[Appletree]

Hello, my first post although I have been lurking for a while and learnt a lot - thanks.
I had an odd experience yesterday evening. I was checking on the sheep around 9:30 and found three young rams shoulder to shoulder facing a fox. They were advancing on it and the fox was dodging from side to side. I put the torch on the fox and it ran off. Has anyone seen this behaviour? I wonder what would have happened if I hadn’t intervened.

[tommytink]

I reckon the fox would've scarpered, assuming it worked out that rams are not the sort of meal it's looking for!

[bj_cardiff]

The ewes often aproach foxes (or dogs) stamping their foot. Fox knows that if its injured it will starve to death and won't engage unless its an ill or dead sheep

[kanisha]

I keep a flock of horned rams the fox is known to waander through their paddock from time to time. My attention was drawn last time to the odd behaviour of the rams and then I spied the fox. They were all face on  to the fox side by side presenting him with a wall of horns.

[SallyintNorth]

The one thing that sheep and the collie dogs which work them agree about is... fox ain't got no business in the sheep fields

Foxy is no match for a grown sheep (even a ouessant ), but when there are young lambs or lambing sheep around, they will be keeping tabs on any opportunities. 

Badgers pose a much bigger threat to larger sheep, but again, will only really go for one that's injured and separated from the flock.

[kanisha]

I am fascinated by this. ... Whilst I am not concerned particularly by the fox  passing through the rams obviously its more of a concern in with the ewes . So far I havent had a problem BUT at least twice Something has dug into the field would a badger really go for a sheep / lamb standing running? I thought they tended to predate carcasses or sick or injured animals only?

[bj_cardiff]

I've heard that badgers will go for the soft parts first, so if a ewe is cast, or stuck in a hedge badgers will attack.

[Buttermilk]

Both badgers and foxes are oportunists and would not look a gift meal in the mouth before tucking in.

[shep53]

Badgers are no less an opportunist than a fox and if they come across a sleeping or weak lamb they will try for it . Over the years i have seen many badger related kills or injuries  -  a ewe stuck in a bog standing up and the badger ( foot prints in the mud ) ate one  back leg and the ewe was still alive when found  - lamb skins turned inside out  in and around a sett which was occupied by one old brock . In the 90's  the estate i worked for had 5 very large badger setts and on 5/6 occasions  a sheep would be found that got on it back overnight and there was blood spread around and the inner thighs/ udder eaten ( no head damage like a fox ) they were near or on badger runs /setts . One ewe was found before lambing on her back and  1 half of her udder had been surgically removed ( she went on to lamb and milk in the remaining half )   Not all foxes or badgers will eat sheep but once they get the taste and see how easy it can be