YES, Finally.

He could hear something in the grass, then he got a start as I kicked the kitchen cabinet by mistake, settled back down and went back to sleep. All about 10 feet away.

I may set the pop up hide tonight, no rain is forecast and not too windy. This will let him get used to it over a few nights, then one night, I'll sneak in.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KThID3DCvC4
 
Sorry for the dark and grainy footage, this is a good way up the garden almost out of reach of the light.

I mentioned last week that our fox loved playing with our dog's toys. Last night, he was near my permanent hide and started playing with one of the toys. A very short and dark video but he seems a happy chappy.

He came in early last night, just before 9pm. We spent an hour or so as a family just watching him through the kitchen window, he was totally chilled. When the fam headed to bed, I stayed up for a while and the fox came in again at just after 11pm and stayed a good hour. He was disturbed by a neighbour in their garden, luckily, they have no idea about the fox but the fox did disappear for a while, but came back several times through the night and was picked up by the security cameras.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_lr3wOK5m0
 
Which brings me on to mange.

The fox that visits us is in prime condition. He's young and fit and as far as I can tell, without blemish.

I'd like to keep him that way. I have found a holistic treatment that has a good reputation. I can't however find anything on using it as a preventative measure as oppssed to a treament.

Any thoughts on this anyone?
 
Dale. said:
Which brings me on to mange.

The fox that visits us is in prime condition. He's young and fit and as far as I can tell, without blemish.

I'd like to keep him that way. I have found a holistic treatment that has a good reputation. I can't however find anything on using it as a preventative measure as oppssed to a treament.

Any thoughts on this anyone?
Click to expand...
Without knowing the product, I can only assume including it in food but if there are no signs of the disease is it necessary?
 
The fox is getting confident now. I can open the back door and toss food out for him and he doesn't bolt. I still have to close the door quickly though but it's another step to being outside with the fox. That may happen, it may not, we'll see.

Every visit is a privilege and last night was a real treat as my Daughter was able to join me when the fox turned up early.

He'd eaten his fill for now here and was settling down for a kip.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oW1Zc2Au6b8
 
Dale. said:
The fox is getting confident now. I can open the back door and toss food out for him and he doesn't bolt. I still have to close the door quickly though but it's another step to being outside with the fox. That may happen, it may not, we'll see.

Every visit is a privilege and last night was a real treat as my Daughter was able to join me when the fox turned up early.

He'd eaten his fill for now here and was settling down for a kip.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oW1Zc2Au6b8
Click to expand...

Very relaxed :)
 
04/12/2020, early doors, just about 1 am.

Not going to lie. Absolutely buzzing here.

It's taken a while but tonight ( more this morning), I managed to open the back door whilst foxy was there. He, stayed put and here is the first video without double glazing betwen the fox and myself and me down to its eye level. Just about 1 am.

Apologies for the shaky video, adrenalin kicked in and hand held. He's about 10 feet away, 200 mm on a 70-200f4L.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dbOq5rCYW0
 
Seems happy with your presence now Dale, if he wasn't he would have turned and retreated. :)
 
Last night, mobile footage. 12/12/2020.

I didn't want to take images last night, I just wanted to spend time with the fox. This carried on for about 1/2 hour, the menu was raw chicken wings and a few 'powerfood' bars for dogs.
Most of the time though, he just lay on the grass, feet away, waiting on me throwing him food as I lay on my belly at the open door. He's still skittish, as can be seen and I'd actually like to maintain that, he can't trust all humans. When feeding time came to an end, he trotted off further up the garden and just slept near the pond for a couple of hours. I headed to bed about 1 am and checked in and he was still there. He eventually left the garden after a while but returned this morning, just as it was getting light.

I need some sleep now.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RBOLJ2vxfI
 
Last edited:
I'm not sure if I'm crossing a line (and some ethics) here as I don't want the fox to get too trusting of human figures. A couple of nights ago, I tried feeding the fox outside. Upto now, I've been throwing food through a window or the open back door. He was happy to come within 3 feet or so of the open door and me, with me right at the door frame but still inside. I tried feeding him the other night from outside. As you can see, he wasn't sure. I should've stayed crouched too, my bad but my knees these days are not great. He did retreat a few feet and then the camera cut, as it's timed to save battery life. I stepped back inside, got down to my now familar to him prone position and he took the chicken.

A step too far maybe and I have now retreated myself to the other side of the door frame. I'm happy to retreat though and know the boundaries.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIL3DkXPrM0
 
Last edited:
Dale. said:
I'm not sure if I'm crossing a line (and some ethics) here as I don't want the fox to get too trusting of human figures. A couple of nights ago, I tried feeding the fox outside. Upto now, I've been throwing food through a window or the open back door. He was happy to come within 3 feet or so of the open door and me, with me right at the door frame but still inside. I tried feeding him the other night from outside. As you can see, he wasn't sure. I should've stayed crouched too, my bad but my kness these days are not great. He did retreat a few feet and then the camera cut, as it's timed to save battery life. I stepped back inside, got down to my now familar to him prone position and he took the chicken.

A step too far maybe and I have now retreated myself to the other side of the door frame. I'm happy to retreat though and know the boundaries.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIL3DkXPrM0
Click to expand...

I think you did right to retreat Dale, he is obviously cautious especially when you stand up.
He may well get used to you in time but it's debateable whether it's a good idea.
My dog Fox is already used to humans so he had no issues around me but I wouldn't have forced the issue and make no attempts with the young Vixen as she is very, very nervous.
 
gramps said:
I think you did right to retreat Dale, he is obviously cautious especially when you stand up.
He may well get used to you in time but it's debateable whether it's a good idea.
My dog Fox is already used to humans so he had no issues around me but I wouldn't have forced the issue and make no attempts with the young Vixen as she is very, very nervous.
Click to expand...


Totally.

I can't argue with the progress that has been made. Now I know the limit, it won't be exceeded again, I'm happy with that.

I'm going back to just spending time with him at the moment, I've not broken the 5D out for a few nights and tonight will probably be the same. He is happy to come close if I'm the other side of the door frame, lying prone, with the door open. Once he's had his feed, he trots off to the pond and sleeps on one of the raised sides of it. Last night was no exception, he fed at the door, then slept it off at the pond. (y)
 
Wifey asked me a few weeks ago what I'd like for Christmas. I couldn't think of anything reasonable, an R5 is probably out of reach as would be a be an S1000RR or a Porsche ;). I said 'trailcam' just off the top of my head. So one duely turned up on Christmas morning, I'm not sure of its merits quality wise or anything like that, I'm not clued up on them but I gave it a try last night. It's a Campark T80.

This is just a test run, with me sat behind it. the plan is of course to leave it outside with the fox initially, even though I can take video of him with a DSLR if I chose but the trailcam will be good for monitoring other parts of the garden that the security cameras barely cover. It's a big garden.

I'm also planning to leave the trailcam at other sites, including my KFs.

This trial is at our back door, I'm sat behind the camera for this. The floodlight came on, hence the over exposure but I'm working on that. We also got battered in the winds yesterday, hence the debris. That's the hide windows to the right.

Anyway.......


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1t7NXemCOAg
 
Last edited:
Dale. said:
Wifey asked me a few weeks ago what I'd like for Christmas. I couldn't think of anything reasonable, an R5 is probably out of reach as would be a be an S1000RR or a Porsche ;). I said 'trailcam' just off the top of my head. So one duely turned up on Christmas morning, I'm not sure of its merits quality wise or anything like that, I'm not clued up on them but I gave it a try last night. It's a Campark T80.

This is just a test run, with me sat behind it. the plan is of course to leave it outside with the fox initially, even though I can take video of him with a DSLR if I chose but the trailcam will be good for monitoring other parts of the garden that the security cameras barely cover. It's a big garden.

I'm also planning to leave the trailcam at other sites, including my KFs.

This trial is at our back door, I'm sat behind the camera for this. The floodlight came on, hence the over exposure but I'm working on that. We also got battered in the winds yesterday, hence the debris. That's the hide windows to the right.

Anyway.......


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1t7NXemCOAg
Click to expand...
That looks cool Dale....even picks up the houses at the end of the garden...
 
Worried. :(

I'd noticed a few nights ago that the fox had a very slight limp. I put it down to the frozen grass, I've seen it with my own dogs over the years, it must be irritating.

Tonight though, the fox came in as normal. It was lying on the grass, where it meets the slabbed yard. He was licking what I thought was his leg, just grooming seemingly. I threw some food out and he didn't hesitate to come for it but with a very definate limp to his front left leg. He ate the food, went back to the grass and proceeded to lick the paw/lower leg.

I'm hoping it's a sprain type thing but the licking would suggest a cut or something stuck under his pads/skin. I just hope whatever it is, doesn't get infected. He has age on his side, I'm sure he's not quite a year old, so we'll see what the coming days/weeks bring.

:confused:
 
Last edited:
I've had a couple of my visitors limping and in most cases the limp has gone after a few days.
Just one extreme case where limping was observed several nights following but then no further visits.
 
gramps said:
I've had a couple of my visitors limping and in most cases the limp has gone after a few days.
Just one extreme case where limping was observed several nights following but then no further visits.
Click to expand...


Hopefully this will improve too, I can't see any sign of damage, a cut or anything stuck, it just looks sore for him. Fingers crossed.
 
Dale. said:
More tests with the new trail camera. This is out in the garden proper, near to where the fox enters under our fence, just up beyond my hide.

-7 last night, no wonder it fogged up. Foxy couldn't resist a sniff though. you can clearly see his limp.



View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-oDj9isJDA
Click to expand...
Get some of this and apply to the lens with a cotton bud.....

Rain-X Rain/Water Repellent Glass Treatment, 200ml, 80199200: Amazon.co.uk: Car & Motorbike

Rain-X Rain/Water Repellent Glass Treatment, 200ml, 80199200: Amazon.co.uk: Car & Motorbike
www.amazon.co.uk
 
No sign last night, which isn't abnormal, he does miss the odd night here and there, probably feeding or other business elsewhere. Given the limp the night before though, it does worry me and it's been bitterly cold here too, -6 on the trailcam last night.

I'm still experimenting with the trail cam and I set it up near the feeding bowl I use for the fox when he doesn't show early and I head to bed. I got 2 hits last night, both were mice jumping in and out of the food bowl.

Hopefully, the fox will turn up fairly early tonight, he would be missing his nightly feed that he gets here if he didn't feed elsewhere last night.
 
Concerned now. No show for 3 nights. :oops: :$

I know I shouldn't forget he's a wild animal but this isn't like him. Given the limp when he was last here, it's a worry.

I'm hoping though it's because we have snow down, which will probably be new to him and maybe he's not covering the distances he was. I like this theory as it gives me hope he is ok and he'll come back.

Maybe he's found himself a girlfriend.
 
Dale. said:
Concerned now. No show for 3 nights. :oops: :$

I know I shouldn't forget he's a wild animal but this isn't like him. Given the limp when he was last here, it's a worry.

I'm hoping though it's because we have snow down, which will probably be new to him and maybe he's not covering the distances he was. I like this theory as it gives me hope he is ok and he'll come back.

Maybe he's found himself a girlfriend.
Click to expand...
The young Vixen that was visiting my garden every night has been missing for some time, my theory is that the adults have more earnestly moved her on.
It's possible that the limp on yours was caused by its parents trying to move it out of their territory prior to breeding again ... at its peak my garden was visited by 6 Badgers and 6 Foxes but it's down to a couple of visits a night from the two adult Foxes.
It just might be the natural course of events, disappointing though it may be for us ... for the time being :(
 
gramps said:
The young Vixen that was visiting my garden every night has been missing for some time, my theory is that the adults have more earnestly moved her on.
It's possible that the limp on yours was caused by its parents trying to move it out of their territory prior to breeding again ... at its peak my garden was visited by 6 Badgers and 6 Foxes but it's down to a couple of visits a night from the two adult Foxes.
It just might be the natural course of events, disappointing though it may be for us ... for the time being :(
Click to expand...


Thanks Roger.

I'm keeping everything crossed, I knew this day may come, that he may just vanish. I do think my fox could well have been having a tough time off at least one other fox, probably as you say, one or other parent as when he was here sometimes, he was very skittish and nervous, he had that look on his face.

We'll just have to wait and see.
 
An update.

We've not seen the fox since the day after Boxing Day. I knew he had a limp and my fears were it was an infected leg/foot/toe. We've also had snow, about an inch or so. I didn't think this would deter the fox, he's been here in sub zero temperatures and I didn't think a little bit of snow would put him off. Maybe it did though.

I've left food out, everynight, just incase, but it's always been untouched the next day.

This morning, I went out to lift the food before letting our dog out. The food was gone. I checked our Blink cameras, but they were, well, on the blink last night and didn't record anything. I did leave the trailcam out last night, the first night since last Friday. I'm glad I did, as the fox came in just before midnight last night, ate his food and hung around for a bit. The limp seems worse (any tips on how to help him with this would be great) but he seems OK in himself. Hopefully he will come back now as before and I can build his strength up again.

But, is there a second fox now? Notice when he rattles the food bowl, there are definately 2 eyes that get alerted in the distance, near my hide. Could be a cat, there's a big ginger male that hangs about but I'm hopeful its owners wouldn't put it out on such a cold night.

Apologies for the over exposure, I don't normally leave the security light on when I'm using the trailcam as it's right under the light. Also, forgive the mess, there's a bit of a reno going on and the middle shed is being dismantled, although the reno has come to a stop with the snow.



View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx9DvX2ooeU
 
Last edited:
05/01/2020.

The trailcam got some colour footage last night whilst the security light was triggered. The limp is still apparent but dare I say it, slightly better, maybe.

After a period of no shows, it's just good to know he's still around. He doesn't like that food bowl moving. The problem is just now as it's below 0 most nights, the food sticks to the bowl and it lifts when the fox takes the food, I may look into a heavier option.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMHf79v0p-g
 
There's been an interesting few nights with the fox this last week.

Glad to report, he's back to nightly visits, roughly the same time every night, he eats his fill and often , chooses to sleep it off in the garden. He stayed away for just about a week not long ago and the last night he was here before that, he had a bad limp. We also had snow, which in turn, froze solid, then it rained on top and that froze too, so it was very difficult under feet. I think those 2 factors, kept him away.

Anyway, he's back and the limp is gone, he's looking well.

This last few nights, he has displayed some interesting behaviour. In the below video, off one of our security camers, he chooses to sleep on some branches and scrub that I cleared late last year that is still waiting for the shredder when it dries out. Pouring with rain but he made himself comfy.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsUJM4VZdB4



In the next video, which was last night, 15/01/21, he was obviously curious about something at our kitchen window. The kitchen windows were open as I was cooking a chicken roast at the time, maybe he likes the smell of my cooking. :LOL:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVecCp3XDY0



and this last one for now. I always tentatively walk out to the garden if I need to go outside when it's dark as the fox likes to lie at a spot which is out of sight from the backdoor due to the shed. The night before last, I went outside, not realising the fox was there. I think we both got a fright, I retreated back indoors straightaway, the fox scarpered but then stopped, then almost followed me back indoors. :LOL:

He has his eye on the radiator near the backdoor.

 
Last edited:
Dale. said:
There's been an interesting few nights with the fox this last week.

Glad to report, he's back to nightly visits, roughly the same time every night, he eats his fill and often , chooses to sleep it off in the garden. He stayed away for just about a week not long ago and the last night he was here before that, he had a bad limp. We also had snow, which in turn, froze solid, then it rained on top and that froze too, so it was very difficult under feet. I think those 2 factors, kept him away.

Anyway, he's back and the limp is gone, he's looking well.

This last few nights, he has displayed some interesting behaviour. In the below video, off one of our security camers, he chooses to sleep on some branches and scrub that I cleared late last year that is still waiting for the shredder when it dries out. Pouring with rain but he made himself comfy.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsUJM4VZdB4



In the next video, which was last night, 15/01/21, he was obviously curious about something at our kitchen window. The kitchen windows were open as I was cooking a chicken roast at the time, maybe he likes the smell of my cooking. :LOL:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVecCp3XDY0



and this last one for now. I always tentatively walk out to the garden if I need to go outside when it's dark as the fox likes to lie at a spot which is out of sight from the backdoor due to the shed. The night before last, I went outside, not realising the fox was there. I think we both got a fright, I retreated back indoors straightaway, the fox scarpered but then stopped, then almost followed me back indoors. :LOL:

He has his eye on the radiator near the backdoor.

Click to expand...

Videos marked as "Private" Dale :(
 
Dale. said:
There's been an interesting few nights with the fox this last week.

Glad to report, he's back to nightly visits, roughly the same time every night, he eats his fill and often , chooses to sleep it off in the garden. He stayed away for just about a week not long ago and the last night he was here before that, he had a bad limp. We also had snow, which in turn, froze solid, then it rained on top and that froze too, so it was very difficult under feet. I think those 2 factors, kept him away.

Anyway, he's back and the limp is gone, he's looking well.

This last few nights, he has displayed some interesting behaviour. In the below video, off one of our security camers, he chooses to sleep on some branches and scrub that I cleared late last year that is still waiting for the shredder when it dries out. Pouring with rain but he made himself comfy.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsUJM4VZdB4



In the next video, which was last night, 15/01/21, he was obviously curious about something at our kitchen window. The kitchen windows were open as I was cooking a chicken roast at the time, maybe he likes the smell of my cooking. :LOL:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVecCp3XDY0



and this last one for now. I always tentatively walk out to the garden if I need to go outside when it's dark as the fox likes to lie at a spot which is out of sight from the backdoor due to the shed. The night before last, I went outside, not realising the fox was there. I think we both got a fright, I retreated back indoors straightaway, the fox scarpered but then stopped, then almost followed me back indoors. :LOL:

He has his eye on the radiator near the backdoor.

Click to expand...
Dale
It says the videos are private....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top