Gifts from Fox

[Novoiceleft]

I live in a fairly rural setting and for the last 18 months I have left food out for a fox. Usually dog food - about 3 times a week.

She started coming when very small and now is fully grown and extremely healthy. A beautiful animal. By now she is quite tame, and she will approach within a couple of yards and sit down while I put the food out on a saucer. She will quite happily eat it whilst I am watching from close by.

On a few occasions, objects have mysteriously appeared near the feeding site. Tennis balls, old shoes etc. Last night I left the garage door open by mistake and a shoe from the garage appeared near the fox feeding place overnight.

So I really think that she is attempting to bring me "thank you" presents. Does anyone know if this is common fox behaviour?

TIA

NoVoice

[servodude]

I live in a fairly rural setting and for the last 18 months I have left food out for a fox. Usually dog food - about 3 times a week.

She started coming when very small and now is fully grown and extremely healthy. A beautiful animal. By now she is quite tame, and she will approach within a couple of yards and sit down while I put the food out on a saucer. She will quite happily eat it whilst I am watching from close by.

On a few occasions, objects have mysteriously appeared near the feeding site. Tennis balls, old shoes etc. Last night I left the garage door open by mistake and a shoe from the garage appeared near the fox feeding place overnight.

So I really think that she is attempting to bring me "thank you" presents. Does anyone know if this is common fox behaviour?

TIA

NoVoice

I wouldn't be surprised if it was

My mum had an amicable relationship with a fox that slept in the shed where she kept the rabbits
It would saunter out of a morning when she opened the door to feed the bunnies [1] and head off for the day. By all accounts she was a charming and inquisitive animal (the fox I mean)

-sd

[1] I say bunnies but they were minging incestuous miserable rejected pets that had ended up there because my mum had space
- fox sleeping in there probably didn't help their mood

[kiloran]

We've had "pet" foxes for years, half a dozen regulars at the moment. We keep them well fed but the only presents we get are a few rather smelly ones on the lawn.

But they are scottish ones, so maybe they are less predisposed to giving stuff away for free

--kiloran

[AsleepInYorkshire]

Urban foxes, your questions answered

Why do I keep losing things from my garden?
Foxes love to play, particularly with things that smell good – old shoes, dog chews, balls and gardening gloves are favourite items. The only solution is to ensure that you do not leave interesting play-things lying around your garden.

AiY