'FOXES'
I have always regarded foxes as beautiful creatures and to some extent I still do.
Since October 2016 I have been aware of a fox coming into the garden however it has never made any attempt at all to get any of my rabbits. Obviously its like dinner on a plate for a fox when it enters into the garden but on doing much research about the safety of my rabbits it seemed that so long as rabbits were in a secure fox proof hutch, they were safe..
We have also got electronic devices which are triggered by movement of a fox or cat etc and believed this to work quite well.
However.. Between 11th and 12th February 2017 I awoke to a horrific sight as the fox or foxes decided to attack one of my hutches and succeeded in breaking into one of my hutches where my beautiful Gary and Maisy lived.. As we all know, foxes kill all in sight. Gary was taken away and Maisy just left lying just outside of her hutch.
Maisy was the mother to Elmo and also Jimmy (pictured on my home page and is blue in colour)
Gary was a rescued bunny and this pair was wholly devoted to one another..
I can't tell you how traumatised I have been after this episode and also the guilt of not being able to help them.. I am extremely worried now about the safety of my remaining beautiful rabbits..
We have been advised that, the time of year of this attack was probably due to the fact there may be young fox cubs..
Rabbits are my life and I will spend all the time I can with them, however throughout sheer panic and worry I felt I had no choice but to rehome all my rabbits for their own safety.. I advertised them very reluctantly and I have been over whelmed by some lovely people offering me advise about how to keep my rabbits safe..
On the advise given and of course so much more research, I have decided to keep my rabbits and pray nothing else happens to them.. Obviously if I have a repetition then things will have to change..
I always believed my rabbits had a full life with me and would never consider rehoming any however I do feel now that if someone wanted an older bunny for bonding with an existing one then I would definitely consider this.. Please ask me if this is something you would want.
Precautions Now Taken
I use Scoot Fox Repellent - Which is designed to confuse the fox where it has scented. It is very hard to break the habit of a fox and the route it takes but if done over a matter of weeks and in my case probably permanently, it should help..
PestBye Electronic Fox Deterrent with HyperResonance Frequency and BehaviourSpecific Timing - I currently have 3 of these directed in different directions..
Predator Eye Pro - Which is an electronic device which makes the fox think there is another predator present..
Fox Proof Wire - I have stapled this reinforced wire to all hutches - Wicks have supplied this in a roll
Sliding Bolts on all doors (2 per opening door)
IF YOU CAN GIVE ME ANY FURTHER ADVICE I WOULD WELCOME THIS INFORMATION
** Fox Update 19th March 2017**
I have not seen or had any evidence of the fox in my garden recently
Since October 2016 I have been aware of a fox coming into the garden however it has never made any attempt at all to get any of my rabbits. Obviously its like dinner on a plate for a fox when it enters into the garden but on doing much research about the safety of my rabbits it seemed that so long as rabbits were in a secure fox proof hutch, they were safe..
We have also got electronic devices which are triggered by movement of a fox or cat etc and believed this to work quite well.
However.. Between 11th and 12th February 2017 I awoke to a horrific sight as the fox or foxes decided to attack one of my hutches and succeeded in breaking into one of my hutches where my beautiful Gary and Maisy lived.. As we all know, foxes kill all in sight. Gary was taken away and Maisy just left lying just outside of her hutch.
Maisy was the mother to Elmo and also Jimmy (pictured on my home page and is blue in colour)
Gary was a rescued bunny and this pair was wholly devoted to one another..
I can't tell you how traumatised I have been after this episode and also the guilt of not being able to help them.. I am extremely worried now about the safety of my remaining beautiful rabbits..
We have been advised that, the time of year of this attack was probably due to the fact there may be young fox cubs..
Rabbits are my life and I will spend all the time I can with them, however throughout sheer panic and worry I felt I had no choice but to rehome all my rabbits for their own safety.. I advertised them very reluctantly and I have been over whelmed by some lovely people offering me advise about how to keep my rabbits safe..
On the advise given and of course so much more research, I have decided to keep my rabbits and pray nothing else happens to them.. Obviously if I have a repetition then things will have to change..
I always believed my rabbits had a full life with me and would never consider rehoming any however I do feel now that if someone wanted an older bunny for bonding with an existing one then I would definitely consider this.. Please ask me if this is something you would want.
Precautions Now Taken
I use Scoot Fox Repellent - Which is designed to confuse the fox where it has scented. It is very hard to break the habit of a fox and the route it takes but if done over a matter of weeks and in my case probably permanently, it should help..
PestBye Electronic Fox Deterrent with HyperResonance Frequency and BehaviourSpecific Timing - I currently have 3 of these directed in different directions..
Predator Eye Pro - Which is an electronic device which makes the fox think there is another predator present..
Fox Proof Wire - I have stapled this reinforced wire to all hutches - Wicks have supplied this in a roll
Sliding Bolts on all doors (2 per opening door)
IF YOU CAN GIVE ME ANY FURTHER ADVICE I WOULD WELCOME THIS INFORMATION
** Fox Update 19th March 2017**
I have not seen or had any evidence of the fox in my garden recently