FabSwingers.com forum: Dog poo forms a significant part of foxes' diet

By *irtydevil666 OP Man
over a year ago

bristol

Dog poo forms a significant part of the diet of red foxes living in pine forests in the Scottish Highlands, a study has revealed.

Researchers found that dog faeces has a calorific content similar to foxes' wild prey.

But it is much easier to "hunt" - with the foxes feeding on it especially when wild prey is scarce.

The study said it was unprecedented for one species to eat the faeces of another in such large quantities.

It found that domestic dog DNA was the second most frequent species found in fox stool samples, at about 40%.

Several theories were considered as to why this was the case, including a possible confusion between fox and dog DNA since the two are closely related.

But the researchers ultimately concluded that dog poo had become an important food source for foxes to fall back on in times of scarcity.

They said that dog faeces may benefit foxes over their competitors or prey species - just as bird feeders in gardens benefit some species of birds while others are displaced.

In addition, the availability of dog faeces and its consumption by wild animals creates risks of disease and parasite transmission, and of introducing new pathogens.

It also highlights how the behaviour of foxes living in the pine forests of the Cairngorms can be affected by visits from humans and their pets - and in particular how important it was for dog walkers to properly dispose of dog faeces.

That's some interesting shit....

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I love that they spend £££ on researching shit like this.

The world will burn but at least we can laugh about the foxes.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Ah, this explains the amount of urban foxes that there are these days. Research shows that half-eaten doner kebabs also share similar contents with dog faeces.

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By *orny PTMan
over a year ago

Peterborough

"Ah, this explains the amount of urban foxes that there are these days. Research shows that half-eaten doner kebabs also share similar contents with dog faeces. "

I have fed kebab meet to fox cubs.

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By *rFoxAndXenoCouple
over a year ago

Weymouth

Mmmm. Take note Mr Fox!

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By *escourtesMan
over a year ago

hereford

And with all the dog poo left in plastic bags around the woods the foxes can have it take away style

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By *icketysplitsWoman
over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

I heard on the radio that dog poo is adding to the rat population in New York. It's a big part of urban rat diet.

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By *bi HaiveMan
Forum Mod
over a year ago

Cheeseville, Somerset

Many dogs eat their own shit, along with the shit of other dogs and animals, so it's hardly a surprise to hear that other animals eat it too.

Especially puppies.

Just remember that when they're being all cute and licking your face folks......

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By *ools and the brainCouple
over a year ago

couple, us we him her.

What a load of shit.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Didn't know there was so many domestic dogs shitting in pine forests..

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By *orny PTMan
over a year ago

Peterborough

"Didn't know there was so many domestic dogs shitting in pine forests.. "

Don't forget the cats too.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Didn't know there was so many domestic dogs shitting in pine forests..

Don't forget the cats too."

What,in pine forests?

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