it's been skinned.
It's been over an hour and Blinky is stilll going off and it's really getting on my nerves. It can't get into our yard so the goats are safe. I guess the drought conditions have brought in in close to get a feed. No wonder there have been no kangaroos around lately. I have to go for a walk.
I know lots of you live in a semi rural area like me....do you ever see foxes coming so close to town?
7 people like this
18 responses
@Katlady2 (9904)
• United States
7 May 08
I live in a rural town, at the north end. And lately we have had skunks walking down our street, and yes, a fox or two have shown up unexpectedly. But they were pretty timid so it didn't take much to get them to go back the other way. Even the coyotes are starting to come closer and closer to town. I think that because of the weather changes and the recent housing boom around our town, the animals are looking for new homes and more food. I get a bit worried about my outside kitties sometimes because of it too.
2 people like this
@Katlady2 (9904)
• United States
19 May 08
It's more of a "countrified" town. It's not big enough to be called a city. I mean, we have a couple of big grocery stores, a few fast food restaurants, a couple of hardware stores, but nothing really big enough to draw in crowds like the cities do. We are surrounded by orchards and rice fields. It's a big farming community.
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
8 May 08
So what do you mean by a rural town? I live in a little village with a pub, a post office a cafe and a cop shop. There is very little traffic and a lagoon that winds it's way along the outskirts of towmn. We get roos in town but there are lots of dogs too.
I'd be worried about your kitties too Carryl.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
7 May 08
I would love to see a fox, they are beautiful but I live in the city so I do not get to see anything other than the ocassional skunk or possible raccoon.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
8 May 08
no \I know that one wasn't beautiful, probably starving and sick, but the fox is general is a beautiful looking animal and that was what I was saying.
@jesbellaine (4139)
• Philippines
7 May 08
Me too. I want to see a white fox and take a picture. I also live in the city so I don't see much of those animals.
1 person likes this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
15 May 08
Last year we seen a fox. my brother in law tried to shoot it because it was trying to kill his chickens which is no excuse to be cruel to a animal he should just try to trap it in a box trap so not to harm it and take it somewhere else and let it loose. Or trap it and call someone to come and get it. Only time they should b put down is if they have rabbies. I would love ot see a kangaroo up close and personal, that be an awesome experience. Well be careful on your walk because never know if since it looked like it did it might have rabbies or something. Since this is a week old..sorry didn't get to it sooner. Have you seen the fox since?
1 person likes this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
19 May 08
Bramham steer is that a bull? I have seen alot of those we used to live on a farm and take care of alot of cows, bull,horses and a few other animals and my brother even tried to ride a cow once when he was 11 years old. But we had a few favorites that would follow us around like pets and they were really cute.
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
18 May 08
I heard lots of dogs barking a few nights ago for some time but no, I haven't seen any sign of him. There have been a few runaway chickens in and around my huge backyard for a couple of days so I guess the fox is gone. I like your ideas of removal, that's very humane. If a wild animal is sick though and wondering around town he should be put down. I'd hate for any of my animals to get sick.
I love to see a roo up close too, even though I've done so lots of times...they are incredible. I love any critter though and I love to be able to get close. I got to pet a brahmin steer at the local fair last Friday ... apparently it's a pet...lol.
@Darkwing (21583)
•
8 May 08
As you know my friend, I live in the countryside, and my neighbour puts bread and other tidbits out on the window ledge at night, for the badger that comes around. However, with the sheep field at the back, Mr. Fox also comes down at night, and has gotten into the habit of joining Mr. Badger for supper, in our back garden! lol.
Before she started putting the tidbits out, I used to open the curtains in the still of the night and see Mr. Fox walking across the road, and up the footpath, choosing which gate to go in, but now we have higher dustbins, he can't take food from there, so in he comes, and joins Mr. Badger. Mr. Badger brought his youngsters around for supper last night... but no Mr. Fox!
Brightest Blessings, my dear friend. xxx
@Darkwing (21583)
•
9 May 08
They're quite heavy creatures, and they have a sort of elongated head, rather than a long nose. Then, their nose is much smaller of course, but a bit like a pig's snout. Their heads are black and white, and the rest of their body a black-brown colour. I love them!
I've put a pic in here for you, my friend. xx
@newzealtralian (3930)
• Australia
27 May 08
When we were living out in the middle of nowhere, there were foxes around. We heard them more than we saw them, but they were there all the time.
With the drought conditions in Australia, they are looking for food and water and if there are dogs around, they will steal from them if they can.
Sadly, all of this puts more pressure on our wildlife and there isn't a lot being done to rid our continent of this introduced pest.
Oh, they won't go for goats, unless you have baby goats. Foxes are clever but not brave. Anything bigger than them and they leave well a lone. If you are worried, get a couple of alpacas in with your goats, they make great guardians and are very cute and well behaved. There wool is also in high demand at the moment.
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
2 Jun 08
I'm not worried about my goats...they have a high fence. I'd say the little guy I saw was badly affected by the drought. He was in such dreadful condition. I haven't seen him or heard anything since 1 or 2 nights after I first saw him. We had chickens loose running around the street at that time so something must have scared him off.
1 person likes this
@newzealtralian (3930)
• Australia
11 Jul 08
Let's hope he either crossed over quickly or has moved on. I have to say, it is a dilemma having foxes around. On one hand, they are gorgeous in their own right, on the other, they attack our native animals.
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
8 May 08
This is certainly weird, MsTickle and if you ask me, perhaps there is some kind of magic going on? 
. Anyway, I've never had the chance to see a real fox because I live in an urban and modern city life here in Singapore.
If given the chance, I would love to set up a home in a semi-rural area someday. The nature would be a plus point to my seeking relaxation nature.
. Anyway, I've never had the chance to see a real fox because I live in an urban and modern city life here in Singapore.
If given the chance, I would love to set up a home in a semi-rural area someday. The nature would be a plus point to my seeking relaxation nature.1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
9 May 08
I don't think it's magic Zed, but it is strange and I intend to check it out when I have time
I've lived in Singapore...Changi and Seletar Hills, and I've lived in Sydney and Brisbane. I love where I am now in a semi remopte rural community. It's a good thing to dream about and aim for.
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
8 May 08
It's been doing alright with the neighbours chicken Wee. I guess it gives us more reason to secure our domestic animals safely. My cat has the run of the place usually and isn't afraid of the dogs around the place...I'll have to try and keep him inside for a while.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
7 May 08
It is nothing unusual to see foxes in town. They run down the sidewalk. I have seen two varieties in town. The red one, that is taller, and a smaller one that is more golden and less often seen.It may be called a kit fox.
@misheleen73 (6037)
• United States
7 May 08
Where I live is a town, but we are surrounded by farming fields, etc. We get foxes, coyotes (they hide a bit better) skunks and yes even had deer running down main street once.. that was fun. Not to mention the occassional cow in the road 911 call..lol. I mean it can be quite zoo-ish round these parts. Have to say that you got me beat with the kangaroos though :)
1 person likes this
@misheleen73 (6037)
• United States
10 May 08
I wish I could see roos.. I always wanted to visit Australia, but seriously doubt I'll ever get the chance.. oh well.. Where I live in between towns is a lot of farmland, etc so we have quite a bit of wildlife..
@Marg12 (329)
• United States
7 May 08
Where I live in the US, and in the South, we have foxes all over the place.In fact one place I lived, the foxes dug a den very close to my house and they had babies and that was so much fun to watch those babies grow up. But they do steal and kill chickens. Guess they do get hungry. But foxes are not afraid of very much. They can run so fast. And like someone else said, there is so much building going on, that the wild life is getting pushed out of their homes.
@ellie333 (21016)
•
7 May 08
Hi If this fox is around during daylight hours it is poorly in some way as they are usually night creatures which is why it may have ventured near as perhaps incapable of catching own food right now especially as you say its tail looks a bit manky. I live in a semi-rural area and we see many at night (and hear them) They are getting bolder and raiding bins instead of catching their own food. It is obviously upsetting the other animals, especailly the dog and a dog constantly barking can really jade the nerves. Good idea to go off for a walk and maybe bring the dog inside to settle if it is still barking upon your return. Ellie :D
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
8 May 08
I spoke to a neighbour across the road to let her know it was a round and she said that her husband saw it several nights ago and that it had been in their back yard and killed their chickens. They don't look after their animals very well.
Blinky settled when the fox moved away. I'll have to read up on them as I don't know a lot about them. I've read about foxes in the US but not in Australia.
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
18 May 08
I live in the suberbs of Tustin Ca and we have coyotes and some bobcats that ocassionally comedown from the higher hills also
a lot of possums. old mr possum comes around just about'every
other night to raid any garbage cans he can find. I do not
think that we have foxes here. we do have squirrels and a lot'of
crows too.
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
24 May 08
Gee, coyotes and bobcats? We don't have those sorts of animals here. Crows and possums yes. I've seen an eagle several times just out of our little village and the other day there were 2. It was fabulous.
With those sort of critters, you'd need to be careful of your pets at night. Do the town dogs bark to alert you when these critters are around?
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
7 May 08
This is getting to be a rather common thing happening worldwide MsTickle it seems..maybe not foxes, but other "wild" animals that appear in areas inhabited by us humans...I guess as we keep destroying their "worlds" they have nowhere else to go...I remember there have been several stories of bears roaming in suburban areas of New Jersey....one time a story about a coyote that suddenly appeared in a city area..Some years ago, it was late at night...I heard this real weird sound coming from the tree right out in front of my apartment building..I mean we're talking about the NYC area! Know what it was? when I looked out the window and at the tree I saw two raccoons chasing each other..like WTF??? Like where the heck did they come from..they ran off eventually and haven't a clue what happened to them
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
8 May 08
I love racoons Pye but how strange this is. The foxes habitat round here has certainly not been altered but there is possibly a lack of water.
Years ago, my daughter was living in a first floor flat in an apartment block with a gi-normous tree outside. There was an owl that was often seen in the tree from Jo's kitchen window. This block of apartments was on the corner of a rather busy road so the fact of an owl living there was very strange. Lovely for us....but strange.
@tlb0822 (1410)
• United States
7 May 08
In recent weeks I have really noticed how wild life is daring to come so close to our property, even though we have 2 very large dogs. We have had 2 racoons, 3 coyotes, and a porcipine. My dogs have killed one raccon, and our 4 yr. old dog suffered 17 porcupines in his mouth which we had to remove. I don't know why they are daring to come in the yard, but it doies seem a bit odd.
@cynicalandoutspoken (4725)
• United States
7 May 08
I live in a semi rural town as well and I almost hit a fox the other night on the way home. Wildlife has no regard for humans in my neck of the woods. Deer, rabbits, foxes, skunks, your occasional opossum, and ground hogs all end up being road kill because they can't keep their furry little butts off of the roads.
