Fox territories

[SussexSteve]

I once sat and watched 2 mature dog foxes mousing with a vixen. All 3 were within 50 yards of each other. I watched for a while as though she had them auditioning as to who was the better hunter to provide for cubs once mated and she was underground..She never did get to find out!

 

[Bo Diddley]

I don't see fox's as territorial.
They are infact very social animals but their social structure is complex.
They may not live close to each other but keep in touch.
Generations keep in touch by following similar lines. Aunts and uncles will help with cubs and the father provides for the cubs as well as the vixen. But will the dog and vixen cuddle up of a day together? No way!
They are immensely interesting animals. I love trying out wit them.

Back in the day when it was ok to do such things, I often dug 2 foxes from the same earth, it certainly wasn't a rarity, and I'm not talking of large earths either, maybe 2 - 5 eyes.

 

[Smellydog]

Back in the day when it was ok to do such things, I often dug 2 foxes from the same earth, it certainly wasn't a rarity, and I'm not talking of large earths either, maybe 2 - 5 eyes.

Yes, I've heard similar.
I should of been more concise. I think a vixen in cub or with new born, going off observation only, may not tolerate another very close for a short time.

There is no rules with them, just a generalisation of habits and social structure but a structure there is....if that makes sense.

 

[gixer1]

Foxes around here are not that territorial at all, they will happily wander in the same area as other foxes, I have sat and watched 5 in one patch of grass. What will chase a fox out is a badger if it has young, although they will also share earths with foxes if they are in a good mood.

Foxes are fantastically adaptable which is why we find them in rural and urban and anywhere they can find somewhere warm with a food source. Clever things and really nice to watch if they are not doing any harm.

Regards,
Gixer

 

[Free range rob]

I’m fast becoming the opinion that all this territory lark is rubbish.
This year, since January the 1st, my diary shows between myself and one other person we have taken 49 foxes from one small 5acre paddock behind my house, the large part of these are dog foxes and vixens don’t get into double figures.
I have sat and watched two obviously unknown to each other dog foxes circle each other as they close into the bait station, one generally ends up keeping its distance around 10-15 yards away and only moves in when the other leaves.
I have shot 7 dogs in one night and all fell inside a 50 yard circle

 

[foxdropper]

Some time ago I was on an extension near Tetbury .Was winter so we were knocking off about 4 .The house was in a beautiful location with fields and a valley to the back .This one evening I heard the sounds of fox combat and just had to look .Rounded a bramble patch and saw 7 foxes ,one an obvious small vic the rest dogs all wickering and snickering .Two would rear up then another would take on the apparent winner .They were oblivious to me and the walker only few hundred yards away in full view .It stopped abruptly when the vixen stopped wickering and they all dispersed .
No mobile back then .Love watching foxes , either in daylight or in the thermal going about their business totally unaware .
Only time I’ve seen any confrontation outside the rut was two milky vixens fighting over a chicken in daylight .Watched them for a while without shooting either .
Watched two separate aged litters playing together last year separated by a wall which had a tumbled down section .Old badger set that had entrances either side the wall .

 

[Bowland blades]

A dog will often hold a number of vixens in cub , shoot the vixen and the dog will move cubs if you can't get them . Seen it not guessed at it

 

[foxhunter]

I’m fast becoming the opinion that all this territory lark is rubbish.
This year, since January the 1st, my diary shows between myself and one other person we have taken 49 foxes from one small 5acre paddock behind my house, the large part of these are dog foxes and vixens don’t get into double figures.
I have sat and watched two obviously unknown to each other dog foxes circle each other as they close into the bait station, one generally ends up keeping its distance around 10-15 yards away and only moves in when the other leaves.
I have shot 7 dogs in one night and all fell inside a 50 yard circle

49 foxes off 5 acres , I would be lucky to shoot 49 off thousands and thousands of acres in different locations. Numbers down south always amaze me .

 

[Bo Diddley]

I’m fast becoming the opinion that all this territory lark is rubbish.
This year, since January the 1st, my diary shows between myself and one other person we have taken 49 foxes from one small 5acre paddock behind my house, the large part of these are dog foxes and vixens don’t get into double figures.
I have sat and watched two obviously unknown to each other dog foxes circle each other as they close into the bait station, one generally ends up keeping its distance around 10-15 yards away and only moves in when the other leaves.
I have shot 7 dogs in one night and all fell inside a 50 yard circle

That quantity is incredible bud , is the paddock urban or rural may I ask? Bait stations are the way to go!

 

[Free range rob]

49 foxes off 5 acres , I would be lucky to shoot 49 off thousands and thousands of acres in different locations. Numbers down south always amaze me .

Numbers on my place always amaze me as well, seems to be no shortage, however, a lot are coming from the local town I believe, and we have a nature reserve either side of us I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re not a dumping ground for the local charities either

 

[Free range rob]

That quantity is incredible bud , is the paddock urban or rural may I ask? Bait stations are the way to go!

It’s the very first field as you come out of town, am sure a lot must be urban foxes been drawn from town

 

[foxdropper]

49 foxes off 5 acres , I would be lucky to shoot 49 off thousands and thousands of acres in different locations. Numbers down south always amaze me .

 

[foxdropper]

Personally I think we underestimate populations in localities .The badger cull here saw numbers rise to silly levels .With the on going cull here I’d say the fox numbers are set to climb higher than previous years .Cub survival must be near 100% with no predator able to capitalise now brock is just a memory .
Ive found 7 cubbing dens already without really looking on land I don’t need to control numbers .Our daily walk this afternoon with terriers on lead revealed another Id not seen previous but I expect they will be moved as both terriers part way in before I managed to drag them out .
Gone are the days I will shoot them indiscriminate on land where there’s no vulnerable stock .

 

[Free range rob]

Personally I think we underestimate populations in localities .The badger cull here saw numbers rise to silly levels .With the on going cull here I’d say the fox numbers are set to climb higher than previous years .Cub survival must be near 100% with no predator able to capitalise now brock is just a memory .
Ive found 7 cubbing dens already without really looking on land I don’t need to control numbers .Our daily walk this afternoon with terriers on lead revealed another Id not seen previous but I expect they will be moved as both terriers part way in before I managed to drag them out .
Gone are the days I will shoot them indiscriminate on land where there’s no vulnerable stock .

Whilst out stalking yesterday two of us saw possibly 12 foxes (one may have been counted twice as it dissapeared and appeared somewhere else)
This is next door to a huge shoot that the keeper is supposedly mad about foxing.
Drive through my local town after dark and you will see 10-15 wandering the streets, god knows what the real population actually is.
Just like any other species, when numbers get out of hand with no natural predator, they need managing

 

[foxdropper]

Out tonight on the rats at a place where I leave the dead for the foxes .Farmer says all are gone next day with only nv footage to prove I was there .
Always amazes me how they fill voids created by us .Another farmer used to keep chickens badly and was plagued by them but then sold the lot with foxes sparse for two years .He now has ducks back with same sort of husbandry if you can call it that , and the first text came today about sorting them out .He will have to wait until the cubs are grown as I detest killing them .I’ll show my face but only to keep the perm .

 

[foxhunter]

Whilst out stalking yesterday two of us saw possibly 12 foxes (one may have been counted twice as it dissapeared and appeared somewhere else)
This is next door to a huge shoot that the keeper is supposedly mad about foxing.
Drive through my local town after dark and you will see 10-15 wandering the streets, god knows what the real population actually is.
Just like any other species, when numbers get out of hand with no natural predator, they need managing

Jesus I wouldnt see 12 foxes if I was out lamping for every night for a fortnight I am jealous of you guys as I love fox shooting even more so than stalking. As for town foxes I have lived round here for 50 years and only ever seen 1 fox .....such a spectacle I nearly crashed the car. Are there any kind gents with huge numbers that would allow me to tag along once harvest is finished ......really appreciate it , dont want to shoot just be part of a big night

 

[foxhunter]

Personally I think we underestimate populations in localities .The badger cull here saw numbers rise to silly levels .With the on going cull here I’d say the fox numbers are set to climb higher than previous years .Cub survival must be near 100% with no predator able to capitalise now brock is just a memory .
Ive found 7 cubbing dens already without really looking on land I don’t need to control numbers .Our daily walk this afternoon with terriers on lead revealed another Id not seen previous but I expect they will be moved as both terriers part way in before I managed to drag them out .
Gone are the days I will shoot them indiscriminate on land where there’s no vulnerable stock .

No under estimation here there simply arent any
I shoot them also to protect the ground nesting birds .....lapwing , curlew and partridge here

 

[TURNBOLT]

Foxes like rats are survivors,no matter how many we shoot we have just as many the following year.Are they territorial? some must be but many must just get moved out by the 1st autumn of their lives.Food availability must be a big factor as to where a vixen dens.1 square seems a small territory to me,I’ve found (thrown out) hens at an earth with specs and brails on 2 miles from our laying pen.Headkeeper once caught dog fox which had been tagged ( as a cub) 8/9 miles away as the crow flies .Survivors they certainly are.

 

[Gunner223]

Had a call from a cattle farmer saying a fox was amongst the calfs, he said he had seen 2 , 2 weeks later i had shot 18 , and still they come in
not so many , but this is a very rural place they seem to be everywhere.

 

[Gunner223]

Foxes like rats are survivors,no matter how many we shoot we have just as many the following year.Are they territorial? some must be but many must just get moved out by the 1st autumn of their lives.Food availability must be a big factor as to where a vixen dens.1 square seems a small territory to me,I’ve found (thrown out) hens at an earth with specs and brails on 2 miles from our laying pen.Headkeeper once caught dog fox which had been tagged ( as a cub) 8/9 miles away as the crow flies .Survivors they certainly are.

Ive read a book on foxing in and around Oxford, they tagged and followed foxes for up to 20 miles a night.