The dang foxes!

[SteveSS]

With my new Ring camera on the back deck, I caught the fox. I threw out some old Manwich mix. The fox showed up about 7:30 pm ate some, then peed on the rest so no other animal would finish it. What a literal stinker.

The Territorial Imperative: Scent Marking Explained​

Scent marking is a common behavior in many animal species, including foxes. It’s a way of communicating ownership and establishing boundaries. Urine, with its unique chemical signature, acts as a potent signal to other animals, conveying information about the individual who deposited it, including their sex, social status, and reproductive condition. For foxes, scent marking is particularly important in securing resources, especially food.

• Territory demarcation
• Mate attraction
• Signaling dominance
• Information broadcast to other animals

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The primary reason why foxes urinate on their food is to deter other animals from stealing it. Foxes are opportunistic eaters, consuming a wide variety of prey, from rodents and birds to insects and berries. However, finding and securing food can be challenging, especially in areas with high predator density. By urinating on their kill, foxes essentially “claim” it, making it less appealing to other scavengers. The strong odor of urine acts as a powerful deterrent, sending a clear message: “This food is mine!”

 

[OneWheelPeel]

So it comes back later to eat the pee soaked food?

 

[WileE]

So it comes back later to eat the pee soaked food?

You put dressing on your salad, don't you ?

 

[Outlawd]

Fox are fun animals to watch, we've had a semi tame one running around for a few years now. It's the freaking coyote's that raise hell and cause problems around my place.

 

[cr8crshr]

Help me understand this...Why do people continually keep putting out human food for the wildlife to eat??? It's no wonder there is an ongoing issue with wildlife running rampant in neighborhoods. Just do not do it!!! cr8crshr/Bill

 

[OneWheelPeel]

I'm not saying if its right or wrong but in some cases I think its because new construction encroaches on their territory and then the people feel bad seeing the critters run around, maybe critters they never saw before, and think they must be hungry.
That goes on around here where they built all new neighborhoods on open land, so the critters have to adjust and show up. I see raccoons and possums pretty regularly, I don't put food out for them but I don't begrudge them scavenging for anything they find, like leftover cat food, on my property.
I try to cut down on the amount of food left over because of that.

 

[Sahara]

It a

Help me understand this...Why do people continually keep putting out human food for the wildlife to eat??? It's no wonder there is an ongoing issue with wildlife running rampant in neighborhoods. Just do not do it!!! cr8crshr/Bill

It also can rot their teeth, leading to agony.

 

[jimbosride]

It a

It also can rot their teeth, leading to agony.

 

[Sahara]

View attachment 1979442

I’m not brave enough to brush a foxes teeth.