Self Defense against wild animals?

[kjkimx]

I recently moved to a place close by Annandale (Fairfax County).
I started hearing weird "screams" during the night - at first I thought it was an exotic pet of some kind.
Then a few nights ago, I found out that it was actually a fox (although I thought it was a coyote at first) as I saw it on my front yard.
It seemed to be cautious and moved away when I pointed my flashlight towards it.

I have no intention of taking any action against the fox (as long as it leaves me and my dog alone).

However, if it become aggressive for some reason and attacks, what are my options?
If I put it down, would it be justifiable self defense?
Would I be violating hunting or firearm discharge ordinances and getting into legal trouble + fines?

[DiscipleofJMB]

I don't know a whole lot about animals... but I haven't heard of a fox attacking a person. I think the most you would have to do would be to make noise and it would run away. If it DID attack you, and you had bites and/or witnesses, harming or killing the fox would probably be justfiable. Remember any case where a firearm is used is evaluated and investigsted differently. If something doesn't "smell" right you'll be under a microscope.

I just moved into the same area, near the Harris Teeter and Super Pollo. Haven't seen any foxes yet!



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[Gotlabs]

I would call animal control to goice your concern, letting them know it is getting closer and closet to your residence. They may come out and setup a live trap, especially if there are little children in the area. As for dispatching the animal, that would depend on how populated the area is etc.

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[Palladin]

Yes, they will attack, especially if they're carrying rabies.

[M1A4ME]

My youngest son has a paint ball gun that would make that fox, or a dog/cat, very uncomfortable, very quickly. Something like that might be enough to "teach" the fox to stay away from your home. It is a very fast firing paint ball gun but even a standard paint ball gun would sting enough to get their attention.

Its also much quieter than a real gun and you don't have to worry about ricochets or the issues they cause.

[arkypete]

Here in Richmond, the most dangerous wild animals can be mollified with hundred dollar bills and gold jewelry.

Jim

[Snakester]

Here in Richmond, the most dangerous wild animals can be mollified with hundred dollar bills and gold jewelry.

Jim

We also have plenty here in Hopewell too. I think I am going to score one and have it Mounted !

[TallEd]

My youngest son has a paint ball gun that would make that fox, or a dog/cat, very uncomfortable, very quickly. Something like that might be enough to "teach" the fox to stay away from your home.

If the fox does have rabies, shooting it with a paintball gun is a good way to get it to attack you...

[kelu]

My wild animals (rabbits) are eating my carrots. It is legal to use a bow and arrow on them in my backyard?

[DiscipleofJMB]

Yes, they will attack, especially if they're carrying rabies.

Damn I guess animal control would be who I would call. It's a danger to other animals (people's pets) and maybe people. Of course if it comes after you, you know what to do!



Si vis pacem para bellum

follow me @DiscipleofJMB - GO PENS!

[M1A4ME]

That paintball gun has brought those big blackbirds down in flight and they are dead pretty quickly. The darn things sound like a silenced sub gun off a TV movie, or an impact wrench at a tire store. The only paint ball gun I ever wanted.

And, if I'm on my porch and I can't get into the house before a rabid fox gets 25 or 30 yds. I deserve to get bit. If he can see through all that paint. I haven't seen one with eyeball wipers yet.

[Ammo747]

I had a similar experience happen to me when I lived in Louisiana. I woke up to this crazy screaming noise, jumped up and started looking out all the windows thinking it was a person. Turns out it was a fox that had a rabbit trapped in my gutter downspout and the rabbit was the one doing the screaming. There was a window close by and my English Bulldog spotted the fox and ran up to the window barking like crazy. The fox was not afraid at all, not of the house, the barking dog or me standing beside said dog. The fox ran right up and put its nose against the window. I cannot positively call that an act off aggression but I had to close the blinds before my dog went through the glass after it.

Unfortunately, I was in a neighborhood where I was not allowed to handle the situation myself so animal control was the answer.

That was the strangest scream that I've ever heard. Rabbit hunted a lot and had heard them before but never like this. Must have been the gutter amplifying it or something.

Good luck!

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[CDRGlock]

You need to check with your local ordinances before you consider shooting anything; be it a pellet gun, air soft or bow/arrow. If you're concerned the best choice is to call animal control and/or use an animal trap. I have a forest so we have opossum, deer, raccoons, skunk, squirrel, black snakes and chipmunks.

The only place I'm concerned about is my archery range because of a pile of branches which could be a breeding ground for copperheads. For that I have a 22Mag with snake shot. A hoe is a great tool to kill a poisonous snake. Non-poisonous snakes kill poisonous ones so I would not kill them.

If one kills a poisonous snake, then one must be careful with the fangs.

[Swampman]

"If one kills a poisonous snake, then one must be careful with the fangs."

Case in point - I lopped the head off a copperhead and left it lay until everything stopped twitching (about 20 minutes). I picked the head up by the stub of the neck and started poking at the mouth with a stick. Very unexpectedly the mouth opened, fangs extended and it bit down on the stick. Venom spewed all over. Needless to say I was startled. Don't know if it was an involuntary reaction or if the snake-head had some life left in it. I almost used my finger instead of picking up a stick. I would likely have lost my finger.

[Jakeiscrazy]

If your life is in eminent danger you can shoot it. Other than that it would need to be considered a "pest" by Game and Inland Fisheries. But I agree, contact animal control.

[DiscipleofJMB]

I had a similar experience happen to me when I lived in Louisiana. I woke up to this crazy screaming noise, jumped up and started looking out all the windows thinking it was a person. Turns out it was a fox that had a rabbit trapped in my gutter downspout and the rabbit was the one doing the screaming. There was a window close by and my English Bulldog spotted the fox and ran up to the window barking like crazy. The fox was not afraid at all, not of the house, the barking dog or me standing beside said dog. The fox ran right up and put its nose against the window. I cannot positively call that an act off aggression but I had to close the blinds before my dog went through the glass after it.

Unfortunately, I was in a neighborhood where I was not allowed to handle the situation myself so animal control was the answer.

That was the strangest scream that I've ever heard. Rabbit hunted a lot and had heard them before but never like this. Must have been the gutter amplifying it or something.

Good luck!

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Damn I started reading that and thought you were gonna say you shot a rougarou.



Si vis pacem para bellum

follow me @DiscipleofJMB - GO PENS!

[kjkimx]

From my neighbor:

"We had a family of foxes in the yard, which we have not seen in the last couple of days, but we did see 4 cubs grow up to be quite big. My husband found the head of a cat in our yard. If someone is missing a cat, that may unfortunately be the one. I don't know how many other dens there may be in the neighborhood, but here 2 foxes are now 6."

I guess I will call animal control if this starts getting out of hand...

[DiscipleofJMB]

From my neighbor:

"We had a family of foxes in the yard, which we have not seen in the last couple of days, but we did see 4 cubs grow up to be quite big. My husband found the head of a cat in our yard. If someone is missing a cat, that may unfortunately be the one. I don't know how many other dens there may be in the neighborhood, but here 2 foxes are now 6."

I guess I will call animal control if this starts getting out of hand...

I have 2 cats that are about 1 year old... but I keep them inside. Sounds like animal control would be a good option. I hope my cats never get out...



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[Swampman]

There was a fox den in a stump pile on my neighbors property. I heard that same screaming, and it raised the hair on my neck. Took about a week before I got a look at what was making that noise - Fox. Got rid of them pretty quick.