Do foxes follow same route every time?

[Nicoleweeze]

Hello, I have just joined and I have a question already!
At 1;30am this morning I stood at my back door having a smoke as I do on many occasions at many different times of the day (as we do not smoke indoors) the garden light was on so I could see clearly quite a way up the garden. There was a rustling in the hedge and my first though was a rat as one has been spotted since I started feeding the birds! Then I saw a flash of ginger fur so i assumed it was a cat. But to my amazement and awe it was a beautiful fox it knew I was there but carried on eating the birds bread it looked up at me a couple of times then went on it's way. I shut the back door and nearly rang my Mum to tell her about my close encounters I was on such a high (I did feel a bit silly to it was a fox not an alien)

Well my question is do foxes follow the same route every night and same times because i would love to see it again I also wondered about feeding it free vermin control then to.

We have owned the house for two years now but it was my Mum and dad's before and in the 20 years i have been here I have never seen one in the back garden. I have seen them in the street at the front of the house in the early hours of sun morning after a night out as a late teen. Well prattled on to long as usually.
all the best Nicolexx

[Ukwildlifeo]

Over the summer I had foxes appearing at midnight nearly every night. I think they follow a rough routine.

Im sure someone will know on here. Words (a user on here) for example has been observing his foxes for quite a while, so I sure he ll have some input

[Blackbrook Eye]

Hi Nicoleweeze, welcome. Foxes in general do tend to be creatures of habit particularly when doing their food rounds, its one reason why they are so often caught in snares, once the fox has found a supply of edibles it will tend to keep returning for more so there is a very good chance that you will be able to observe it on a regular basis, providing you keep supplying food for it, my local fox usually makes an appearance at around the same times during the night hours and will make several visits at roughly half hour intervals if its not disturbed too much.

Keith

[Pat]

I've got a fairly tame fox(only tame to me , it disapears when anyone else is about) it's next to my local wood (I haven't got a garden) anyway I've been feeding her for some months now and she always comes out of the wood to greet my car at the same time every evening 5-15, so I'm sure they do know the time of day If you do feed your fox make sure you don't feed it too much food as it will rely on you to feed it and won't bother about it's natural diet. Also don't put out cooked bones, they splinter and can do the fox a lot of harm, they love raw eggs and raw chicken wings btw.

[Badger Watching Man]

I think that they make a point of visiting the same potential food sources on a regular basis, so there's a very good chance of it coming back.

When I was watching badgers this summer there was a fox that would walk through the wood at 7.15pm every evening. I don't know if the rest of its routine was the same, but it was remarkably regular. You could almost set your watch by it. I used to feel quite disappointed if it didn't show up on time.

[Nicoleweeze]

Originally Posted by Pat

I've got a fairly tame fox(only tame to me , it disapears when anyone else is about) it's next to my local wood (I haven't got a garden) anyway I've been feeding her for some months now and she always comes out of the wood to greet my car at the same time every evening 5-15, so I'm sure they do know the time of day If you do feed your fox make sure you don't feed it too much food as it will rely on you to feed it and won't bother about it's natural diet. Also don't put out cooked bones, they splinter and can do the fox a lot of harm, they love raw eggs and raw chicken wings btw.

Thank you all for your replys and warm welcome.
Hi Pat I read your posts about your fox friend the last one I read said you hadn't seen her for a few days I hope she is back now and about the disappearing dead fox and the fox in the tree how bizzarre.!
I would also like to say what a fantastic woman you are( I hope you don't mind me writing this) as you mentioned you are terminally ill and are still caring for the wildlife! It is unsung heros like you that should be recognised for all that you do and have done.

[shei111]

Originally Posted by Nicoleweeze

Thank you all for your replys and warm welcome.
Hi Pat I read your posts about your fox friend the last one I read said you hadn't seen her for a few days I hope she is back now and about the disappearing dead fox and the fox in the tree how bizzarre.!
I would also like to say what a fantastic woman you are( I hope you don't mind me writing this) as you mentioned you are terminally ill and are still caring for the wildlife! It is unsung heros like you that should be recognised for all that you do and have done.

Yes I quite agree on that too, well done, the fox gives you a lot of pleasure too. sheila

[Pat]

Thanks for your replies, as you can see my little fox did turn up, some of my friends think I am absolutely crazy but I've become really attatched to her. I'm lucky that she doesn't trust anyone else because I would hate anyone to harm her,sometimes I feel absolutely awful and don't really feel like going out when it's dark and cold plus the fact that I'm having chemotherapy at the moment so I think my little fox is helping me to get out and feel positive

[Katja2i3]

Originally Posted by Pat

I'm having chemotherapy at the moment so I think my little fox is helping me to get out and feel positive

Hope everything is going well with ur chemo, all the best Pat!

[Words]

Nicole, as others have said foxes are broadly creatures of habit, but also highly irregular. Although I see them most days, it varies as to time of night, and also changes through the year. I've also had foxes be regular (ie daily) visitors for months on end, disappear for several months, and then return again. So you can never quite be sure, but certainly if you are on their route they will be back!