foxes killing swans?

[ashgale]

while in Clumber Park today, we met a couple of walkers, who said they had been talking to one of the park's staff, who told them that they had lost five swans over the last few days,
apparently they had all had the heads and necks bitten off, which the staff member said was down to foxes,

i would have thought swans were a match for a fox, but not knowing much about foxes habits, i just wondered if this was possible,
although i don't know what else would be capable of taking swans,
anyone have any views on this ?

ashgale.

[wildherbalian85]

Probably those red coated toffs or other like minded individuals that like to hurt foxes/ animals/ birds. I wouldn't be surprised if they had hacked the heads of these swans off just so that they could say look at what that big bad fox has done, so they had more ammo to justify their sport.

If the fox had killed the swan then it would have done so for food or to protect its cubs... but if it had had killed to protect its cubs then it would have still have made a meal of the swan.

[rossy]

seems a little odd does that to me and would need proof, not saying that a fox woudnt go for a swan but 5, try to get the rspca to investigate if possible , rossy.

[pitre]

I dont know whether foxes would attack swans, but anyone who has had their chickens slaughtered in a similar manner by that "lovely" animal could very well believe it

[witham]

Last year I saw the remains of a swan after a fox attack on the river bank not too far from us and we followed the trail of feathers in the same direction as we did when one of our chickens was killed. more recently there's been another one after a swan was stunned after being seen flying into electricity cables crossing over the river, it was resting on the bank and was recovering and last seen preening itself but the next morning it had been killed, we also have badgers in the area but don't think they would have done it.

[ashgale]

Originally Posted by rossy

seems a little odd does that to me and would need proof, not saying that a fox woudnt go for a swan but 5, try to get the rspca to investigate if possible , rossy.

as you say, it does seem quite a task for a fox, given the size and strength of an adult swan,
from what was said in the conversation with the walkers, i gathered that the national trust was doing their own investigation into the matter,

ashgale.

[Cotham Marble]

Originally Posted by ashgale

while in Clumber Park today, we met a couple of walkers, who said they had been talking to one of the park's staff, who told them that they had lost five swans over the last few days,
apparently they had all had the heads and necks bitten off, which the staff member said was down to foxes, i would have thought swans were a match for a fox, but not knowing much about foxes habits, i just wondered if this was possible, although i don't know what else would be capable of taking swans, anyone have any views on this ? ashgale.

The swan sanctuary Frequently Asked Questions about Swans claims both foxes and mink as predators of adult swans, there are also plenty of reports of dog attack on swans. The heads being taken suggests a dog was not involved, but rather a determined predator intent on creating a cache of food. Whether fox or mink, unless there was paw mark evidence I doubt anyone would be able to tell simply on the basis of the kill.

CM

[ashgale]

Originally Posted by pitre

I dont know whether foxes would attack swans, but anyone who has had their chickens slaughtered in a similar manner by that "lovely" animal could very well believe it

having seen the aftermath of a fox raid on chickens (we lived next door to the farm where the attack occurred) I agree,
but chickens are of a more manageable size than a swan, as far as I can make out the swans were not eaten other than the head and neck being bitten off

ashgale

[ashgale]

Originally Posted by Cotham Marble

The swan sanctuary Frequently Asked Questions about Swans claims both foxes and mink as predators of adult swans, there are also plenty of reports of dog attack on swans. The heads being taken suggests a dog was not involved, but rather a determined predator intent on creating a cache of food. Whether fox or mink, unless there was paw mark evidence I doubt anyone would be able to tell simply on the basis of the kill.

CM

thats interesting, i had not considered mink as a possible culprit, i dont know if there are mink present in Clumber Park, but its a big area so they could be in residence,
as you say, without firm evidence on either fox or mink tracks etc, there is no way either one can be proved to be the guilty party,

ashgale.

[RKB]

It's not unusual for predators just to take the head, as the brain has a higher fat/calorie content than almost any other part of the body.