In the past 1 1/2 week I have had 2 red fox pulled out of traps and killed. The fox were left within 20 yards of the set. They were not eaten and had little fur damage. The traps were #2 footholds and both made good catches on the front foot. I am in a part of Maryland that I have never seen coyotes but hear folks talking about sightings. My question is should I be looking for a coyote or large dog? Thanks

I have had coyotes kill them but never get them out of the trap. Did they break off the leg or yank it out?

Are there free roaming dogs around?

Had that happen to me and it was a hunter, he got busted. Not saying that's your case but it could be a person.

At least one large dog that belongs to a relative on the farm.

Thanks I looked for footprints but did not see any. I check traps early in the AM so it would almost mean they are coming during the night.

The first was yanked clean out, only damage was where trap had ahold of foot. The second had 3 toes/pad left in trap.

What did they look like when you skinned them, I would expect that with that amount of violence to get them out of the traps there would be a good set of tooth marks if it was a dog or yote

It sounds more like a dog than a coyote. In harsh weather conditions, like we are having, I believe coyotes would have eaten the foxes.

Keith

I found a fox dead in the trap. No visible marks 'til it was skinned.
One chomp did him in. I never knew for sure if it was 'yote or dog.
My guess is 'yote since it wasn't all tore up.

yote got my vote

Probably a Dog, wierd there's no tracks.

Game cam time!

Bigfoot.....

I've had yotes get an occasional fox from a foothold & there's nothing but some fur left. I'm thinking dog...

Aliens; not the illegal kind.

Where in maryland are you coyote around here are very sneaky and shy

Pine Baron's monster
Seriously Big dog

Hillary is in town Maybe ?

As a kid I watched a dog kill a fox which was trapped. It was just as you describe. One hard chomp and shook out of the trap. As soon as the fox was dead it dropped it and walked away. As an adult I have had trapped fox which were then killed by coyote. Let's just say pictures of them wouldn't make it past the moderators. Shreds...