Foxes digging dogs.

[Mossypaw]

Lost half a dozen hens to a pine marten this week and while discussing it with my elderly uncle, a lifelong sheep farmer, he asked if I ever had trouble with foxes. Now I’ve never seen a fox near them and always thought the smell of the dogs kept them away. He told me I was wrong and how foxes don’t mind the smell of dogs and will even dig up recently buried dead dogs. He has had it happen twice with his collies being dug up (one fox was shot while doing it) and knew of another dog being dug up locally.
I thought my leg was being pulled but my Aunt confirmed the story, so anyone heard of this before ?

 

[Fair Hill]

Foxes are dirty scavengers with a great nose, why wouldn't they dig up a dead dog? They'll dig up every other animal that isn't buried deep enough.

 

[Waz77]

I've seen foxes bolt terriers before so anythings possible

 

[Mossypaw]

Foxes are dirty scavengers with a great nose, why wouldn't they dig up a dead dog? They'll dig up every other animal that isn't buried deep enough.

Strange things is, he buries his dogs about fifty yards from where he buries sheep and lambs and never had them dug up.

 

[WH308]

I buried my jack Russell near my fox trap, as it was his favourite place, either eating the bait or tormenting the trapped foxes. He regularly used get caught in it, his role of trap checker was taken up by my Doberman and she bolts to the trap as her first job every morning. I’ve trapped over 30 foxes in 2.5 years now off my 3 acre holding. So I don’t think the smell of dogs bother the foxes at all.

 

[Rhodesianjess]

My boss's wife has two terriers that have the run of the "big house" and adjoining gardens. Both dogs so plenty of scent marking of territory goes on. Every season without fail I shoot a fox or three round the house,not deterred at all by dogs presence.
Generally subsonics out of 22 as the noise would set her dogs going at stupid o'clock

 

[pip sparrow]

Buried my first working Russell many years ago on what we used to call boot hill he was dug up and made a meal of must have been getting there own back tough old bugger

 

[parkyboy]

I believe that foxes will bury food for future use in known areas...so digging up dead bodys of dogs etc would be in their nature...H.

 

[Jon P]

I have buried plenty of dogs over the years, if the ground is hard to go deep I always cover them in stones as I have had foxes dig them back up in the past .

 

[landkeeper]

I have buried three of mine in the last 2 years all at least 3.5 ft deep all three had 'something' digging down at least a foot i assume foxes.
They will eat anything , have seen foxes eating roadkill badgers and foxes too

 

[Jon P]

The last dog I buried was my old GWP, in my head she was bigger then she actually was. I could off buried a pony in with her in the end but the foxes did not even attempt to get to that one.

 

[Long drag]

A trick I picked up, after you have buried you dog/cat family pet. Pour Diesel over the plot, this will stop any Rats, Foxes, Badgers from digging allway works.

 

[willowbank]

Off topic a bit.... I’ve seen a Fox try to hump a recently shot one but only for a minute or two

Willowbank

 

[mudman]

I buried my jack Russell near my fox trap, as it was his favourite place, either eating the bait or tormenting the trapped foxes. He regularly used get caught in it, his role of trap checker was taken up by my Doberman and she bolts to the trap as her first job every morning. I’ve trapped over 30 foxes in 2.5 years now off my 3 acre holding. So I don’t think the smell of dogs bother the foxes at all.

 

[User00025]

In the dark days, my keeper grandad used to bury a cat under a couple of inches of soil. He would then set half a dozen gin traps around it. He had one fox caught by four legs and his brush. He always said he used to have a look at least 3 times a day.

 

[Rhodesianjess]

In the dark days, my keeper grandad used to bury a cat under a couple of inches of soil. He would then set half a dozen gin traps around it. He had one fox caught by four legs and his brush. He always said he used to have a look at least 3 times a day.

The old keeper that I was lucky enough to have as a tutor always swore by that method. The smellier the better then gins north, south, east and west. Clever old bugger,miss him.

 

[User00025]

The old keeper that I was lucky enough to have as a tutor always swore by that method. The smellier the better then gins north, south, east and west. Clever old bugger,miss him.

Yes, same here, loads of old tips. There are always at least three dog weasels to every bitch, so when you catch her squeeze a drop of her p on other traps, it works. Almost the same for stoats. Foxes definitely eat dead Badgers, seen them do it on roads and I always used to leave dead foxes on my middens. Out on the hill it was always a draw, but usually they were hung up on the way in so don't know whether they would eat their own.

 

[andrew_shooter53]

I have buried three of mine in the last 2 years all at least 3.5 ft deep all three had 'something' digging down at least a foot i assume foxes.
They will eat anything , have seen foxes eating roadkill badgers and foxes too

i shot a fox once and came past him 3hrs later and the farm cat was eating him