It looks like a fox, and there is just enough new snow on the ground to show doggy type tracks. The only thing is, the tail is long and skinny with a bushy tip. I would roughly estimate the tail to be about a foot and a half long; the bushy part being about 6-8 inches at the end. It came in from the fields behind our house, circled the house, sniffing at all the places where there are still scattered feathers, and trotted back into the fields without lingering at the coop or the garage. The coop is empty, with all the chickens we have left in the garage.

-- Cathy N. (homekeeper86@sympatico.ca), March 05, 2002

Answers

If it matters, I might say that it appeared at 6:15 pm, the sun has set but there is still a bit of twilight with just a few stars out.

-- Cathy N. (homekeeper86@sympatico.ca), March 05, 2002.

We've seen some bedraggled young foxes around here - the tails were almost bare! Mange? could be.

-- Judi (ddecaro@snet.net), March 05, 2002.

Sounds like a mangey fox to me. I saw one about two nights ago running across the road when I was driving home from town. This time of year they could also be shedding.

-- vicki in NW OH (thga76@aol.com), March 05, 2002.

I was gonna suggest mange too!

The foxes I've seen have been in urban areas, and they trot as they make there rounds.

-- Rick in SW West Virginia (Rick_122@hotmail.com), March 05, 2002.

I agree that it is a fox. But with the tail maybe a French Fox.

-- gail missouri ozarks (gef@getgoin.net), March 05, 2002.

I'd definitely keep an eye on those chickens. It was last year we lost so many to different breeds of canine - mostly domestic that had escaped their owners, I have to say. But a fox and a coyote did their share of damage, too!

-- Christine in OK (cljford@mmcable.com), March 06, 2002.

Cathy.......if it looks like that and has no tip coloring at the end of the tail it is most likely a coyote. The first time I saw one I was sure it was just a big fox.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), March 06, 2002.

A friend stopped by today and also suggested a mangy fox. The tail did have a black tip.

-- Cathy N. (homekeeper86@sympatico.ca), March 06, 2002.

I did a google search just to be sure that my memory was correct. Fox have a white tip.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), March 06, 2002.

Cathy I would say that what you saw was a coyote. Here in NE ohio they are sheding their winter undercoat and they look a little rough. We hear them at night across the road from our horse pature. So far we have had no damage done. There are geese at that barn also but you will find them on the pond at night. We heard shots that way a few months ago so they might not still be there. Really they were rather neat to hear since they are new to this area. Billie J.

-- billie jagers (billie@config.com), March 07, 2002.

foxes and coyotes have been known to mate and have offspring. COuld be one of those,, or a small yote,,or a large fox, All can be seen during the daytime

-- Stan (sopal@net-port.com), March 09, 2002.