Found a fox!

[RipSpark]

There is a run in shed in the horses field and attatched is a hay shed. I went in to feed the horses last night and I saw this grey back of an animal. I figured it was one of the cats. It moved and I realized if wasn't. It poked its head up and I saw it was a fox. He slunk behind the hay bale and I went in to get my fiance. When he got out there the fox was gone. He looked behind the bales but we couldn't see him. We didn't see a hole to get out, but he had to have gotten in there. Today I went in to feed again and he was laying down. I ran in and got my fiance. The fox was dead :( My fiance checked him over. It looks like he got stuck in there and couldn't get out. I feel so awful! I didn't think there were any holes, but we didn't see him yesterday. He must have been hiding in the back behind a bale. The door is left open on occasion and he must have gone in there for somewhere to stay and also the chickens love to run in there and lay eggs so he was probably looking for them. I wish I had left the door open last night! He was very gorgeous. Now obviously I understand they can be pests and will eat chickens, but I didn't want him to die! Especially not like that :(

[WashingtonBay]

I don't think he'd have died from one or even two nights in there, I bet he was sick from something else.

I hope you were a little (or a lot) careful in handling/disposing/burying him, just in case.

Poor little guy.... it's a hard world for the little things.

[RipSpark]

The shed door hasn't been left open in the past 4 days at least so it had to have been before that he went in. And we checked again, there are no holes to get out. Even the floor. Oh no worries I didn't touch him at all. My fiance moved him. I worry about things too much. I worry about rabies and all kinds of things. I didn't even want to touch my hay. I know extreme, but hey better safe than sorry.

ETA-My fiance said he was really skinny but of course probably died from lack of water if it wasn't some kind of sickness. I don't know what foxes can get besides rabies. He didn't act like he had rabies. He was very leary of me and went to hide. He was cautious and didn't act aggressive.

[CaddoCinnamon]

WB is right he didn't die from just being in there a night or 2 but probably was sick.

[Gypsy Rose]

Aww, poor thing! Probably was sick, though.

[shewasmyshadow]

Ah, poor little guy.

[WashingtonBay]

ETA-My fiance said he was really skinny but of course probably died from lack of water if it wasn't some kind of sickness. I don't know what foxes can get besides rabies. He didn't act like he had rabies. He was very leary of me and went to hide. He was cautious and didn't act aggressive.

Well, too bad the little guy didn't run out when he had a chance. That would have given you a fright, a panicked fox whizzin' by you in the doorway. Course, if he was poking around there at all, he was after the chickens, so either way, somebody would have had to lose. Like I said... it's a hard world for the little things.

[Gliderider]

I know foxes are pretty and its sad he died but I only like fox when they aren't near my house. They have ate so many of my chickens. My husband has had to set traps for them or we would not have any chickens left.

[Suzi]

We have foxes here too. Sometimes we will see alot of them and then we go for spells without a sightiing. They are shot pretty regular around here and are considered pests. I think they are beautiful and try to not get too upset if I lose a ckicken to them. They are good for killing off mice rats and voles also. They keep our rabbtit popualtion in check too. Its all the cycle of life.

He probably was sick or old. as others have said. At least he had a quiet place to pass on.

[Gliderider]

Yeah they keep are rabbit population in check too we don't have any wild rabbits anymore. I prefer my cats for mice and mole control as they don't eat my chickens. My dogs also love to catch and dig up moles. I kid you not if we didn't set traps we would not have 1 chicken left they are that bad here. They wake us up at night doing the screaming they do talking to each other. UGH ! They are over populated around here. There is not many critters that eat them to keep there population in check at least not around here.

[valleyrider]

We ave foxes here too. I see one now and then heading to my neighbor's chicken coop. Lucky for me he has not found mine yet. We have a trap set but only caught raccoons and a possum.
I agree with WB, he had to be sick. He would not die being locked up for a few days.

[natisha]

Oh no worries I didn't touch him at all. My fiance moved him. Sorry but that struck me as funny LOL