Used to shoot the foxes but now like to see them in the garden

clivej

Security cameras

TheEngineer1

When you look at the barren grass monoculture that is the Irish countryside, it's amazing that they survive and thrive as well as they do here.

deeksofdoom

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121913486#Comment_121913486

Maybe the bowl of food he lets out for them is helping that.

clivej

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121913551#Comment_121913551

All the good leftovers go out every evening now. The best fed and healthy looking pair of foxes, nearly time to see the cubs coming in.

sniperman

i used to shoot them one time as well,but one day was watching a mother and cubs playing,and just being wild animals,decided then would shoot no more,i know they can be a pest,but afaik they take/hunt for what they need,so for me i wont shoot any more,

Birdnuts

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121913486#Comment_121913486

Its a startling trend across much of Western Europe alight where alot of wildlife is doing much better around towns and cities compared to the likes of intensive Dairy and Industrial Spruce forestry areas where the foot of natural foodchains like Wildflower Meadows, Butterflies, Bumble Bees and other farmland wildlife have essentially been sprayed and mechanically gouged out of existence, alot of it on the back of perverse Tax Payer funded incentives like the CAP(especially its earlier manifestations) :( . In contrast great work is being done by Tidy Town groups and other concerned parties to create Pollinator spaces etc. in as many urban green areas as they can. Albeit after some battles with the "Neat and Tidy" brigade which unfortunately still exist in some parts.

magicbastarder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121913486#Comment_121913486

they've no natural predators remember - the wolf, which might have been one, died out due to habitat loss and persecution.

Birdnuts

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121913834#Comment_121913834

The wolf is not coming back to Ireland anytime soon of course(b4 anyone starts getting excited and saying this post is advocating it!!), but it is true to say that fox populations here are probably 10X what they might naturally be in the absence of them. Its basically the difference between a generalist Meso Predator(Fox) and a Top predator(Wolf) and the implications of the removal of the latter for ecosystems. A good example of this is what happened when Wolves returned to Yellowstone and significantly reduced the population of Coyote and Fox to more natural levels which in turn restored populations of ground nesting birds like the Endangered Prairie Chicken etc.

TheEngineer1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121913834#Comment_121913834

Agreed, but that habitat loss extends to prey animals too - rabbits, hares, ground nesting birds etc. The fact that foxes are finding enough sustenance to thrive and multiply is amazing. I do a lot of fox drives with dogs and shotguns in the winters. The few covers that we have in rural north Cork are producing foxes week after week. It's amazing that foxes are there in the numbers that we're seeing.

Birdnuts

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121914465#Comment_121914465

Fox numbers are also getting a boost from heavy culling of deer in many places via Gralloch, farmers avoiding fallen animal charges(I don't blame them!!) and also there is an increasing amount of roadkill to be had too. Probably also some spill over from a thriving population originating from urban and suburban areas were food is pretty much unlimited for such an adaptable species. I would also throw in the fact that culling is only a fraction of what it was back in the 80's when the fur trade and far more active gun clubs hit populations hard.

Asus1

Fox shooting and shooting in general is going only 1 way and that's downwards.Not many young lads on the pull want word out they're shooting fox as not many young women would be interested or except that in a possible partner so many don't take up shooting as a pastime.

Anyone who hunts animals I would say always have a hint of sadness when you cull one be that bird or mammal,it's only natural and as we get older we see our own mortality in the guise of a fox rearing young or big cock pheasant taking off in front of you and instead of shooting them we just smile and appreciate them.

In saying that I cull fox and Gray's on certain land as it's needed for nesting ground birds,but if the birds disappeared in the morning I'd more than likely leave them be

Eddie B

It's all about balance. The fox is indeed a clever animal, and will survive when other species won't. They are very adaptable, and that is why they are so successful. It is important to keep their numbers in check, to protect more vulnerable species from disappearing altogether. Not the fox's fault of course, that these species are in trouble, but unfortunately they can tip the scale, to cause a negative impact to the survival of other species.

The real answer, is restoring habitat, but don't see that really happening in the Ireland of today.

BlueSkyDreams

Tons of foxes in Dublin now.

Always see them out after dark if driving in the suburbs. Not uncommon to see double figures on a short drive.

hamburgham

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121982293#Comment_121982293

The ones I see always look as though they’re starving though, just skin and bone. I don’t know how they survive. What do they eat…or not as the ones I see aren’t getting much.

BlueSkyDreams

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121994562#Comment_121994562

Always in and out of peoples gardens when i see them, so must be raiding the bins.

Serious amount of them though once darkness falls.

Rescueme0007

When I'm out stalking or rabbiting I always ask the landowner what they might like me to do with respect to foxes? If their sheep farming, or some dairy, they'll generally want them gone. Where I live there are almost no sheep, though plenty of cattle. I don't shoot fox in my local area. When I'm dressing out a deer or a number of rabbits, I keep the off cuts, bones etc., I leave them out in my back garden, in reasonable clumps. Always gone by morning, and I've watched fox and cats come to dine. Haven't seen any mink, which surprises me as there a small stream close to my back garden. The fox's that I see in my local generally seem to be in fine condition.

Richard308

foxes are beautiful animals. I’ll ask sheep Farmers are they losing animals to foxes if not I’ll leave them alone. One particular farmer said none but was insisting I hammer the fox, I argued look if not touching leave alone, he insisted. I shot a few foxes, Next season he lost a few lambs. My belief, not supported by much evidence is that the dominate dog was not a killer. I surly shot him and a killer replaced him. Love watching foxes while out stalking , had one coming into my garden eating cat food. Can’t but admire an opportunist lad grabbing an easy meal.