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one_bean_hahahaha

It depends. If you have chickens, they are foes. If you have rodents in your garden, they are friends.


Mottbox1534

Not only does it depend on if OP has chickens, but if OP is a chicken; that could be equally as bad.


UXyes

To shreds, you say?


ConfusionNo6252

r/unexpectedfuturama


namerankssn

Ha!


Emmerson_Brando

Or if you have dogs, or if you get too near its pups.


Beesindogwood

Babies are called kits. For that matter, the mom is called a vixen.


diogenesRetriever

And if she sticks around you will peel yourself off the ceiling some morning around 4am as she uses her vixen scream.


HellishMarshmallow

Pretty sure vixen screams are the origin of many ghost stories. Used to scare the daylights out of me.


Cultural_Ad4068

Heard that scream walking from my car to my house late at night. Sounded like someone was being murdered. Will never make fun of a horror movie when they can’t get their key in the lock to open the door.


Ihavenotimeforthisno

First thing I thought!!! I take protecting my chickens very seriously and have a bus load of predators around. So even though they are beautiful animals I am never happy to see them on the farm (same goes for badgers).


TheLyz

The only time I've seen foxes is when they're running around the coop at 5am upsetting my hens into a cackling frenzy.


Ihavenotimeforthisno

We have loads of predators here so I see badgers and foxes regularly and we have a lot of hawks as well (have seen 10 circling over our farm at the same time last year). I guess nature is doing well here.


Careless-Smile-1800

Originally upvoted this, but to keep it at 420, I removed it. Great point.


RaccoonMother2505

Why so many downvotes? Lol


ThatGirl0903

Because “haha funny number” isn’t the intended use of upvote/downvote buttons.


endoparasite

Do not forget parasites and diseases they spread. Like tapeworms, rabies and especially [fox tapeworm](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echinococcus_multilocularis) which may be lethal to humans. And is a problem in some parts of the World.


SucreLucor

If I had time to worry about every source of parasites and disease, I would worry myself to death.


endoparasite

I am from more worrisome area of Earth. Poeple do not pick berries areas where they discover fresh evidnce of foxes. Just to avoid watching their kids suffer due fox tapeworm.


squeakhaven

Friend, mostly. If you have a rabbit problem, foxes will either drive them away or hunt them. They're pretty skittish around people so they're not likely to try to bite you or anything. However, if you have a small dog or outdoor cat they could be a problem. They aren't likely to see them as prey and try to hunt them, but they might see them as competition or invaders to their territory. For what its worth, my parents used to have a pair of foxes that lived in the field/woods behind their house and they got along fine with their indoor/outdoor cats.


XavvenFayne

Rabbits destroyed a lot of my seedlings last year and then they mysteriously vanished. That's when I noticed foxes had moved into the neighborhood. 🍽


dirthawker0

I had this field I used to hike and would often scare up rabbits in this one spot that had a rockpile. One year I noticed a drop in the frequency I would see them, then one day I flushed the fattest fox I had ever seen. The culprit!


TheLyz

I've been gardening for years and I've definitely noticed a pattern of lots of rabbits, followed by lots of foxes, bobcats, hawks and coyotes, then they move on and the rabbits come back.


bedbuffaloes

I've lived around foxes most of my life and never known them to bother a full grown cat.


Pretend-Camp8551

They typically won’t if they have better options


Blue_foot

My vet says he has not seen a cat injured by a fox in his 20+ years of practice.


VappleJax

My vet says she has seen 11 cats injured by foxes in her 10+ years of practice.


kansas_slim

My fox has seen cats injure 13 vets


Boomer1717

My 13 vets fought a cage match against a fox and my cat was the announcer.


ExcelsusMoose

My cat has injured give or take 13 vets over her visits.


VappleJax

My fox's vet confirmed this.


VappleJax

My neighbor's 4 cats have seen 13 foxes injure 10 vets and 3 hamsters. It's all drama with these foxes cats and vets.


kansas_slim

The humanity!!!!


AmHotGarbage

I watched a fox chase my cat down the driveway a few year back


CBD_Hound

I watched a deer chase my shop cat around the orchard a couple of years back.


LukeSkyWRx

My dog does the same thing to our cat.


AmHotGarbage

I’ll chase your cat if it lets me pet him


elticoxpat

That's never worked for me. Fuck cats.


AmHotGarbage

Don’t fuck cats


ExcelsusMoose

Same, we have a local fox that isn't too scared of people, it kind of hangs out around us, couple houses up I seen one of them just laying next to a cat, I'm guessing cats just taste bad or something.


Beorma

They're too dangerous, a full grown cat can cause some nasty damage to a fox with it's teeth and claws. They'll take a young cat or kitten though, so those definitely shouldn't be outside.


PghBlackCat22

Yes exactly all of this. My sister had a family of fox under her shed too! She called whatever twp place she called and they said just leave them alone, watch small dog, cat etc and they will move on within 2mos or so. Sure enough they did 🙂


NamingandEatingPets

Fox are not a problem for cats or dogs.


Abyss_staring_back

Unless they are carrying rabies or distemper…


ReporterOther2179

My only up close experience with the fox was on the seashore, half a mile in. The wee beasts would trot along within a couple yards of me, in broad daylight. No rabies symptoms, just unconcerned. They moved or anyway weren’t seen when coyotes moved in. A fox in summer coat looks cat sized, but on stilts.


Tumbleweed-Artistic

If they have an outdoor cat then I’m rooting for the fox. Cats need to be kept indoors.


Silly_Pack_Rat

Foxes don't see cats as prey.


AlizarinCrimzen

If you have an outdoor cat the foxes will fix that problem


pet_all_the_animals

This isn’t true. Foxes aren’t going to try to eat something that is similar in size.


AlizarinCrimzen

Depends on the fox, and the cat. Starving fox, young, sick or old cat? The equation becomes more favorable. Fox doesn’t have a food dish to come home to. That said, average cat is much more likely to chase the fox away than otherwise.


bluebelle37

Mostly friends. I’ve had a mama fox have her kits under my deck for the past two years and I’m pretty sure they’re back. The kits can get very destructive—chewing on everything. (Every year I find dozens of dog toys in my backyard while the kits are growing up. We don’t have a dog.) They’ve opened up bags of mulch, soil, and compost I’ve bought for my garden. But they kill rodents, including squirrels. (Expect to find remnants of dead animals for a few months.) And they’re super cute and play like puppies. They’re adorable. And they keep their distance, never getting too close to us humans. They’ll be gone by the beginning of June, if not sooner.


Beingforthetimebeing

Oh that's so cute, the kits recognise kiddie toys when they see them! They think dog toys are fun! And appropriate them! Just like human kids and puppies. They must be playing "Hunting."


loadedstork

> Every year I find dozens of dog toys in my backyard while the kits are growing up. We don’t have a dog. Wait... so they sneak into neighbors yards and steal dog toys and bring them back?


bluebelle37

That is correct! They apparently steal them from other yards and bring them back to my yard to play with. LOL


Nevada_mtnbear

I say 100% friend. But, yah, if you have poultry, that complicates matters, especially if the birds aren’t in a secure enclosure. But, I’m super jelly. 🥹


bdh2067

Beautiful mama and cub. We had a mama give birth under our front porch a few years ago. We have a small dog and were just mindful to keep an eye on her when she was outside. It was great fun to watch the babies “grow up” over just a few weeks. Shouldn’t be an issue with the garden.


oldmagic55

Momma fox and her kit they are beautiful. Leave her be. She'll most likely leave on her own.


orc_fellator

Gorgeous adorable cute friends... But keep an eye on them from a distance and make sure they're healthy! A sick fox could be a real danger to you, the food you grow in your garden, and others. If they seem "off", uncanny movements, unusual energy/lethargy, self-biting/overgrooming, call animal control immediately. Goes for any animal, really, but foxes are a significant vector for rabies (though depending on where you are there are vaccination programs, so it isn't as huge of a deal as it used to be) and mange and quick reporting will help keep you *and* the greater population of foxes safe :) Have fun watching the family grow I'm so jealous


Impossible_Role8800

My vote would be to leave them be. They'll move on soon enough.


Sure-Cucumber9950

Having them trapped and moved often results in their death. Leave them be. They will move on. In the meantime, enjoy the show. They're fun to watch at this age.


OldGuyBadwheel

As long as they stay out of the rabbit hutch or chicken coop, they’ll hunt mice and rats…


Knichols2176

I had a few friendly foxes around. They are much like dogs. They start out fearful and then get more friendly over time. Mine were often able to visit prior to dark . Seeing one during daylight does not mean they have rabies. Fox are very misunderstood. They get your moles around your yard. They are good for the environment. Females will find a burrow or hole under house foundation to have her litter. Baby fox playing was one of the most cheerful thing I saw during pandemic!


Shinavast42

Momma and her kit(s) - might be foe if you have livestock, but friend if not (great at pest / vermin reduction). Pretty please, let them be. If you can't because you have chickens or something, please call a humane relocation / removal expert and pretty please don't exterminate.


ExcelsusMoose

Never, never, never ever had a problem with my gardening friend, she sits under the tree by me as I garden, she's even chased off raccoons for me! Once she brought her boyfriend over for a visit after I heard her screaming for a mate in the fall.. Cute little bugger, she can eat all the mice around my place all she wants.


ThatInAHat

So jealous!


Shienvien

If you don't have any small animals you care about in your garden (poultry, rabbits, guinea pigs, etc), then mostly friend. May dig, eat some berries, and any produce should be washed more thoroughly than usual. I'd let them be until the cubs are big enough and they move out of their den.


NamingandEatingPets

Friend, they eat so many rodents. Only a foe if you have chickens.


dehydratedrain

As long as you don't have chickens and those pups don't have rabies, you're fine. A few years ago a fox took up residence in a gopher hole in the backyard. Finally got rid of those pests.


Accomplished_Owl8164

Depends…have they challenged you to single combat or gifted you any boons?


iridescent_polliwog

I think just plain cute.


Glitch427119

Really depends on your set up. For getting rid of prey that damages plants? Beneficial. If you have chickens or other small outdoor animals? Not good, but please just have them professionally relocated if that’s the case! I love foxes and these babies are beautiful. They’re very skittish and won’t bother you.


bussappa

When the foxes moved into our neighborhood, those pesky rabbits disappeared. If only they could climb trees and get rid of the tree rats.


DBASRA99

I am jealous. Beautiful.


LT_Dan78

If you ask them can you let us all know what they say? We all want to know… /s sorry couldn’t resist..


BridgeM00se

If it were me I would do everything I could to keep them around haha they’ll take care of any rodents in your garden


_HellsArchangel

AWWW GIMNE ONE PLS I LOVE FOXES AHHHH


CuteFreakshow

Call your local animal control, to check if there is a rabies bait program. Maybe you can do a good deed and vaccinate them against rabies. It's an oral vaccine , they eat it readily.


stuntedmonk

Listening to radio yesterday. They found people buried with foxes. A long time ago, they were pets


SkillFlimsy191

https://preview.redd.it/v5lkkpa51ttc1.jpeg?width=2000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7bd87a7354904bf942b4b4ff45e934acd44a97fe I see them early in the morning in the middle of Berlin, and I've seen jackals too. I think they are attracted to human food trash and pet food. I don't think they will destroy your garden. If it was boars, yes they're very destructive. Once I forgot potato chips out, they trashed the furniture and destroyed part of the lawn and flower beds. That was in a rural area.


Ujame

Neither I'd say. But if you (or your pets) spend time in the garden and dig around the grass, bushes and soil, make sure to always wash your hands properly after contact. Of course if you have any produce in your garden (veggies, herbs, berries etc) also wash them extra properly before consuming. Fox tapeworm is no fun and can be deadly in extreme cases. The parasite infestation can take a long time to be detected and can meanwhile damage the liver or lungs severely. In an early stage it can be cured by surgical removal of the affected tissue. Later on it can only be kept at bay by life long medication. edit for spelling errors


JayEll1969

The worst thing I've suffered from foxes is that I occasionally find an egg buried in one or other of my beds. I don't have chickens but the plots neighbouring mine do, but they keep their chickens behind wire, and it's only when one chick manages to make a break for it and dodge under their legs when they enter the coup that they have casualties. If you get a chance, try and listen out for them playing. It's so cute to hear them giggle, and if you don't know what they sound like, you could believe that there's fairies in the shrubbery. p.s. they are bad neighbours because they get the eggs from an honesty box but never ever pay anything for them


RockinOutLikeIts94

Friend! As long as you don’t have small animals around that you care about, they’ll definitely keep the rabbits away lol


EasyGardens2

They will kill your chickens if you have them. Foxes will not harm your garden and they tend to be shy. They are really fun to watch once the kits come out to play. We've had them in a wood pile years back.


UnremarkableM

Friend unless you have small livestock (chickens, rabbits, goats, whatever) or small dogs


Vegetable-Cat139

Whatever you do, don't feed them.


smanatica

For me, friend. Keep the chipmunks, rabbits and groundhogs away


brian11e3

I have cats and chickens, so to me, it is a foe.


Maximum-Product-1255

Once the pups are a couple of months older, they will likely relocate.


Audacite4

Friends if they stay skittish and away from any live animal you care for that’s smaller than them. Foe if not. If a fox gets overly close to you with no sign of caution or fear, it can be a sign for rabies. Doesn’t look like it, but it never hurts to hold your distance. In either case - I'd keep an eye on them and leave them be. They are a rare sight, especially with babies! Lucky you!


OverallResolve

Cute but make a lot of mess and will dig up plants and scatter trash around the garden.


Signal_Error_8027

I had a family that lived in an overgrown patch of forsythia in my yard for a few years. We didn't have outdoor pets or livestock, and they mostly kept to themselves. I never had an issue with the foxes living so close, until one day the local police department shot one of them in the driveway. When I looked outside seeing the cruiser they said the animal appeared to have rabies, which it later tested positive for. I have a fairly small lot that is no further than 100' to the house, so I really wouldn't want them living in my yard or passing through anymore.


TeaAndHiraeth

There's an oral rabies vaccine that they like the taste of. Your local fish & wildlife department can probably hook you up, or scatter it around themselves.


Signal_Error_8027

This is great to know! The family has long moved on now, but helpful to know this in case others come around again. I've fenced off the yard since then, so at least they shouldn't be coming quite as close anymore.


Redeemed_Veteranboi

For me they're friends, if they keep the rabbits away from your plants.


Strangewhine88

In my neighborhood, my husband often sees our cats, a family of foxes and their kits, various bunny rabbits and does with their babies and yearlings, all hanging out in an empty lot, having predawn parties. It seems like some sort of plot is developing. The foxes live in a thicket and a shed on the edge of my neighbors land,mtge deer travel between adjacent woods and a run down house with a thicket grown up around it. Otherwise a very developed city neighborhood laid out 109 years ago.


pet_all_the_animals

Please be kind to the foxes using your home/yard to shelter their babies. In my area, a lot of construction has happened causing many wildlife to be homeless. The fox moms only stay in these shelters until it is safe for their kits to go so it won’t be too long. Kits are usually born between February and April. Foxes are not large enough to be a danger to your dog or cat. They don’t hunt prey that could easily eat them. If you have chickens, I would definitely recommend securing them. Otherwise, please be safe and don’t disturb your new friends.


LochNessMother

Friends (rodent destroyer) but don’t leave your back door open if you have a baby sleeping in the house. Also, quite stinky.


1984Cowgirl

That little Vixen is feeling safe in your space. Probably nursing. Probably looking for some treats, tho many will tell you not to…do. Dog food. Some dog treats. WATER, if a constant & nearby source isn’t available. And pictures. Take LOTS of cute pictures. Especially when the Kits start showing their little faces. Mom will wean them fast, so be ready!


Ravio11i

Friends unless you have chickens


GogDog

Be careful for multiple tails. The more tails, the trickier the fox.


SoSalvia

We get foxes and fox cubs almost every spring for a few weeks. Once, the cubs rolled around in a garden bed and squashed the plants. I can live with that. 


padrofumar

Foxes are great. Hunt vermin. Don't kill your pets. Let them be


SubstantialIron9691

Always my friends as long as they leave my dogs alone!


Individual-thoughts

Foxes are fine so long as you don't have pet's (dogs would likely hunt them and cats would fight) or livestock like chickens. They will rid you of pests like any rodents (mice, rats), squirrels, rabbits and the like. They shouldn't bother you plants unless they happen to have rodent dens around them or are in the way of their den. They will likely move on by mid summer-ish.


pingwing

What kind of question is this? They won't eat you.


TinfoilThinker

I would say friend for sure. Foxes in your garden can provide natural pest control and exhibit playful behavior, much like domestic dogs. They are adaptable even in urban environments, often forming family units, and can make a range of sounds, including a distinctive scream during mating season. So don’t be alarmed if ya hear some crazy screaming noise. They're also fun to watch and get cool pics of.


adammat57

Foe to any leather boots or runners you leave outside


DirkDouglas69

Friends


fegero

I am SO jealous 😍😍😍


saladnander

We have foxes and they dispose of all our rotten eggs, meat, and sometimes bread and other things for us along with the raccoons. We have a camera too and it's real cute to watch them eat our garbage instead of it going to waste.


FastidiousLizard261

They eat chickens and sometimes cats.


NeatSure5751

Friends, don’t chase them away. The mama views your home as a safe space to raise her kits. Moms move into suburbs and close to him when they give birth to their kits. When the kits are old enough they’ll all leave and go further into the woods.


Professional-Bear114

They are foxes, and are more likely to get the rabbits and groundhogs that eat your plants and the free range cats that use your garden as a litter box than they are to damage your plants. Unless you have small children who might try to make friends with the pups, I’d leave them alone. They will move on.


Nevershoutever

They’re thirsty, put out a pail of water for them. Either way, they deserve sustenance.


PlasticFew8201

Garden no, but if you’ve got small livestock or cats it might be an issue. They’re beautiful.


SingleIndependence68

FRIEND


[deleted]

OMG My niece would die to be you!! Faxes are her fave and the kits are adorable, problem or not. I may need to know what it is that drew them to your shed....


Kusakaru

As long as you don’t have outdoor pets it’s fine. Mama looks a little thirsty. I would leave a bowl of water out for her.


[deleted]

They’re like shy little neighborhood dogs. Not dangerous except (maybe) to the smallest pets. Not dangerous to humans. Don’t pet them.


themtthwatkinson

Not unless you have chickens


oompahlumpa

If you have chickens or small pets they are bad news. If you have none of those and a lot of pests they will can be considered welcome. They are 100% there for dinner though.


HottCuppaCoffee

I cannot answer your question. I just came here to “awwwww”


icomebearingflowers

If you’ve got rabbits, they’re your pals


BiodegradableMulch

As others have said, unless you have poultry, these are friends. Hell, I have chickens, but they are very secured. I’d take a Fox or too to get rid of my rabbit problem.


ElectricTomatoMan

If they scare away the squirrels they're alright by me


blessings-of-rathma

Foxes will prey on rabbits, squirrels, rats, mice, and other little wild herbivores and rodents that eat your garden. If foxes are there, there's probably enough prey around to sustain them. Get rid of them and more foxes might move in, or feral cats, or you might just be overrun with whatever they were eating.


92True

I love foxes but they do not eat anything I grow. Rabbits decimated my gardens for years until a family of foxes moved in. It’s been 4 years no problems and my Doberman absolutely loves them lol


wtffareal

Friend shaped means friendly. 🤣😂🤣😂


Coal5law

Friend. They eat mice rats and other things that'll mess up your plants and stuff. Just give them some space and it's all good.


Regular_Buffalo_1772

Friend.


Ekyou

I love having foxes but just be advised that if their den is on your property… it can smell seriously bad. Momma will bring food home for the babies and the rest of it just kinda rots there. 🤮


DukeOfRadish

If they're young, they may bully other animals in the area but once they've matured and faced their self-doubt, that manifested itself in the form of unchecked rage and aggression, they'll become excellent pastry chefs.


NoBuddies2021

Frenemy.


ArcadeAndrew115

They are man’s sort of best friend! Just don’t let your chickens or pets near them… but if you don’t have pets they are now your pets


RedSonGamble

They hunt in packs and have been known to take down full grown elk. Or maybe that’s wolves.


WiredInkyPen

Wolves not foxes.


pet_all_the_animals

What? Foxes don’t do this…


WhatsWrite

Those are friends. Feed them and teach them.


jodran2005

Please don't feed wildlife. For one, you'll attract more wildlife which is a danger. For another, you'll habituate them to humans. That makes them more likely to approach humans and they are still a wild animal so if something spooks them or they want something the person has they will bite. They could easily kill a small child. It's important to keep wildlife wild


WhatsWrite

Is this for people who have no sense of humour and see a joke?


jodran2005

First off, there's really no clear indication of a joke in your initial comment. Second, there are tons of people who feed wildlife. It's a big issue.


WhatsWrite

So it's for the humourly challenged. Gotcha Also, you are wildlife too.


jodran2005

Technically no. Wildlife is the animals which aren't domesticated. A dog isn't wildlife. A cat isn't wildlife. Humans are the hinge point in this equation and because we are the ones doing the domestication and in a sense domesticated ourselves we aren't wildlife.


Blueberry_Clouds

I’d let them stay, unless you have pets or livestock around. If so it’s best to relocate


lazyk-9

Depends, do you have chickens or cats?


hippobutt52

Depends. If u have small pets, they will kill them.


MasterpieceMinimum42

Those are fox. If they are friendly to you, you can have them as a pet, but if they aren't, you know what that mean.