any fox poo experts?!

roweeeeena

I found a lump of what looked like dog dirt in my back garden, I have a cat so I'm unfortunately very familiar with cat poo, it's definitely not from a cat & they bury theirs anyway. My garden has quite high walls and dogs would never ever be in there, so just wondering could it be a fox or would they go somewhere more inconspicuous? It was pretty much right in the middle of the lawn. Just curious because if it was a fox I'd love to try to catch a glimpse of it!

Kess73

From experience I have found that a fox makes for a damn good climber. I have seen them on shed roofs and get over walls that would be about five to six feet high.


Are there any other access points to your garden where another animal may get in, or is the back garden totally enclosed?

sorella

Not a fox expert, but I have wonderful photos of badger scat. That took some identification at the time.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Fox scat is easily identified, as it is pointed on both ends and almost always has hair in it. The ends have a twist in them. They are very dark/black. The smell is distinctive but having a poor sense of smell myself I can't attest to this.
If it's a fox there is a good chance it will be back as they are creatures of habit and will frequent the same trails time after time.

boneless

A picture of the stool would actually help.

And no stupid comments from the rest of ye about this

marlin vs

Foxes usuall deficate on something that makes the stool visible, like on top of a stone or something that's just above ground level.

boneless

marlin vs wrote: »

Foxes usuall deficate on something that makes the stool visible, like on top of a stone or something that's just above ground level.

Good point!! They like to mark ground like that.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

marlin vs wrote: »

Foxes usuall deficate on something that makes the stool visible, like on top of a stone or something that's just above ground level.

Not true I'm afraid. I come across Fox scat on a dailt basis and it is almost always on grass in fileds or along ditches. It doesn't rely on sight but uses scent instead.

Amalgam

As Srameen said, it is pointed and quite slender, not round or plump like dog feces, it can be oily too, or rather, not dry. I'm not keen on the smell, it hangs around a fair bit, I dread refilling bird feeders up by the garden shed, hard to spot in the evening.

As far as spotting it goes, some food will get them in, 10pm onwards..

---

Just an OT question, if you see pups licking at the mouth of an adult fox, as two are doing outside our window, is that to trigger the adult to regurgitate food?

roweeeeena

thanks for the replies, photo would have been an obvious solution, didn't think of that :rolleyes: don't think it quite fitted that description but the walls are definitely low enough for a fox to tackle and nothing else can get in.. i'll keep my eyes open i suppose!

boneless

Emma Glamorous College wrote: »

Not true I'm afraid. I come across Fox scat on a dailt basis and it is almost always on grass in fileds or along ditches. It doesn't rely on sight but uses scent instead.

I have come across what I took to be fox droppings, in areas where I have seen many of the creatures, which appeared to be prominent markers . *

I better brush up on me fieldcraft .




*A city centre archaeological excavation for example... actually saw the fox crimp one off early one morning

quercus

hi since your talking about foxes, well its feacal matter anyway.
i tought id show you a picture of a fox that used to visit here every evening of the summer 2007, he used to lie in the lawn and wait for someone to feed him, then he'd go to the neighbours house and wait there, after that he would move to the next neighbour, we think he got killed in a hunt , poor thing.

Day Lewin

I have regularly seen foxes on the top of a wall that is about 10 feet high: no problem whatever climbing, they are wonderful leapers too.
Droppings are used for marking territory and are very visible this time of year when cubs are in the breeding earth: Often on a conspicuous point, either raised stone etc or ther middle of an area. It's true, they are a narrow, twisty mound, sometimes with hair or bits of bone visible, or fruit stones in Autumn.
Yes, some food left out regularly in the evening will bring them back: early in the night, and sunrise, are the best times to watch.
If you like foxwatching, you can read the blog on "Foxwatching in Dublin".

seanybiker

quercus wrote: »

hi since your talking about foxes, well its feacal matter anyway.
i tought id show you a picture of a fox that used to visit here every evening of the summer 2007, he used to lie in the lawn and wait for someone to feed him, then he'd go to the neighbours house and wait there, after that he would move to the next neighbour, we think he got killed in a hunt , poor thing.

He is a lovely looking fella. How did ya get so close?

quercus

it took weeks of sitting and watching him but finalily i was able to feed him out of my hand and rub him.