Are Foxes Dangerous?

[KingPoker]

Scared of a fox - are you real?

I didn't know whether they were harmless. I figured if people hunt them with guns, snarling dogs, and giant horses, they must be ferocious animals liable to attack an innocent stroller by like myself.

They are not harmless to chickens!

They are only hunted because the landed gentry think they are "good sport", (sorry, "the farmers need to keep their numbers down for financial reasons") & it's something that Brits should be ashamed of, that we tolerated such disgusting cruelty for so long.

they are hunted so that people living in the city can have meat on there tables

its the most selective way to kill off the old and dying foxes that will attack the chickens and the lambs
the younger fitter foxes can survive off the land without attacking farms
the younger fitter foxes can escape the dogs

the younger fitter foxes are the ones more likely to get shot thus hurting the fox population
so hunting was a better way of keeping the foxes in check while allowing people who like to eat meat the freedom to eat meat, meat brought up in a humane way and not locked up in a battery farm.

the banning of hunting was the worst thing that could happen for animal welfare in this country

Why block up the fox holes then if it's 'fair'?

Unfortunately the "hunt" is a big thing around where i live which i dont approve of, im not against hunting as such, with guns, but hunting with dogs is a cruel and inhummane act.

BUT, a lot of mt country friends go hunting and they will vow that they dont block fox holes, that is a pretty big speculation, which is pretty much unfounded, made by anti-hunt protestors in the media and on the net.

ITs total BS tho about having to keep the fox poplulation down, a fox/group of foxes may take 3/4 lambs ff a farm in lambing time, now when you count the actual numbers of sheep a farmer has, that 3/4 lambs is a drop in the ocean!

[TheChipPrince]

Ive hunted foxes in the past with my Grandad, who is/was a gamekeeper... Foxes caused him mayhem, if they broke into one of his pheasant pens they'd kill at least 20/30 pheasants, while eating only 2/3 of these, the rest he would be find dead in the morning... When you consider each pheasant to him represents £20-£25 and it was his livelihood, i dont think he thought twice about 'getting rid' of them...

Things have changed now obviously, but now i'm a little older i can see how some ppl view this as cruel...

[kinboshi]

I've seen blocked fox holes.

Also, if it's meant to be about culling of old or injured foxes then there's a huge flaw in that argument.  Injured or old foxes will die soon enough.  That's how nature works.  The old won't be reproducing anyway, so the argument for chasing down an old fox with a pack of hounds, men on horses with guns and sticks in an effort to control the fox population is completely ridiculous.

Still can't believe he folded his way to second place and $400,000+ on his final table at the WSOP though.

[kinboshi]

Ive hunted foxes in the past with my Grandad, who is/was a gamekeeper... Foxes caused him mayhem, if they broke into one of his pheasant pens they'd kill at least 20/30 pheasants, while eating only 2/3 of these, the rest he would be find dead in the morning... When you consider each pheasant to him represents £20-£25 and it was his livelihood, i dont think he thought twice about 'getting rid' of them...

Things have changed now obviously, but now i'm a little older i can see how some ppl view this as cruel...

Chasing foxes down in a hunt, isn't going to prevent one from getting in to the pheasants is it?  Build better fences, shoot the fox if absolutely necessary, chasing them down in a hunt where the odds are unfairly stacked against the fox for 'enjoyment' is not the way to control fox populations.

[AlexMartin]

Scared of a fox - are you real?

I didn't know whether they were harmless. I figured if people hunt them with guns, snarling dogs, and giant horses, they must be ferocious animals liable to attack an innocent stroller by like myself.

They are not harmless to chickens!

They are only hunted because the landed gentry think they are "good sport", (sorry, "the farmers need to keep their numbers down for financial reasons") & it's something that Brits should be ashamed of, that we tolerated such disgusting cruelty for so long.

they are hunted so that people living in the city can have meat on there tables

its the most selective way to kill off the old and dying foxes that will attack the chickens and the lambs
the younger fitter foxes can survive off the land without attacking farms
the younger fitter foxes can escape the dogs

the younger fitter foxes are the ones more likely to get shot thus hurting the fox population
so hunting was a better way of keeping the foxes in check while allowing people who like to eat meat the freedom to eat meat, meat brought up in a humane way and not locked up in a battery farm.

the banning of hunting was the worst thing that could happen for animal welfare in this country

Why block up the fox holes then if it's 'fair'? very little evidence of this, on more than 1 occasion locally animal rights protestors were thought to be behind the blocking, purely so that they could catch the "blockage" on film when the hunt came to the den.

Unfortunately the "hunt" is a big thing around where i live which i dont approve of, im not against hunting as such, with guns, but hunting with dogs is a cruel and inhummane act. From a distanced, human perspective. Nature is red in tooth and claw. 10 hounds ripping the neck out of a fox is pretty instant death, faster than a .22 rimfire or .243 rifle.  With the banning of hunting, farmers have had to use other methods of fox control to keep populations at a reasonable level. These include snaring and firearms. But most have resorted to using shotguns, more often than not with the wrong shot type, resulting in more wounding and injuries all of the UK.

BUT, a lot of mt country friends go hunting and they will vow that they dont block fox holes, that is a pretty big speculation, which is pretty much unfounded, made by anti-hunt protestors in the media and on the net.

ITs total BS tho about having to keep the fox poplulation down, a fox/group of foxes may take 3/4 lambs ff a farm in lambing time, now when you count the actual numbers of sheep a farmer has, that 3/4 lambs is a drop in the ocean!

Most farmers worth their salt want a healthy fox population on their farms. Fact. It keeps disease down amongst gamebirds as foxes predate on the weak, whilst also keeping plague rabbit numbers in check. In the past, specifically in sheep country, hunts were used to target specific foxes during the lambing season that had realised a ewe in lamb is especially vulnerable and can be killed as she is in labour.


I have been on hunts and speak to hunting people a lot. In principle, fox hunting was sound. The master of the hounds was an experienced countryman who recognised his role and didnt impact further than he should. I appreciate that several "bad eggs" sprung up, hunts who had little respect for the complex dynamics of the ecosystems they were acting upon and the impacts of their actions. But these were in a minority. The steroetypical huntsman hit home with the middle classes, who had an immediate reaction to the "horrific" images they were shown in their own homes, but this was purely because they had neved had to kill rabbit, hang a pig or shoot a pheasant. The publics seperation from natural occurences made them overreact.

Rant over. Would like Red-Dogs opinion on this.


This is an argument founded on the fact that intelligent people with zero experience of countryside matters are making a judgement based by the twisted information given by various media sources. Banning hunting was the worst example of bad law in my lifetime.

[Jon MW]

Scared of a fox - are you real?

I didn't know whether they were harmless. I figured if people hunt them with guns, snarling dogs, and giant horses, they must be ferocious animals liable to attack an innocent stroller by like myself.

They are not harmless to chickens!

They are only hunted because the landed gentry think they are "good sport", (sorry, "the farmers need to keep their numbers down for financial reasons") & it's something that Brits should be ashamed of, that we tolerated such disgusting cruelty for so long.

they are hunted so that people living in the city can have meat on there tables

its the most selective way to kill off the old and dying foxes that will attack the chickens and the lambs
the younger fitter foxes can survive off the land without attacking farms
the younger fitter foxes can escape the dogs

the younger fitter foxes are the ones more likely to get shot thus hurting the fox population
so hunting was a better way of keeping the foxes in check while allowing people who like to eat meat the freedom to eat meat, meat brought up in a humane way and not locked up in a battery farm.

the banning of hunting was the worst thing that could happen for animal welfare in this country

Why block up the fox holes then if it's 'fair'? very little evidence of this, on more than 1 occasion locally animal rights protestors were thought to be behind the blocking, purely so that they could catch the "blockage" on film when the hunt came to the den.

Unfortunately the "hunt" is a big thing around where i live which i dont approve of, im not against hunting as such, with guns, but hunting with dogs is a cruel and inhummane act. From a distanced, human perspective. Nature is red in tooth and claw. 10 hounds ripping the neck out of a fox is pretty instant death, faster than a .22 rimfire or .243 rifle.  With the banning of hunting, farmers have had to use other methods of fox control to keep populations at a reasonable level. These include snaring and firearms. But most have resorted to using shotguns, more often than not with the wrong shot type, resulting in more wounding and injuries all of the UK.

BUT, a lot of mt country friends go hunting and they will vow that they dont block fox holes, that is a pretty big speculation, which is pretty much unfounded, made by anti-hunt protestors in the media and on the net.

ITs total BS tho about having to keep the fox poplulation down, a fox/group of foxes may take 3/4 lambs ff a farm in lambing time, now when you count the actual numbers of sheep a farmer has, that 3/4 lambs is a drop in the ocean!

Most farmers worth their salt want a healthy fox population on their farms. Fact. It keeps disease down amongst gamebirds as foxes predate on the weak, whilst also keeping plague rabbit numbers in check. In the past, specifically in sheep country, hunts were used to target specific foxes during the lambing season that had realised a ewe in lamb is especially vulnerable and can be killed as she is in labour.


I have been on hunts and speak to hunting people a lot. In principle, fox hunting was sound. The master of the hounds was an experienced countryman who recognised his role and didnt impact further than he should. I appreciate that several "bad eggs" sprung up, hunts who had little respect for the complex dynamics of the ecosystems they were acting upon and the impacts of their actions. But these were in a minority. The steroetypical huntsman hit home with the middle classes, who had an immediate reaction to the "horrific" images they were shown in their own homes, but this was purely because they had neved had to kill rabbit, hang a pig or shoot a pheasant. The publics seperation from natural occurences made them overreact.

Rant over. Would like Red-Dogs opinion on this.


This is an argument founded on the fact that intelligent people with zero experience of countryside matters are making a judgement based by the twisted information given by various media sources. Banning hunting was the worst example of bad law in my lifetime.

And the major alternatives to keeping foxes down with a hunt are suggested as being to either have the single farmer trying to shoot them, which most likely will end in the foxes just being injured and bleeding to death. Or poison which has the potential for affecting other wildlife, but also means that the fox just dies in agony from poisoning. Much more humane then?

As far as I can see the law was introduced because one minority (those who think killing any animal for sport is wrong) were more influential than another minority (those who participated and supported the hunt).

I applaud anybody who believes enough in their principles to make a stand for them, so I can't condemn anybody who just believes that hunting as a sport is wrong, but I think it was wrong for it to be legislated upon.

[Jon MW]

...

Was I right to be wary, or are foxes harmless?

As for that.

I live quite near a country park, and I work in a rural village, so it's a fairly regular occurrence for me to see foxes - usually in the morning.

But a couple of weeks ago I was waiting for my train in the evening when the most magnificent fox I've ever seen sloped out of the bushes on the opposite platform. It was an absolutely beautiful creature, but I was glad to have the rail lines between us because its the first time I've seen a fox which genuinely intimidated me.

I only wish I'd had the presence of mind to take a photo before it wandered off, but I was too busy being simultaneously impressed and scared.

[TheChipPrince]

Ive hunted foxes in the past with my Grandad, who is/was a gamekeeper... Foxes caused him mayhem, if they broke into one of his pheasant pens they'd kill at least 20/30 pheasants, while eating only 2/3 of these, the rest he would be find dead in the morning... When you consider each pheasant to him represents £20-£25 and it was his livelihood, i dont think he thought twice about 'getting rid' of them...

Things have changed now obviously, but now i'm a little older i can see how some ppl view this as cruel...

Chasing foxes down in a hunt, isn't going to prevent one from getting in to the pheasants is it?  Build better fences, shoot the fox if absolutely necessary, chasing them down in a hunt where the odds are unfairly stacked against the fox for 'enjoyment' is not the way to control fox populations.

Maybe i worded it badly, it wasn't a hunt, it was exterminating vermin...

[kinboshi]

Ive hunted foxes in the past with my Grandad, who is/was a gamekeeper... Foxes caused him mayhem, if they broke into one of his pheasant pens they'd kill at least 20/30 pheasants, while eating only 2/3 of these, the rest he would be find dead in the morning... When you consider each pheasant to him represents £20-£25 and it was his livelihood, i dont think he thought twice about 'getting rid' of them...

Things have changed now obviously, but now i'm a little older i can see how some ppl view this as cruel...

Chasing foxes down in a hunt, isn't going to prevent one from getting in to the pheasants is it?  Build better fences, shoot the fox if absolutely necessary, chasing them down in a hunt where the odds are unfairly stacked against the fox for 'enjoyment' is not the way to control fox populations.

Maybe i worded it badly, it wasn't a hunt, it was exterminating vermin...

OK, that's different to hunting for pleasure.

[The_duke]

A lot of arguments about fox culling is around the method of dispatch. But just a thought, when you put down your anticoagulant poison (or call in RentAKill to do it for you) to dispatch Rats in your vicinity, which kills them slowly and painfully are you better that the farmer who kills a fox, who he classes as a disease carrier and livestock killer. Is it because the perception of foxes, is that they are magnificent creatures to look at whilst the perception of rats, is that they are horrible and evil.

[snoopy1239]

A lot of arguments about fox culling is around the method of dispatch. But just a thought, when you put down your anticoagulant poison (or call in RentAKill to do it for you) to dispatch Rats in your vicinity, which kills them slowly and painfully are you better that the farmer who kills a fox, who he classes as a disease carrier and livestock killer. Is it because foxes are magnificent creatures to look at whilst rats are horrible and evil.

Rats aren't evil. Have you not seen Wind in the Willows?

[kinboshi]

A lot of arguments about fox culling is around the method of dispatch. But just a thought, when you put down your anticoagulant poison (or call in RentAKill to do it for you) to dispatch Rats in your vicinity, which kills them slowly and painfully are you better that the farmer who kills a fox, who he classes as a disease carrier and livestock killer. Is it because the perception of foxes, is that they are magnificent creatures to look at whilst the perception of rats, is that they are horrible and evil.

I wouldn't condone hunting of rats with a group of hounds and men on horses either.  I think many mouse traps are nasty, particularly the ones that use poisoned bait, and like you said inflict a long and painful death on the animal.  One that explodes or runs a million volts through the animal are far more humane however.  I don't think foxes or rats should be hunted for fun.

Cats on the other hand...

[Sark79]

lol , Snoopy  . 


They are harmless, however if they have young or are threatened they will defend themselves,  as they should. 

[tikay]

A lot of arguments about fox culling is around the method of dispatch. But just a thought, when you put down your anticoagulant poison (or call in RentAKill to do it for you) to dispatch Rats in your vicinity, which kills them slowly and painfully are you better that the farmer who kills a fox, who he classes as a disease carrier and livestock killer. Is it because the perception of foxes, is that they are magnificent creatures to look at whilst the perception of rats, is that they are horrible and evil.

I wouldn't condone hunting of rats with a group of hounds and men on horses either.  I think many mouse traps are nasty, particularly the ones that use poisoned bait, and like you said inflict a long and painful death on the animal.  One that explodes or runs a million volts through the animal are far more humane however.  I don't think foxes or rats should be hunted for fun.

Cats on the other hand...

Oi! Angell reads blonde, you know.

[boldie]

A lot of arguments about fox culling is around the method of dispatch. But just a thought, when you put down your anticoagulant poison (or call in RentAKill to do it for you) to dispatch Rats in your vicinity, which kills them slowly and painfully are you better that the farmer who kills a fox, who he classes as a disease carrier and livestock killer. Is it because the perception of foxes, is that they are magnificent creatures to look at whilst the perception of rats, is that they are horrible and evil.

I wouldn't condone hunting of rats with a group of hounds and men on horses either.  I think many mouse traps are nasty, particularly the ones that use poisoned bait, and like you said inflict a long and painful death on the animal.  One that explodes or runs a million volts through the animal are far more humane fun however.