I was distraught the other night when our British giant rabbit managed to get off her harness. We couldn't find her in the darkness of the garden. Later on a fox dragged her off screaming and ripped a chunk out of the back of the neck killing her.
I honestly thought they only killed to eat.
2007-03-02 05:50:40 · 25 answers · asked by ? 5 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
He would've killed her to eat, although they don't neccesarily eat the food they kill right away. He could have been planning to bury it or bring it to his babies.
Sorry about your loss
2007-03-02 05:55:25 · answer #1 · answered by allyalexmch 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
They do only kill for food,despite what pro-foxhunting idiots say.
For example while it is true that if they get into a hen house they will kill every hen they will then,if undisturbed,come back and forth many times and take each one away to store for later use so they won't have to hunt for days.Usually though farmers or farm dogs scare them off before they do this.It is the farmers fault anyway for not investing in fox proof hen houses.
As for your rabbit I assume your saying the fox left the body? If so there are 2 possible explanations:
1. You ran towards your rabbits distress call and so frightened off the fox.
2. The fox managed to kill the rabbit but because the rabbit was a giant breed it was too heavy for it to carry off so it gave up trying and didn't eat there as you were too close.
In either case I am truly sorry for your loss.
Please don't blame the fox too much though it was trying to get a meal-possibly for it's family as cubs start being born now.
Actually maybe 3 explanations-are you sure it was a fox and not a dog,did you see the fox?I have seen giant rabbits and they are bigger than most animals foxes would willingly tackle.The giant rabbits I've seen were as big as my cat (who is big for a cat being half Scottish wildcat)and my local foxes are scared of her-of most cats in fact.A dog would be a more likely culprit.
2007-03-02 15:37:17 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I am sorry to hear about your rabbit.
I'm afraid that the fact that they only kill to eat is a common urban myth which is why there are so many townies as anti-hunt demonstrators.
I have seen the carnage caused by foxes running amok through a chicken run and killing just for pure blood lust.
They are a scourge and should be eliminated although a few are necessary to keep the ecosystem of the countryside balanced.
I hate the things but don't necessarily think the hunts are a good idea. I just feel there should be a better way to get rid of them.
I get quite upset when I see 'do-gooders' rescuing them when the best thing to do would be to humanely put them down.
2007-03-02 19:46:43 · answer #3 · answered by Ladyfromdrum 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I'm sorry to hear of your ordeal.
No foxes don't kill for fun, they instinctively kill. Foxes are scavengers,the fox that killed your poor rabbit saw your it as an opportunity not to be missed. As your rabbit was a pet it didn't have the instinct of a wild rabbit to hide or run. If say for instance you'd got 5 rabbits the fox would have killed them all and only taken maybe one. It's just what they do. The same as if they get into a chicken coop, they kill or mame every chicken in there and only take what they need or can carry. Your rabbit was probably to heavy for it to carry off and with you looking and shouting for your rabbit, you probably scared it off. If you hadn't been around the fox would have buried your rabbit for a later date ( sorry to be so harse).
If you've buried her in your garden make sure you put something heavy on top off where she is as the fox may very well be back and try to dig her up.
Life is life but why does it have to be so cruel.
2007-03-03 03:47:47 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
no they do only kill to eat
the fox would probably have dragged off your rabbit to eat if you hadn't disturbed it or maybe the rabbit was just too big!
Sorry about your bunny
Foxes do get over exited and confused though
If they get into a hen house. All those chickens flapping around and squawking will make the fox kill them all in total panick.
Not to be confused with having a good time!!
2007-03-02 11:25:59 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Sorry to hear you lost your pet this way.
They don't kill for fun, its a misunderstanding.
Foxes are carrion eaters. They kill more than they can eat, carry it away and bury the extra for when times are hard. Its just like a squirrel caching nuts.
If a fox gets in a hutch or henhouse they go into a killing frenzy, like an excited dog in a flock of sheep. If you leave them to it they make several trips to carry the hens away.
Jays do it as well; they kill mice and impale them on thorns to eat later. Cats also 'hunt for fun'; they have a high drive and its instinctive behaviour. Only humans make moral judgements about it.
2007-03-02 08:57:09 · answer #6 · answered by sarah c 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
although i am not a fox lover and think hunting should not of been banned i do no how u feel it isn't very nice to hear an animal being killed. a fox does NOT kill for fun it undisturbed a fox will kill all in site and take 1 at a time then Berri them 1 by 1 but the old mith is that they kill for fun is because you have disturbed him. David Atingburough did a documentary about them. THEY HAVE TO EAT.
2007-03-02 06:23:22 · answer #7 · answered by smokeyjo 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
sorry to hear about your loss:( i have two lop rabbits and understand how attached you get, but on to your question. I have always been against fox hunting and hope it NEVER comes back! it's sick and wrong. If humans kill foxes, can't foxes kill? besides it's instinct. We can't control that and probably, (as sad as it is to say) Your rabbit probably was killed for consumption :( and also, about the chickens, i know lots of people who live in a fox populated area and they have never had a problem with sheep or chickens cause they know that it's a foxes instinct and they need to put more protection to keep them safe.
2007-03-02 06:16:32 · answer #8 · answered by kammy r 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I don't know if the do it for fun, but they kill a lot more than they can eat. If a fox gets in a chicken coop or in a field of lambs, they will kill every single animal and maybe only take one or two to eat. This is why farmers and other people who raise these animals hate foxes so much. They are beautiful animals but the will kill everything they can get their teeth into, regardless of whether they are hungry or not, and regardless of whether they eat the kill or not.
2007-03-02 08:47:26 · answer #9 · answered by MyNutmeg 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
People will tell you that the fox did not kill the rabbit for fun, but that is wrong. All kinds of mammals kill for fun including people. Have you ever watched documentaries about killer whales. I have watched many and after they killed this poor sea lion they didn't take one bite out of it. Instead they through it in the air and flicked it on the surface. It was very sick
So yes, i believe foxes; like other mammals, kill for fun. They have nothing better to do. So they decide to kill a poor in superior animal to them. The same as what thousands of people do around the world.
2007-03-02 06:14:03 · answer #10 · answered by andrew_kullar_1992 1 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Can't say they kill for fun but then can't say they don't. I'm not such a smart a**e that i can claim to know what an animal thinks. I'll leave that up to some of the others who are answering your question.What i do know as a country man and one time keeper of chickens, is, if a fox gets into a chicken coop he kills the lot and carries one away.I'm sure there are plenty of bed wetters out there who will be going "oh poor foxy he didn't mean to do it" Get real, the thing about nature is its monumental indifference. you cannot put human emotions and feelings into an animal, that is the highest form of disrespect for the animal kingdom.
2007-03-02 06:27:32 · answer #11 · answered by Bob N 4 · 3⤊ 2⤋