Posted by Bryan Mansell on September 17, 2006 at 4:15 PM
Hi,
I was helping my Aunt move into her new house today and the backgarden was overgrown, as was her neighbour's. As I was tidying her garden I could smell the scent of foxes and also saw a collection of bones in the neighbour's garden under some heavy bushes.
The whole time I was working I was thinking about the wildlife her garden would attract. There were worn paths through all the gardens leading to gaps in fences or holes in hedges.
I stood at the window as the sun was setting and a couple of minutes after it set a fox appeared. :) I'm quite excited about this as I don't get them in my own garden (my fence is high and has no gaps for animals to get in).
This brings me to the point of my post, I had a look at "Photographing Animals in the Wild" which is the only reference book I have at the minute and raisins and custard creams are suggested as good foods to attract them.
So I'm really just wanting to know what people have had success with.
Cheers.
Posted by Michael Sayles on September 17, 2006 at 4:42 PM
When I lived in north London I used to regularly see a fox patrolling our street. I managed to get him eating from my hand over a period of weeks, using nothing more exciting than Pedigree Chum dog food.
The fox at Formby (the red squirrel place near Southport) is partial to cocktail sausages - a friend of mine has tempted this wild fox to his feet by chucking cocktail sausages for it.
I'm certainly no expert, but I'd be wary of using too much sugary food to tempt them, for a variety of reasons.
Good luck,
Michael S
Posted by Barrie Harwood on September 17, 2006 at 4:49 PM
I don't know about Custard Creams attracting Foxes, but if you let me know where you live, I'll come round for them!
Barrie
Posted by Bryan Mansell on September 17, 2006 at 5:04 PM
I've been doing a bit of research online while waiting for replies. Seems they eat anything and everything :)
I was thinking Pedigree Chum myself Michael! I'm back at my aunt's on Friday to finish the garden, so i'll put a few different things around and get her to check what has gone on Saturday morning. :)
Posted by Dave Courtenay on September 18, 2006 at 3:55 AM
Foxes will basically eat anything-But a few years ago i had been feeding some wild foxes in woodland with raisins,peanuts and custard creams and everyday they were gone so after a few weeks i did a small experiment and put each food item in a pile and not mixed,when the fox came he inspected all the piles in order and then eat all the custard creams first-taking one or 2 to bury and then eat the raisins and then the peanuts,At the moment i am feeding them a soft dog food buscuit and once put some peanuts down as well and the next day some of the peanuts were still there,As for the fence in your garden i have seen foxes easily climb/jump a 6 foot fence,you could always dig a small hole under one pannel to help
Posted by Justin on September 18, 2006 at 11:26 AM
One option is to go to your local butcher and see if they have any scraps of meat,fat,etc.
I've found they're often happy to oblige.
Be sure to chop it up into very small pieces otherwise the fox will grab all the big pieces before disappearing for ages.
Good luck
Posted by John Plant on September 18, 2006 at 3:33 PM
Chocolate once you have them feeding regularly. Do this using meat my butcher provides me with trimmings when I buy my meat, Cut into small pieces I lay it down regularly. On the days you need to photogtraph use some lumps of chocolate to draw them to the your chosen location. In that location spread some grated chocolate (freeze it first) This will keep them in the area and will not be seen on your shots. Good luck
Posted by Bryan Mansell on September 24, 2006 at 7:02 AM
Thanks for the replies guys.
I haven't made back over to my aunts yet, but she phoned the other day to say the fox was sitting in the garden a 1:30 in the afternoon. She went outside and it didn't run away, so it may not be as hard as I was thinking to get some good shots. Time will tell :)
Discussion
8 repliesI was helping my Aunt move into her new house today and the backgarden was overgrown, as was her neighbour's. As I was tidying her garden I could smell the scent of foxes and also saw a collection of bones in the neighbour's garden under some heavy bushes.
The whole time I was working I was thinking about the wildlife her garden would attract. There were worn paths through all the gardens leading to gaps in fences or holes in hedges.
I stood at the window as the sun was setting and a couple of minutes after it set a fox appeared. :) I'm quite excited about this as I don't get them in my own garden (my fence is high and has no gaps for animals to get in).
This brings me to the point of my post, I had a look at "Photographing Animals in the Wild" which is the only reference book I have at the minute and raisins and custard creams are suggested as good foods to attract them.
So I'm really just wanting to know what people have had success with.
Cheers.
The fox at Formby (the red squirrel place near Southport) is partial to cocktail sausages - a friend of mine has tempted this wild fox to his feet by chucking cocktail sausages for it.
I'm certainly no expert, but I'd be wary of using too much sugary food to tempt them, for a variety of reasons.
Good luck,
Michael S
Barrie
I was thinking Pedigree Chum myself Michael! I'm back at my aunt's on Friday to finish the garden, so i'll put a few different things around and get her to check what has gone on Saturday morning. :)
I've found they're often happy to oblige.
Be sure to chop it up into very small pieces otherwise the fox will grab all the big pieces before disappearing for ages.
Good luck
I haven't made back over to my aunts yet, but she phoned the other day to say the fox was sitting in the garden a 1:30 in the afternoon. She went outside and it didn't run away, so it may not be as hard as I was thinking to get some good shots. Time will tell :)