Dave Can Roar!

[gness]

I thought the loudest roars were when he was watching the game.....wrong.
The loudest roar came this evening when a fox had made it through three rooms into his study to nibble his shoe this time.

Foxy loves shoes but we are investigating what to do to keep him safe....the fox, not Dave.

[Tilly2]

Who left the door open?

[sunny-dave]

He shouldn't be so tame - it's not safe - and no, we haven't encouraged him (apart from him stealing some of the bird suet treats from the feeder the other day).

He is seriously cute though :

https://ibb.co/x8NkgWn

[gness]

Tilly...when you get a lovely, no rain, evening in Ireland you open every door and window!

[Barmaid]

Awww, bless. But you are right, he needs to fear humans - that is what will keep him alive.

[sunny-dave]

https://ibb.co/yQZfC37

[gness]

Indeed, Barmaid. We're in discussion with Ireland wildlife and a local rehabilitation group tonight. They agree this is unusual behaviour and it could possibly be that it was hand reared and released.
As far as we know there are no lampers nearby....but they don't advertise do they!

[gness]

Shoes/hoses. Foxy obviously likes anagrams.

[Tilly2]

Can you take it in as a pet?

[gness]

Only if you come over and house train it, Tilly. ;-)

[Barmaid]

No, the lampers dont advertise and they **** me off massively. Round here it has started already since the fields are now just stubble, and they are after deer, hare, foxes - whatever. We are a v small hamlet and sound travels, so if we hear anything we have a private group where we can alert the local gamekeeper and the rural crime team. I have seen the devastation they leave behind and its awful.

We do now have a bit of a reputation for reports so hopefully they will stay away.

[Peter Pedant]

it is uncommon for foxes to get this tame innit
they are notoriously skittish
a few farmers tried to somesticate them down where I grew up
didnt work

[Peter Pedant]

oops didnt read the posts above
please note for those who readily accuse me of closely reading everything and then ridiculing people concerned - even those gasp who havent posted ! eek, blush !

[gness]

Hope your reputation keeps them away, BM....**** me off too. Saw some lights passing last night. Dave and I jumped up but it was just a group of runners on the Kerry Way....must have got lost in the daylight.... :-)

[Peter Pedant]

average life of a fox is - - 24 m isnt it
and the reason why they look so slim is they dont get enough food....

[Tilly2]

CA you put a shed up and let it live there? I don't know how to train foxes. We feed the foxes every night and it's a pleasure to see them on the CVTV cameras, snaffling on the dinner leftovers. This year we have had a fox and two cubs visiting regularly.

[gness]

Not really, Tilly. How would we stop in coming into the house? We have loved feeding and watching the wildlife on our camera over the last years but we can't let it roam the house.... :-(

[Tilly2]

No, you can't. I understand that but you could possibly provide it with a safe haven.

[Peter Pedant]

I don't know how to train foxes.
you cant
OK - same as you train a member of AB ter daah
foxes marking smell awful dont they

[gness]

Where, Tilly? How would it stay there and not approach another human?

[gness]

Dave's just said in a town it could be different. Way out in the countryside you have to be careful of the lampers knowing where foxes and other wildlife could be....and be a much easier target.