Please learn from my big mistake!! about foxes!

sammkins · 17-03-2010, 10:20 AM

I wasnt sure whether to post this as i feel so bad and terribly sick over what im about tell you. I have 12 tortoises, and the horsfields have a pen with wire covering it (a bit like an aviary) so all safe and secure. And the sulcatas have a massive area with fish pond netting tied down round the edges with tent pegs going into the ground. Anyway i had them out all last year no problems at all. Then yesterday i thought i would give the sulcatas some fresh air, so i put them in their pens, i watched them happily thinking how nice it was to see them grazing then i popped indoors to get the kids a drink, i wasnt any longer than 10 mins!!

Well this is where i start to feel really bad, I walked into the garden to see a fox chewing my tortoise!!! it had got under the netting within minutes of me leaving! i chased it down the bottom of the garden and over a fence, i then noticed it had dropped the tortoise so i finally found it! it was chewed quite badly. But apart from being scared he does seem ok now.

Anyway i then went to the pen every tortoise was flipped upside down, and he had a chew of the second largest one aswell, i think he must of started to eat that one and then noticed the bigger one and then went to take that one away! God i feel so sick! i will of course get a wire netting now, to make sure this doesnt happen, i just thought what i had already was fine, and i certainly wasnt expecting a fox at 2.30 in the afternoon just minutes after popping indoors to get a drink. It just happens so quick!

Anyway i have seperated the poorly ones, i have put tamodine on them after cleaning them, they had another bath today with avipro in and i also applied a little dermisol cream. They do seem fine and they are eating and walking about. But they have scutes missing and have chew marks. Thankgod i went out there when i did ! wish i hadnt got a drink now!

Anyway i will get some pics of my poor little ones soon just to show you the damage a fox can do within minutes of you leaving a garden!!

EquestrianBabe · 17-03-2010, 10:56 AM

Aww, poor torts! But don't blame it on yourself, you only needed a drink! You didn't plan for this to happen, it wasn't your fault!

I'll just say I'm very sorry about what happened and I hope the injured torts make a quick recovery

cath · 17-03-2010, 10:57 AM

That's awful dont know what to say it must've been a terrible experience, just hope you and all torts are ok.

clairestortoise · 17-03-2010, 11:19 AM

Ohh Jeee, How awful! I bet you feel sick to your stomach, I know I would...Do not blame yourself...Foxes are an absolute nuisance. I hate them..We got issues with the empty property next, foxes fighting, breeding...Got my local council onto it now.

I really hope the injured ones involved are ok, I would now think twice about having your torts out for the mean time..They will return. Trust me, They have no fear whatsoever. I would get in touch with The Foxes Project online, there is a number to call..And ask them for advice on keeping them away. But for now I would not trust them. They will come back. Or have them out only when you are there.
Hope torts are ok!

clairestortoise · 17-03-2010, 11:22 AM

Also Watch your cats with the foxes too...Ive had two members in my family lose their cat due to a fox. I wont go into detail...I always keep my cats in at night, and have the hose at hand during the day. Ive had foxes come upto my back patio doors and stare into my kitchen. One even tried to get in the cat flap!! My husband saw its nose through the hole!

They have made our lives a misery and am now wanting to move

clairestortoise · 17-03-2010, 11:24 AM

Here you go...http://www.foxproject.org.uk/ HTH Claire...PM me if you need anything for help

Herpard · 17-03-2010, 11:28 AM

So sorry to hear this!

There has been more & more fox attacks lately,there's always someone saying a fox got their chicken(s) on the forum I'm on.

It's not that uncommon for the to come out during the day either

You could always try buying something called a foxwatch? (Try google searching it)

sammkins · 17-03-2010, 11:42 AM

thanks for your wishes, yes i forgot to mention that as i was putting them away he came back to the enclosure again while i was there! cheeky git! but also i was worried about my new siamese kitten who is 8 months old, he is dying to get out, but now i think they would easily eat him as he is so friendly! and he would actually walk into a foxes mouth quite happily! on the other hand i have a vicious abbysinian cat who "OWNS" the garden, and he was chased by a fox the year before last, i went out in the garden and i think the only thing that saved him were the walls that he jumped over to get away, and then of course i was there! but my cat has never looked so terrified, and he is the boss! it actually wouldnt surprise me if he was chasing it first! lol.

But i always felt sorry for them, i looked at foxes being dogs without homes, but they are just so hungry they would eat anything! better not leave the kids out on their own either! I will research a little more and no i wont be putting them out at the moment. Poor things!

EquestrianBabe · 17-03-2010, 11:42 AM

If there's any such thing, a fox trap?

cath · 17-03-2010, 12:10 PM

Not making excuses for the fox but it may have cubs some where and be more hungry then normal, cos thats a very cheeky fox you got there, lets hope he's had the bigger fright with you chasing him away

xxx

17-03-2010, 10:20 AM	#1
sammkins Member Hatched Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Sunny Surrey Posts: 321	Please learn from my big mistake!! about foxes! I wasnt sure whether to post this as i feel so bad and terribly sick over what im about tell you. I have 12 tortoises, and the horsfields have a pen with wire covering it (a bit like an aviary) so all safe and secure. And the sulcatas have a massive area with fish pond netting tied down round the edges with tent pegs going into the ground. Anyway i had them out all last year no problems at all. Then yesterday i thought i would give the sulcatas some fresh air, so i put them in their pens, i watched them happily thinking how nice it was to see them grazing then i popped indoors to get the kids a drink, i wasnt any longer than 10 mins!! Well this is where i start to feel really bad, I walked into the garden to see a fox chewing my tortoise!!! it had got under the netting within minutes of me leaving! i chased it down the bottom of the garden and over a fence, i then noticed it had dropped the tortoise so i finally found it! it was chewed quite badly. But apart from being scared he does seem ok now. Anyway i then went to the pen every tortoise was flipped upside down, and he had a chew of the second largest one aswell, i think he must of started to eat that one and then noticed the bigger one and then went to take that one away! God i feel so sick! i will of course get a wire netting now, to make sure this doesnt happen, i just thought what i had already was fine, and i certainly wasnt expecting a fox at 2.30 in the afternoon just minutes after popping indoors to get a drink. It just happens so quick! Anyway i have seperated the poorly ones, i have put tamodine on them after cleaning them, they had another bath today with avipro in and i also applied a little dermisol cream. They do seem fine and they are eating and walking about. But they have scutes missing and have chew marks. Thankgod i went out there when i did ! wish i hadnt got a drink now! Anyway i will get some pics of my poor little ones soon just to show you the damage a fox can do within minutes of you leaving a garden!! __________________ My list: Owner of 3 boys + Hubby 1 Abyssinian Cat 1 Siamese Kitten 6 Horsfield Torts 6 Baby Sulcatas 1 rabbit 2 Aylesbury Ducks Hubbys list: 20 bearded Dragons 1 Blue tongue Skink 7 Chameleons House Gheckos and the list goes on! Last edited by sammkins; 17-03-2010 at 10:25 AM.

17-03-2010, 10:56 AM	#2
EquestrianBabe Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: At home with my pets! Posts: 3,991	Aww, poor torts! But don't blame it on yourself, you only needed a drink! You didn't plan for this to happen, it wasn't your fault! I'll just say I'm very sorry about what happened and I hope the injured torts make a quick recovery __________________ I ♥ Horses

17-03-2010, 10:57 AM	#3
cath Member Hatchling Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Cheshire Posts: 583	That's awful dont know what to say it must've been a terrible experience, just hope you and all torts are ok. __________________ 1.1.2. Testudo Hermanni Boettgeri 0.3.0. Guiny Pigs Cath

17-03-2010, 11:19 AM	#4
clairestortoise Member Juvenile Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Kent Posts: 754	Ohh Jeee, How awful! I bet you feel sick to your stomach, I know I would...Do not blame yourself...Foxes are an absolute nuisance. I hate them..We got issues with the empty property next, foxes fighting, breeding...Got my local council onto it now. I really hope the injured ones involved are ok, I would now think twice about having your torts out for the mean time..They will return. Trust me, They have no fear whatsoever. I would get in touch with The Foxes Project online, there is a number to call..And ask them for advice on keeping them away. But for now I would not trust them. They will come back. Or have them out only when you are there. Hope torts are ok! __________________ Owner of 3 Horsfield Tortoises 9 Cats, Wallace 15, Blackie 10, Scooby&Phoebe(Bro&Sis) 9, Gucci 6, Snuggles 5 and Oliver 3 and Blossom and Billy 10 months old Tye 9 Yr old Yorkie 2 children 1 Husband http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.p...e&id=523711412

17-03-2010, 11:22 AM	#5
clairestortoise Member Juvenile Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Kent Posts: 754	Also Watch your cats with the foxes too...Ive had two members in my family lose their cat due to a fox. I wont go into detail...I always keep my cats in at night, and have the hose at hand during the day. Ive had foxes come upto my back patio doors and stare into my kitchen. One even tried to get in the cat flap!! My husband saw its nose through the hole! They have made our lives a misery and am now wanting to move __________________ Owner of 3 Horsfield Tortoises 9 Cats, Wallace 15, Blackie 10, Scooby&Phoebe(Bro&Sis) 9, Gucci 6, Snuggles 5 and Oliver 3 and Blossom and Billy 10 months old Tye 9 Yr old Yorkie 2 children 1 Husband http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.p...e&id=523711412

17-03-2010, 11:24 AM	#6
clairestortoise Member Juvenile Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Kent Posts: 754	Here you go...http://www.foxproject.org.uk/ HTH Claire...PM me if you need anything for help __________________ Owner of 3 Horsfield Tortoises 9 Cats, Wallace 15, Blackie 10, Scooby&Phoebe(Bro&Sis) 9, Gucci 6, Snuggles 5 and Oliver 3 and Blossom and Billy 10 months old Tye 9 Yr old Yorkie 2 children 1 Husband http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.p...e&id=523711412

17-03-2010, 11:28 AM	#7
Herpard Senior Member Adult Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Norton Canes, UK Posts: 2,330	So sorry to hear this! There has been more & more fox attacks lately,there's always someone saying a fox got their chicken(s) on the forum I'm on. It's not that uncommon for the to come out during the day either You could always try buying something called a foxwatch? (Try google searching it)

17-03-2010, 11:42 AM	#8
sammkins Member Hatched Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Sunny Surrey Posts: 321	thanks for your wishes, yes i forgot to mention that as i was putting them away he came back to the enclosure again while i was there! cheeky git! but also i was worried about my new siamese kitten who is 8 months old, he is dying to get out, but now i think they would easily eat him as he is so friendly! and he would actually walk into a foxes mouth quite happily! on the other hand i have a vicious abbysinian cat who "OWNS" the garden, and he was chased by a fox the year before last, i went out in the garden and i think the only thing that saved him were the walls that he jumped over to get away, and then of course i was there! but my cat has never looked so terrified, and he is the boss! it actually wouldnt surprise me if he was chasing it first! lol. But i always felt sorry for them, i looked at foxes being dogs without homes, but they are just so hungry they would eat anything! better not leave the kids out on their own either! I will research a little more and no i wont be putting them out at the moment. Poor things! __________________ My list: Owner of 3 boys + Hubby 1 Abyssinian Cat 1 Siamese Kitten 6 Horsfield Torts 6 Baby Sulcatas 1 rabbit 2 Aylesbury Ducks Hubbys list: 20 bearded Dragons 1 Blue tongue Skink 7 Chameleons House Gheckos and the list goes on!

17-03-2010, 11:42 AM	#9
EquestrianBabe Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: At home with my pets! Posts: 3,991	If there's any such thing, a fox trap? __________________ I ♥ Horses

17-03-2010, 12:10 PM	#10
cath Member Hatchling Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Cheshire Posts: 583	Not making excuses for the fox but it may have cubs some where and be more hungry then normal, cos thats a very cheeky fox you got there, lets hope he's had the bigger fright with you chasing him away xxx __________________ 1.1.2. Testudo Hermanni Boettgeri 0.3.0. Guiny Pigs Cath

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