How worried should I be?

My family and I live in a semi-rural area of Fort Worth and our back garden backs onto a wooded area. Just recently a fox has started walking along just inside out back fence in the evenings. I have a now 4 year old daughter who clearly likes to play in the garden, so I've told her not to touch anything in the overgrown area at the back of the garden, and not to go anywhere near the fox and to her credit she doesn't.

This might sound like a bunch of dumb questions, but it's our first regular contact with a wild animal (we're townies). Should I be worried about the presence of the fox? My father in law wants to come by and shoot the animal, but this seems like an over-reaction. Is it? Finally, how do I make my youngest wary of the world arround her without frightening the hell out of her? It had been her who first saw the fox (which she thought was a cat with a funny tail) and her first instinct was to ask me if she could go out and pet it.

 

I really don't think foxes are dangerous. I wouldn't shoot it or worry about it too much.

I would, however, tell your daughter to NOT touch the fox or approach the fox... it's never good to go up to wild animals but no, I wouldn't worry too much about the fox being there.

 

REcently we had issues in our area with Rabid foxes and there was a boy on the news (3yrs old) that was attacked by a fox..NOT TO SCARE YOU!! BUT TO BE REALISTIC!!!!! I would rather tell you this and your child and you be safe--it doesn't mean that you ahve some rabid attack fox in your yard, but really be careful. Do you have an animal contol place in your area?? Maybe they could come set a trap to catch and release it elsewhere, so that it takes the worry off of you.

 

Living in the sticks in AK I am wary of any wild animal that is too comfortable around people. There is probably nothing to really worry about, but I would try to relocate it. If I had a fox that regularly hung out in the area that my small children played that's what I would do. And if a trap didn't work I would shoot it. This may sound drastic when in reality you probably just have a suburban fox that is used to people and houses, but I don't trust wild animals that don't act wild enough. The foxes we see regularly around here don't hang around the yard.

 

I agree with alaska. Really TRY to relocate the animal. Do you have an animal control office in your area? They will do it, if the wildlife is considered a "nuscience." Too freindly animals can be rabid, or just young and curious.

Let your dd know to NEVER look a canine she doesn't know in the eye. They see it as a challenge. In fact, she should CALMLY and slowly walk to the house if she sees it. Foxes are usually only seen at dusk, dawn and night. If it is in the garden in the middle of the day, I would call Animal control.

 

honestly, I wouldn't worry so much about a fox, unless it seems to not be afraid of people. We recently had a coyote running around our neighborhood - and we live in the suburbs, not out in the boonies! That coyote had me really worried, moreso for our dog than the kids, though. The kids don't go play outside at night, and only with adult supervision during the daytime.

 

I don't know if this works, but i saw it on tv and it worked for them. If you don't want the fox in your garden, collect some urine (they used their own on this show) and put it around the garden. The fox will then know that it is another animals territory and wont bother coming anymore. Well that's what they say..

 

a fox once ate my son

 

Thanks for all your postings. My daughter and I sit outside for breakfast and that's when we see the fox. It doesn't just wander into the center of the garden. It sort of hops between 2 wooden bars in one of our neighbours fences, walks along the far wall as if it's a sort of path and then hops between the 2 wooden bars into our other neighbours garden. We've usually finished breakfast before it comes back (if it does).

They do have animal control here so I'll get them involved. Incidentally when my youngest goes out in the garden, either I or my other daughters are out there with her or I'm watching from the kitchen window-cum-door.

 

If you have noticed a pattern then the fox probally isn't sick that part of your garden just happens to be on his daily route. But advise your children that it is a wild animal so do not feed it or attempt to enteract with it. Just enjoy the little bit of natural wonder as it passes by. If it presents a hazard then get it relocated.


Either way post and keep us advised as to what happens with the fox.

 

I don't think the foxes are dangerous for human beings.There is no worries about them even shooting them. But you should tell your daughter not to touch or play a joke on them. The wild animal do like free space~

 

i wouldn't worry about it. i'd enjoy seeing it regularly, and you seem to have already told your daughter not to fuck with it, in more child-friendly words