Ever heard of the possibly real/fictional, character of the ancient Greek, Aesop and his fables ?

What about his various stories cementing our view on how we have come to see the fox?

Heard of this expression?

“Look before you leap.”—From “The Fox and the Goat”

“Revenge is a Two-Edged Sword.”—From “The Farmer and the Fox”

To take the “lion’s share.” -From  “The Lion, the Fox, and the Ass”

To have “sour grapes”—From “The Fox and the Grapes”

All these fables allude to the fox being cunning and sly and able to outwit his opponents. This doesn’t really help our fellow earthling friend to be accepted in the human community.

There is a huge misconception that foxes are seen as threatening to people and their livestock.

Have you ever stopped and paused and thought why are they coming and stealing my chicken or rummaging through my bin?

Could it be because business developers- humans are wanting to build a casino, or a shopping mall -something more people orientated because  folk spend money and make business people money?  Let us acknowledge the fact

When was the last time you saw a fox or any animal walking around with a visa card and some spare change?

Exactly!

Oh wait, I’m such a fool. The only time animals like the fox are seen as carrying huge wads of $$$$$$$$’s and £££££££££’s is when they are wearing their money.

Okay, I get it I can be a bit of a nuisance but there are ways we can deal with the problem without resorting to killing me.

HOW DAISY?

Good question.

COMMON CONCERNS ABOUT  ME : MR FOXY

1. I am seen by a human in the day time. oh the horror!  I am ready to maul you .

“I’m shit scared of you humans, I am. Why do you think I run away from you.  I can assure you I  don’t understand guilt and I am not personally targeting you. I’m hungry.”

” Y’alll know your mate Archie that lives at farm 15? Well he has only been breeding some of my mates and you humans can be pretty chilled at times. I don’t w’sup wit y’all but I’m getting contradictory feelings here, Archie feeds me why won’t you ?”  ( Daisy Disclaimer: I have no idea why Mr fox talks like he is from the ghetto)

HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS:

Get a spray bottle of water and aim it (not the whole bottle) at me. Yell or whistle. I will run off.

” Let me give you a heads up , human” 

1. I may only a danger when I have rabies. Wait.I will get to that..

2. I only want to eat small things like chickens, guinea pigs and rabbits.. If you have a pet make sure it is well protected  in a sturdy hutch.

3. I like to get my five a day. I will eat any fruit but don’t give me vegetables – just something sweet would be just swell.

4. See that Garbage bag split or can tipped on its side. It wasn’t me this time this time . It was Bruno the dog and the the cats choir sorority   sisters who did it.  I’m making sure they have left something for me to chow down – I got the munchies.

5. If you see me strutting across your lawn or whatever I may be trying to get from a-b . My food is on the other side of where I live so I need to pass your house. That’s all. Nothing shady happening here.

FOX DENS UNDER YOUR PORCH.

“Okay, my missus is pregnant. She is about to drop any day now and we are going to be proud parents. Thanks for the congratulations. Look human would you consider if we could stay here just to protect our children until we start teaching them how to do a few moves to help them in the wild?” 

“How long?”  

“Nine weeks is all I ask and then you can move us along“

The answer is no – from the human.

” Fair do’s I’m mildly disappointed but if you want us to go sooner here are ways you can get rid of me.” 

1. Get your pongiest shoes, or get your cat to piss on an old jumper of yours and place it by my den

2. Go down to your local health shop. Get something non toxic like Capsicum and leave that by my den

3. I’m living under your porch. Okay, get one of these and I won’t be able too make a crib here. – want to know how you can do it -click HERE

4. Dog repellent stuff works on us too

5. We may not look it but we are easily freaked out by noises

” You have few  a choices on scaring us. You can go all technological and install one of the noise making devices, get a a sprinkler installed or you if you are on a budget whip out an old pan/ pot and bang on it loudly- shouting noise works too.”

WORRIED ABOUT YOUR PET?

” I’m not gonna lie- chicken tastes mighty good but here is what you can do to protect your named animal. ” 

1. I don’t really care about Mog your cat -I may be interested in her new precious litter of kittens. Just keep your cats safe. Away from the traffic, outside. Pets are meant to live in doors especially newborns.

2. I’m only gonna have a  scuffle with Ooboo the dog .If I have a litter of babies not far from here so -if I attack Ooboo it is because I am protecting my babies. Small pets  and other dogs shouldn’t be left outside for long periods without being monitored ,they could be like, dog napped or harassed. There are far more dangerous predators out there than little old me.

3. Why not keep your rabbits and other small pets in doors. Don’t leave them outside at night. That kind of defies the object of having a pet, dont’ you think?

4. Keep your chickens in a safe hatched pen. Big enough and safe enough to keep me , dogs and possibly raccoons from killing your chickens.

OR

“Oh fuck. I’ve lost it. I’ve bitten your pet and I’m slightly freaking out, wtf?” 

RABIES AND MANGE IN FOXES

“Can I just say it is rare that we get rabies. So here’s what you can do if it ever happens”

1. Get your pet vaccinated. You should do this anyway if I am a problem or not. There are loads of germs hanging around for your pets to get sick

2. Before reporting there is a wild ,uncontrollable fox going ape shit. Take a deep breathe and observe my behaviour

• I look like I need a wheelchair. I can’t move my parts of my body

• I’m staggering about like some drunk thang

• I’m harming myself. Biting myself. I look like I want to do serious damage to myself.

• I’m all up in your face- Aggressive for what appears to be no reason you have sussed out.

• I could also look way too tame

” Don’t come near me. Rabies is passed on my saliva- get your mobile out and ring you local animal control agency, the police or your health department “

MANGE

1. Is not rabies.

2. It attacks my skin/fur and I start losing my fur. I itch so bad it’s like a human form of eczema, I may get so itchy I chew at my tail and clumps of my fur out. I  then get cold so I try to find a warm place to suffer. if you see me looking like I am about to  die call  your local animal control agency or a vet.I can be treated and get better.