In specific, a fox.

There's a fox that wanders through here every once in a while, and recently taking an interest in the chickens. Well, when they are out, a human is too, so for now, chickens are safe.

HOWEVER - my daughter went to chase it off today, and it tried to walk up to her.. She threw a small rock a few feet away to scare it - it ran to the rock like it was a treat.

SOMEONE IS FEEDING THE FOXES IN MOUNTAIN LAKES SUBDIVISION AND NEEDS TO STOP IT NOW.

This fox has no fear of humans, came back four times, and while I don't know if he's after my chickens, he is fr sure looking for a handout.

If you know of anyone here or in the Woodside area feeding foxes, make them stop, If they won't stop, report them. This fox is likely going to have a hard winter with this kind of activity going on.

NOT COOL.

Oh, he also has no fear of dogs - he lounged in the yard for a time yards away from the dog run, while the dogs barked their fool heads off at him.

Agreed, sounds very clear that somebody is feeding. They think they're doing a favor but they're going to get that fox killed.
A fox scouting mice around a house is fine late at night when people and dogs aren't out but if it has no fear of people or dogs it will become a target soon.

LH - this scares me. Daisy is a JRT and they have been trained over 200 years to track foxes but they are small animals - now I'm scared for her.

Please do not feed them - it is a big detriment to the foxes - they can't fend for themselves. It is a big problem for our local dogs and pets...........please do not feed wildlife, you are killing them if you do.

We had somebody who was feeding foxes around here. They would come up to the door and beg (the foxes that is). I'm sorry but I used rubber buckshot to dissuade them from coming around the house as I did not want altercations with our dogs or us or grandkids. They keep their distance now but only come close to the house late nights looking for mice and that's fine.

Same happens everywhere. People are only thinking of themselves not the wildlife. You can't change people. The same people then call DOW and want the animal removed when they are bitten or a bear breaks into their house.

I think it's that way everywhere. People here feed the seagulls (bread...like that is good for them). But the biggest problem is feeding those cute raccoon's which makes them a pest and a danger.

People really need to know they are hurting the wildlife not helping them at all.

My favorite was the neighbor who fed the fox Captain Crunch cereal every evening. [what]?????

It seems like all of the wildlife are getting used to us. None seem to be as timid as they used to be. Deer used to run off when we came out of the house. Now if we are outside they think nothing of us. And we are certainly not feeding them! At least not intentionally (heh heh). The struggle with the flower garden is tough enough with the weather conditions!

We have a fox that comes up to the house in broad daylight. We have never left any food out. I thought he might be after the kitty. If you yell at him he just looks at you.

I'm sorry, but what the heck does anyone expect when humans continue to expand into territory that wildlife used to occupy by itself? What are the options for the wildlife? I see two, I guess. Either leave the area and get squeezed into smaller and smaller habitats to compete for smaller and smaller sources of sustenance, or stay and learn to coexist with the humans. Sounds like these foxes are learning to do the latter. I'm not necessarily condoning the feeding of these guys ... but I have a great amount of empathy for those that are reduced to begging to survive.

Obviously, don't feed wildlife. That said, I don't think it will have any impact on them surviving the winter. Thousands of years of evolution will do that. I have foxes around who have no fear of me, dogs, or cats. Earlier this summer (spring) I had one who would hunt for voles and pocket gophers every afternoon. We'd pass each other on the driveway most days as I picked up the mail. That's just the way it was. No biggy. They adapt.

Same with deer. Same with elk. We've all gotten used to each other and I haven't EVER fed any of them.

I think the biggest concern over feeding wildlife is folks don't realize the affect it has on the delicate balance of nature. Feed the fox and the fox stops hunting your voles. Your vole population increases so the coyotes come down to feast. The coyote sees your cat and Mr. Butterbottoms becomes an easy meal. The cougar notes the easy meal and decides to check it out. No more cat, but that little doggie will do because the coyotes have run off the deer. Bye bye Bella or Max. Hopefully, you don't stumble out at night while the stalking is in progress. And so it goes.

Hey, wildlife will naturally get used to you and your pets. No need to mess with the food chain...unless you want to be part of it.

Mtree...that was VERY VERY well said.

I guess everyone should take down their hummingbird feeders then.