scrawny sickly looking fox

[momma_to_seven_chi]

We saw a fox standing near the corn field yesterday. It was a bit tall and extremely scrawny/skinny. It didn't move for a very long time, even when we drove right up to it and sat and watched it. I actually turned around right next to it, and we sat in the vehicle and watched it. It's fur was darker auburn than usual. I don't know if it had rabies or was just overheated or what. Finally, after about 15 min, it turned and walked slowly into the corn field. We even considered that it had possibly been hit by a truck, but not killed. I don't know if they can get encephalopathy or not, but if it were a cow or a goat I would consider mad cow- scrapies. It was an adult, not juvenile. It was kind of scary. It might need to be dispatched if it hangs around anyone's house in the area. I did consider that some kid in the area might have hand-raised it when it was young last year. That would explain it's inability to care for itself well, and its lack of fear.

[SKB]

How sad, is there a way to get help for the animal? I realize that Mother Nature will take care of things like this, but still, if there's a way to offer assistance I'd want to do it.

[indyguy]

Thats not normal behavior for a fox and his actions suggest rabies. Had I encountered him on my place he been shot for good measure.

[DM]

I would have shot it too, as they are very hard on pheasants and other small game that "I" like to eat... But, they do look pretty scabby this time of year, looseing their heavy hair, and after having pups ect...

DM

[momma_to_seven_chi]

How sad, is there a way to get help for the animal? I realize that Mother Nature will take care of things like this, but still, if there's a way to offer assistance I'd want to do it.

I wouldn't choose to "help" it. If it is seen again, it probably does need to be destroyed though.
Lots of times kids will find them when they are young, then hand raise them, same with skunks, coons, etc. It's really bad for the animals in the long run, and it's actually a great danger to the kids. But it's common behavior just like the people who hand feed squirrels, and tame them.
One of the neighbor boys always use to drag up wild animals every spring to show us. I was the "mean" mom who wouldn't let her kids have any of them or touch them. They were cute though, especially the little raccoons.

[Junie]

Thats not normal behavior for a fox and his actions suggest rabies. Had I encountered him on my place he been shot for good measure.
I'd have shot him, too.

[NCLee]

Ditto on going ahead and shooting it. If it has rabies it can infect other animals and possibly a person, too.

Lee

[LouKy]

Yup. Shoot it. The only time I've ever heard of foxes acting like that is when they had rabies.