From: jessie@iastate.edu (Brent Danielson)
Newsgroups: rec.hunting
Subject: Re: fox questions
Date: 8 Jan 93 17:41:27 GMT
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Originator: hunting@osnome.che.wisc.edu

In article <1993Jan5.102421.804@doug.cae.wisc.edu> cower@SSD.intel.com (Rich Cower) writes:
>
>Are foxes primarily nocturnal? I've had one poking around my yard for
>about a week (eating grapes). Yesterday it came into the yard when three
>of my Irish Wolfhounds were out - which seemed pretty foolish. Rather
>than risking the dogs getting bit by this small, sneaky creature (I
>suspect it killed a number of my chickens earlier this year) - I shot
>it. 

WHY?? WHY??  I don't know where you're at, but since it was eating
grapes, it was probably a grey fox.  Shooting it was probably illegal
as foxes are protected as furbearers in most states and you need
licenses and such to kill them.  Furthermore, many species of foxes
(and some subspecies and various populations) are protected as state
or federal endangered species.  Do you shoot every sneaky creature?

This shoot-first-ask-later behavior really fries my butt (to put it as
kindly as I can).  It reflects poorly on all of us who hunt, or are
lucky enough to live on a farm or out in the country with the
"red-necks" and "country bumpkins" and other folk with undeserved
reputations for plugging everything that moves.

Wildlife are the property of the public.  They aren't yours to shoot
as you damn well please.

Maybe a fox, maybe even THIS fox, got your chickens.  Who knows?  Keep
them penned and/or in a tight coop, and you won't have that problem
and you won't be tempting wildlife to hang around your property.  If
you've got a wildlife problem, there are places to go for assistance.
Lots of places, and lots of people can help.  Try, County conservation
officers if you've got them, the USFW coop unit at your state-land
grant institution (if there is a unit for your state).  The wildlife
extention person in the Fish and Wildlife or whatever department at
the same state institution, The federal Animal Damage Control (in AZ,
they love to shoot everything), your equivalent of the Dept. of
Natural Resources... etc.  Surely, you can find someone that can tell
you at least what is legal - if not ethical.

>I'm wondering if it could have been rabid? I live in an area where
>rabies is very active in skunks. I've never seen a fox so active during
>the day - I shot it just after noon. 
>

Yep. Could have been rabid... like every species of mammal on earth.
That includes mice, squirrels, horses, dogs, cats, coons, you name it,
even foxes.  In some states, DAIRY COWS (Pennsylvania if I remember
correctly) are the number one victim of rabies.  If you want to be
sure about protection from rabies, shoot them all!!

Furthermore, you CANNOT diagnose rabies behaviorally.  The slobbering
staggering etc. behavioral symptoms of lore, do not occur until the
very last stages when the animal is about to die anyway.  Often, it
does not occur at all!!

There is simply no excuse for shooting any animal just because it
isn't afraid of your dog.  No squirrel or rabbit is afraid of my
golden unless it is bearing down at full speed.  Even then, they pay
no mind until they absolutely have to.  Should I shoot them all??

Needless to say, I really resent this type of attitude.  I'm not a big
believer in following every law every written, but they make a pretty
good guideline I think.  If you want to hunt a fox, then by all means
hunt one as allowed.  If you want to shoot one out the kitchen window
because its sneaky, might - just might - have killed your precious
chickens, or because it is not afraid of of your dog, then I'm for
taking your guns away, as that sort of attitude endangers the rights
of the rest of us to hunt, see wildlife, or whatever.  It is people
that do this that give the animal rights folks everything they want in
the way of examples.


>I didn't skin it, but did save the tail. 

Wonderful..  Is that what you really wanted all along?

>
>thanks...rich 

I'll quit now.  I'm sorry if I offended anyone because I sound rather
harsh.  I tried to temper my comments at least a little, but I want to
make very clear that I am very very very much against this kind of
thing.

I do not apologize if my perspective offends anyone.  
Brent J. Danielson
-- 
Jessie@iastate.edu                                           Brent J. Danielson
515-294-5248                                               Dept. Animal Ecology
                                                          Iowa State University
                                                            Ames, IA 50011-3221
Newsgroups: rec.hunting