foxes

[LISAB]

why do the foxes in my back garden sound like theyre choking. are they in danger or is this a normal sound for them to make?

[moonacre]

No I don't think this is normal. Do they have cubs at the moment? If so then I believe adults will sometimes regurgitate food for their young - part digested and prechewed! Maybe they would make a choking/retching sound when doing this? Other than that it may be bad news. Foxs, like dogs, can get a viral distemper. This is serious, infectious and often fatal. Symptoms include a dry cough (choking).

[LISAB]

havent seen any cubs but i usually hear them in the dead of night and the cubs could easily be in the bushes and trees. Is it wrong to leave food for them?

[moonacre]

It's up to you about the food. I have a fox and a badger that come into my garden every night. Rather than throw away food scraps I put them out and they're polished off very quickly. In my experience a fox will eat almost anything. Badgers on the other hand absolutely hate vegetables (they can even separate peas out from a plate of leftovers) but love pasta and anything fatty! Foods to be wary of: cooked bones (they splinter unlike uncooked bones), dairy products (too much causes upset stomachs) and chocolate (as with dogs, chocolate is poisonous to foxs).