Cause of death? (Fox cub)

[Words]

I had the unfortunate experience of finding a dead fox cub in the garden today. It was one of our regular visitors, but not the cub we've been treating for mange. There were no obvious signs of injury or disease. There was a lot of excrement (normal looking), and the flies (I think) had already been busy (tiny grubs on the underside of a rear leg). When I found the body this evening it was very rigid.

I wondered if any of the more experienced on the board could give any pointers as to possible causes, or confirm that unexplained deaths like this are at least not uncommon.

Thanks.

[Alan]

Well it sounds like it could be flystrike, and the resulting infection that killed it! Or an infection that led to it in the first place..

[Words]

Alan

Sounds very plausible, though I hadn't realized it could affect foxes. My ignorance.

Any precautions I should take?

[Alan]

Originally Posted by Words

Alan

Sounds very plausible, though I hadn't realized it could affect foxes. My ignorance.

Any precautions I should take?

An infection will take hold of any animal that's not 100% fit. The fox could have eaten something that set the infection off, and the resulting discharge could have attracted the flies. Of course I'm no expert so it might not be flystrike! This could just have been a secondary thing.

I'm not sure there's much you can do as the foxes are wild. I would think Jo (Tragus) is the one to give further advice as she works in Animal Rescue.

Remember thought Words, it's all part of nature!

Alan

[digi]

It could be that it had eaten something that had already been poisoned.

Digi

[bendog]

Canine distemper is also rife amongst wild foxes, I believe.

[Words]

Alan,

I must admit that flystrike (or other disease) seems more likely than a road accident. I doubt a seriously injured fox could have got to our garden so easily and there's next to no traffic in our road.

I appreciate there's not a huge amount that can be done and that this is very much an aspect of nature. It was just a bit of an unpleasant shock tonight (first time and all that) and I tend to try gather information at such times.

Thanks anyway for the feedback.

[Words]

Digi/Bendog

Thanks for the further options. We'd thought about poison (indirect, since there are no other reports), but not distemper though clearly any/all canine disease are going to be a risk to the wild population.

I realize I'm not going to be able to find the specific cause, but it will widen my knowledge base looking. So thanks both.

On a happier note, Skinny and one of the slightly larger cubs showed up a little while ago, which was somewhat of a relief.

[Alan]

Originally Posted by Words

Alan,

I must admit that flystrike (or other disease) seems more likely than a road accident. I doubt a seriously injured fox could have got to our garden so easily and there's next to no traffic in our road.

I appreciate there's not a huge amount that can be done and that this is very much an aspect of nature. It was just a bit of an unpleasant shock tonight (first time and all that) and I tend to try gather information at such times.

Thanks anyway for the feedback.

It may have been instict to get near other foxes that lead it to your garden or it may have been related to some in the area. That and an easy supply of food I would think!

As you say, it's worth making a note of for futurer events.

I've had a quick look through some books, but nothing really mentions flystrike. More info might be had from some of the wildlife hospital websites like tiggywinkles etc.

Please let me know if you find out any interesting info!

Alan

[flying red fox]

Aw thats such a shame I feel for you Words, i love foxes and hate to see dead ones, i hope it died peacefully and quick, i hope the other foxes will come back and are ok.

Its not may favourite one is it? the one in my avatar?

Lets hope nothing like that happens again.