[Pigtails]

We,ve never to date of writing suffered any problem with foxes, we have been lucky because many of our neighbours have and have lost chickens, geese and on occasion lambs.
We have been led to believe that foxes will steer clear of our croft because we keep pigs, of course, we are aware a pig will fight to protect it's young and to keep it's territory.
In the most recent past (in the last fortnight or so) we are hearing "something in the night" but we do not know what,
my other half thinks it's a dog barking, I too have heard it, yet know it cannot be.
Our dogs stay indoors and our neighbours are a considerable distance away.

Firstly, does a fox bark? and secondly are we correct in thinking they would keep their distance or should we be extra alert?
There is never any sign of anything untoward come daylight and we have no known predators near us to our knowledge.

Any advice? would be most appreciated.

[RUSTYME]

http://www.foxbox.org/upclose/voicescarry.shtml

the above link has many different fox sounds . There will be many others though . It seems that there are as many different calls as there are foxes !! However the ones in the link will give the most common basic calls.
 Hope that helps !!!

cheers

Russ

[hexhammeasure]

You may be hearing roe deer in the rut, they have a kind of bark

[daniellestocks]

Also going to suggest the Roe deer! It kind of spooked me one day when i was riding out, the  was was oblivious to it tho 
Foxes have more of a cackle sound
Danielle x

[digit]

I was told if you have pigs the foxes will keep away, not true,i have pigs and we get foxes in the same field as them in the night.This time of year foxes start pairing up,so it may well be a fox calling

[MiriMaran]

That's just what I was going to suggest digit.  Vixens are calling this time of year as its breeding time.  The sound is somewherebetween a bark and a baby scream.

[HappyHippy]

The amount of times I've had to go wandering round the woods to satisfy visitors "just in case there really is a child stuck up there" It's quite freaky how like kids foxes sound at times.

[Pigtails]

Thanks to all who have advised, I cannot rightly say exactly what kind of "bark" the unlnown creature had, just that it sounded like a dog and with ten dogs of our own it is a brave creature indeed to come anywhere near,
upon reflection it could very well be a Deer as there are many around, today, a short distance from us we counted a couple of dozen just basking in the sun.
A lovely sight to see, in daylight, not sure I'd feel the same way if I bumped into them in pitch dark though.

[CameronS]

I would say the Roe deer make more of Belching Sound, the roe rut is finished now and starts again in about july/August, so the possibilty that it was a deer is slim. If there are Muntjac there is a possibility it was one of them warning you off after being spooked.

I personally have no bother with foxes going for my hens, i know some have, but i wouldnt be overly worried

[Roxy]

I hear the foxes in the night, in the woods near our house, and yes, they do make a funny barking noise at times.  Usually at this time of year, probably when they are mating.  Have also heard that eerie sound in the night which sounds like a child  in distress!!  Again, thats foxes calling to their mate.

I was told that having goats in the field where hens are will keep foxes away.  My two castrated males field shelter is right next to the hens sheds, and if there is any noise I am sure the two boys would come out and look, and hopefully scare the fox away

[digit]

, we have been lucky because many of our neighbours have and have lost chickens, geese and on occasion lambs.
I've never seen a deer run off with a chicken in its mouth

[sabrina]

At this time of year we hear a lot of barking type sounds at night, its the local foxes looking for mates. On Sunday i spotted a large dog fox walking through the field opposite us. he was in no hurry and I was up wind of him. We have three dogs so hope that is enough to keep him away from our chickens.

[Roxy]

We have 6 dogs, and most nights when we go round to the dog pens to let them out for a run, there are two foxes sitting  by the stream .....the  dogs go out, and the foxes move a little back. The dogs are running round picking up the scent, and quite often run past the foxes.  I think the foxes know the routine, and are not bothered by the dogs.  I quite often pick up numerous sets of eyes in the field, and I can get pretty close to them before they move off.  Very bold!!

[Pigginshelly]

We managed a hotel in the Lake District and Badgers came up to the window to feed. They made a barking sound sometimes, could it be badgers?

[Pigtails]

Don't think Badgers are in North Scotland, there again, and since we are new-ish here, I really don't know.