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In the field behind us a fox has turned up, virtually torn to bits. Head in one area, bits of body/parts strewn around. What on earth could do this? We live right beside this field and heard nothing. Cetainly would hear groups of dogs etc

edit...it wasn't dumped here as blood over the area and foxes are regularly seen/breeding in area
Jackie

Presumably it was freshly dead. A large dog, perhaps?

A badger

I agree its probably a badger, they turn thier prey inside out to eat the mushy bits!

Sometimes I find nature hard to deal with. I just wish everything ate veggies. Other than that to dispatch of their prey in a humane way.

Thanks for this. Food for thought  :(

Quote from: shirlton on June 08, 2009, 18:49:15
Sometimes I find nature hard to deal with. I just wish everything ate veggies. Other than that to dispatch of their prey in a humane way.

I'm with you on that shirlton. Existence  can be very gruesome at times.

Probably shot then eaten by badgers, however it would be difficult to say without pics.

Hmm...would have thought us or the dog would have heard a shot....it was virtually dismembered. Farmer told us he has seen badger tke on foxes...and seem to go for young ones. Harsh way to go :(

Not necessarily as most people in pest control or even just those serious about shooting, use sound moderators which in .22 rimfires silence it to a whisper and in larger calibres such as the .22 centrefire calibres, favoured by most, to a modest crack.
Also carnivores/omnivores will do anything to avoid and kind of confrontation that could end in injuries as it would be counter productive.
Final thought would be use of dogs for control.

I doubt if a fox would stand there and let a badger have a go more than likely shot and badgers have had a feast, :)

The probable scenario is likely to be more complex. Since thousands of foxes are killed and injured on the roads annually the probable cause may be less sinister. An injured and vunerable fox could well have left the site of its accident to become prey for other animals.

Could have been other male foxes defending there territory !

Unlikely. There aren't many animals which seriously injure each other in territorial fights. These are mostly bluff, leading to one or other animal backing off.