foxes

[butter1]

I was walking my dog last night and 10 mins into the walk I saw a fox quite a bit in front of me.  It just stood there and looked at me then all of a sudden it screamed and charged at me and my dog.  I have never been so scared before, I turned around and run back to my house.  I felt like I was running forever, the fox was just making these horrible noises and chasing me... I managed to get home before it caught up with me but when I got inside I was shaking and so out of breath.  It was a horrible experience.  Why do you think it chased me?  Because of my dog??  I wasn't that close to the fox when I first saw it so I'm not sure if it was because I was near its den or its cubs.  My dog is a x terrier but she's a little bigger then a jack russell.  This fox was a little smaller then my dog.  Usually when I see foxes they just turn and run in the opposite direction...I've never known them to run after you.  What would have happened if I had small children with me...  it was just awful.

[mystress]

 Hi butter,

The only Fox that "screams" is the Vixen,and this is usually only when she is in "season" OR has Cubs in a den.

This particular Vixen would probably have done nothing except that you had your dog with you.Small Terriers are used by hunts to dig out and kill fox cubs,and if this Vixen has had bad experiences it may account for her behaviour. If you had been alone,or just with other humans, she probably would have bolted.

I feel for you though, living in the country as I do, I fully appreciate how unerving a Vixens scream is!

[butter1]

Thank you both for your answers.  I reckon I must have walked past the den or something... it just frightened the life out of me.... my dog didn't see it and thought I was playing and was tugging on the lead in a playful manor whilst I was doing an impression of Kelly Holmes.

[Clanad]

The answers provided by andy hughes and mystress are probably accurate, however, I would also be concerned about rabies in the fox population.  Aberant behavior, such as this, can be an indicator of the disease. I would, at least, check with anyone else in the vicinity to see if they've noticed such actions...

[tupelo]

The rabies issue is a valid one. but rabid animals, in my experience, act more disoriented than aggressive. Foxes I have seen often act very cheeky  - trotting in front of horses on a racetrack to spook them! staring at you brazenly then running off. rolling around on the ground - very entertaining.

[jake-the-peg]

Thankfully not generally a problem in the UK 

"Rabies was eradicated from the UK in 1922 and the Pet Travel Scheme and quarantine protects against infected animals entering the UK. However some European bats carry rabies related viruses."

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/dise ase/rabies.htm

[eupraxia]

As Andy and Mystress both pointed out rightly this is was very likely a territorial thing. My hubby takes our dog out every night late and sometimes I go with him. We have both seen foxes round our area. there is an industrial estate across the road and most firms are glad to have them there as they keep down the rats and mice. I have never encountered, in all my years here and fox or vixen that displayed  the type of behaviour you discribed. There is a slight chance it could have been sick or injured in some way. animals react badly when hurt or afraid.

Please don't be afraid of them. this type of thing is most unusual for this otherwise gental and shy creature.