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Pyrenees vs. fox

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DrPizza

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Mar 5, 2001
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www.slatebrookfarm.com
We have two livestock guard dogs - male Great Pyrenees. Well, all hell broke loose last night just after I got undressed and got into bed. To the best of my knowledge, this was the first larger animal stupid enough to go in with the goats. When I got outside, the goats were clearly freaked out - trying to get the heck out of there and over to me. The dogs were taking turns - one would stay with the goats while the other stayed with the fox; kind of neat to see the cooperation between the two. Judging from the scene - wheelbarrow flipped over and 20 feet from where it had been, etc., the fox had made a pretty good attempt to escape. But, before I even saw the fox, I saw the piece of fox laying in the snow. Clearly, it wasn't going to win. A quick shot in the head euthanized the fox so that it wouldn't suffer; it wasn't escaping, and probably wouldn't have survived had it escaped.


Warning: image of dead fox.
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/drpizza/picture010.jpg
 
skyking

skyking

Lifer
Nov 21, 2001
22,776
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well done fellas.
Our neighbor at the beach lives in eastern Washington and has one of those dogs. If a deer gets in the fence it will take it down, let alone a coyote or smaller animal.
 
ElFenix

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
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how much fox was off of the fox? doesn't seem like much blood in the area around it.

gonna get a nice pelt?
 
DrPizza

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Mar 5, 2001
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www.slatebrookfarm.com
ElFenix said:
how much fox was off of the fox? doesn't seem like much blood in the area around it.

gonna get a nice pelt?
Click to expand...

If you see that area just to the left of the hind legs, where it looks like it's dark - there's no hair or skin there. There was blood on the ground (easy to spot against the snow) and lots of blood where I shot the fox. But, for the sake of taking a not gross picture, I posed the fox without a lot of blood in the picture. Because of the big hole, I'm not sure if it's worth the effort for the pelt. I'm still considering skinning it out though. A couple teachers at the school do taxidermy - it'd be a nice thing to learn on & would only set me back $50 or so for the stuff I'd need.
 
Perknose

Perknose

Forum Director & Omnipotent Overlord
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Oct 9, 1999
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DrPizza said:
A couple teachers at the school do taxidermy - it'd be a nice thing to learn on & would only set me back $50 or so for the stuff I'd need.
Click to expand...

Because you clearly don't have enough else to do, Tom! :p

DrPizza said:
The last sentence my wife said was, "see if you can get Brian to help you get coal tomorrow." Picking up a couple tons tomorrow.
Click to expand...

^^^ As I was saying. :biggrin:
 
DrPizza

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Mar 5, 2001
49,601
167
111
www.slatebrookfarm.com
Perknose said:
Because you clearly don't have enough else to do, Tom! :p



^^^ As I was saying. :biggrin:
Click to expand...
Meh, looks like it'll only be one ton tomorrow. Hook up the trailer, drive, load a ton, drive home, unload and stack = 45 minutes tops. Crap.

Treated the Pyrenees to a ham dinner for breakfast, and just gave them a 16 pound bag of beneful for dinner.
 
S

Soundmanred

Lifer
Oct 26, 2006
10,780
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It looks like a prety evin mach to me, scientifically speking.
Pruf:
jWjukax.jpg
 
kage69

kage69

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
31,377
47,652
136
That's surprising, I've always found fox to be smart enough to stay away from livestock guardians. It was desperate coyotes and stupid stray dogs that always tested their luck at my old place.

Good to hear your pups are earning their keep. Hope you gave'em love n treats!

Last time one of mine had to adjudicate, someone lost their rottie lab mix and I spent several hours in the dark burying what was left in mostly frozen ground. I'll take wild trespassers any day. They're generally smaller, and it's nice not having to deal with people stopping by to ask if you've seen their dog. I have the tendency to not buy owners descriptions of the loving, intelligent and harmless pets they adore so much - somehow these dogs don't get shots, a decent diet, collars/ID, and are allowed to roam freely near areas that are posted as being under the protection of working dogs.
 
kage69

kage69

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
31,377
47,652
136
BladeVenom said:
Fox offspring are usually called kits. I think they would already be weaned before winter.
Click to expand...

If I recall my trapping tutelage, fox are born in the winter. Mating season is right now until maybe up to the thaw. Might be a different with greys, reds are more common where I've lived.

Also, fox are cooperative parents. Female and kits are fed by the male for awhile after birth, but then both parents are out searching for food.

I think one fox getting the business end of the dog isn't the death sentence to the kits some think it would be, but am sure it worsens the odds or at least body weights of developing kits to some extent.

Random helpful tip to all readers: if someone ever hands you a bottle of fox scent, please please please for the love of pasta DO NOT attempt to breathe in deeply or jokingly mime splashing someone with it. Chaos and misery shall ensue. You have been warned!
 
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