Do Anybody Feed Wild Foxes In Their Gardens?

[HoneyKats]

Is it right to feed foxes in gardens? Has anybody have neighbours who feed foxes in their gardens upsetting other neighbours and leaving disgusting messes also encouraging Vermin!!!

[divegirl]

What a stunning photo Zeuhl!

I don't encourage the foxes as I live on the edge of the forest and know they can get plenty to eat... that said I have been know to feed them when its really bad weather in the winter and they come down the road 'hunting' for food.

Lisa x

[islasmum]

When I lived in Surrey, our next door neighbours used to feed the fixes that (we think) came from a nearby railway cutting - I objected to that as they used to come through our garden, drive my dogs mad, and rub around the old tree in our garden, and passed mange onto our dogs - they were pretty manky looking. But we've now lived outside Portsmouth for eight years and I haven't seen a single fox round this area.

[chrisosh]

If you want foxes in your garden by all means feed them, if you don't, then don't encourage them and make sure you have adequate fencing to discourage them.
Foxes are great scavengers both hunting and taking carrion, usually they can fend for themselves very well although I think in areas where there are large urban fox populations, some kind of trapping and treatment system would be useful to keep disease at bay as being mammals much of what they could carry can be communicated to pets and people.
In the '80s and '90s I used to keep both horses and chickens (80 plus) in a very rural area, I never had a problem with foxes taking the birds as I had a good chicken shed and pen.
Rabbits were a far bigger nuisance than the foxes as the rabbits would dig holes all over the place putting the horses at risk of leg injuries, the foxes assisted in keeping the rabbit population down and co-existed well with the stables cats as in nature they occupy a similar niche.
I now live in Ibiza where all we have is little green lizards, geckos,hedgehogs, large numbers of rats and stray cats.
I miss the sight of the odd fox nosing around or playing in the sun with young cubs.

[Daisy34]

No it is completely wrong to feed foxes in your garden. They are wild animals who should be treated as such.
Where have all the magpies gone. They are in my garden.

[jomifl]

We used to feed foxes in our rural garden in the UK. They left no mess, ate everything, not a rat in sight.

[catgullyarha]

I would feed any animal that was hungry, it's the human vermin I would draw a line at

[alandbailey]

My ducks have fed the fox at least 55 times and my chickens 4 times.
Eventually I fed the fox (in a humane trap) and a friendly pest control operative ensured the fox is no longer a nuisance to anybody.

[Old_Geezer]

I don't have strong feelings either way. I like to see wildlife, it is missing from urban living, but the encouragement of foxes and other large animals does pose problems, so generally I disapprove purely for that. That said I don't get uptight about someone who does wish to feed wildlife. If I moaned about feeding a local fox ought I not moan about feeding a local blackbird or lark ? I tend to let it be.

[Dewing_it]

I think you guys are confused; foxes are vermin (pests). I mean legally; by law. As are rats, pigeons, magpies, jays, crows, rabbits, stoats, mink and grey squirells. If they are caught, then they must be dispatched (killed), it is an offence to release them back into the wild (yes, that includes build-up areas).

[nannybooby]

no way , my poor little yorkie was crept up on by one - if oh hadn't seen the fox poor old winnie would have been fox treat! (not enough to make more than two bites)

[SlackAlice]

Dewing it
The post is not about keeping them but feeding them in the wild.

[maggiebee]

Dewing_it. That's quite a sad take on our wildlife. Live and let live I say - all God's creatures got a place in the choir!

[gness]

The only thing confusing me Dewing is that you say a fox is legally classed as vermin. I am however willing to accept proof if you can provide it. Can you?
Are you also sure that they "must" be killed if caught.....I am interested as I seem to be breaking the law....if you are correct.

[Baldric]

An interesting theory Dewing_it, do you have any evidence to support it?

[gness]

Hi SirB...best I can find is from 2011 when a call to reclassify the fox as vermin was rejected. I had hoped Dewing would be able to furnish us with more up to date information. x

[Baldric]

I found that as well, nothing more up to date though unless DI can enlighten us poor confused souls!

[gness]

'Tis difficult indeed...waiting to be de-confused.....x

[Answerprancer]

My Mum feeds a family of foxes every evening (cheap tinned dog food) she loves watching their comings and goings.
I HATE the term "vermin" and I think that people who rattle on about so-called vermin are usually of a certain type - angry bitter hateful types looking for a scapegoat. I don't see what the big issue is with a few overturned bins and a few dried turds on the lawn - big f***ing deal!
And if you choose to keep chickens, make your bloody coop fox proof - how hard can it be?
There, Sunday rant over ;-)

[Gusssss]

"giving these beautiful and admirable animals a helping hand is a privilege"

Well Zeuhl, for all your sanctimonious, holier-than-thou posturing I am sorry but I think your attitude is ridiculous. How lucky for the foxes that they are "beautiful", not to mention cuddly and furry. I wonder if you would feed the mice and rats that might infest your home. And woe betide the greenfly on your lovely shrubs.

I live quite close to the centre of London and the noise made by these scavengers screeching in the middle of the night is a nuisance. There are hundreds of them running round the streets now, day and night, less and less bothered by humans as time goes by. Foxes do have their place, as do rats and mice, and there is plenty of room for them in the appropriate habitat.

Either take them in as proper pets or leave them to fend for themselves.

With your contempt for people keeping domesticated animals for food I assume you are a vegan.

[Answerprancer]

"you belong to the 'oh they're so cute' brigade"
I do find it an amusing irony when militaristic fascistic types use the term "brigade" to describe people who DON'T preach intolerance hate and punishment.