Barked at by Vixen

[Keith RW]

Sat out foxing last night waiting for a vixen to appear from an earth in a corner of a wood on one of my permissions, corn about 10" or so high in the field along side of the wood so got myself tucked into edge of treeline about 100yds off from where I was expecting her to appear, sat down minding my own business as dusk approaches when all of a sudden she appears about 15 foot in front of me spots me and starts barking like mad directly at me for a good couple or three seconds , never experienced this before and quite surprised me, off she went back into the wood still barking like crazy before I had time to do anything about it, I presume calling in any cubs that were out at the same time to get them to safety.

Every other time I have surprised one, or one has surprised me, it has been in total silence, I can only image that this aggressive confrontation was due to cubs being in close proximity and her recognising a threat.

Will be back out in a couple of days from a different approach .

anyone else ever experienced this

[ninjaferret]

I'm guessing this was her alarm call,  screeches to alert cubs.

[Walker570]

Interesting experience. No,   never happened to me ever.

[FOXHUNTER1]

Happened to me a few times , alarm call to warn Cubs. I remember once we were digging Cubs in an earth and it was starting to get dark , the vixen appeared and barked long enough for my mate to go home and get the rifle and lamp. We ended shooting the vixen and clearing up the Cubs.