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Question
I recently found two or more what appears to be duck eggs buried in my garden. The nearest farm is approx half a mile away. Would a fox carry them and bury them that far away from the nesting site? If not what could be the culprit?.
Dear Alan
Thank you for your question. I also wish to thank the authors of the websites I used.
Ian Hayward (http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/expert/previous/buryeggs.asp) says that no British birds bury their eggs, but he says that foxes often bury eggs for later use. As far as I know, the only birds that do bury their eggs are mound-builders or brush turkeys, which live in Southeast Asia and Australia.
http://www.blurtit.com/q376011.html includes information from people who have observed the same phenomenon. Ahef01 says that foxes bury eggs of all kinds in gardens. They gently pick an egg up in their mouth, carry it to a safe place, dig a hole and come back later to eat it. Other people have reported similar sightings.
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/birds/predator/implicat.htm says that red foxes are the major predator of duck eggs in the Prairie Pothole Region, but also lists other species.
I think that a red fox probably buried the eggs in your garden. In the last few years, foxes seem to be getting a lot braver and are more often seen during the day. I saw one in south London by day a few months ago. I've also seen one in Central London.
All the best
Jonathan
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Answers by Expert:
Jonathan Wright
Expertise
I can answer questions about wild mammals and other animals, as well as extinct animals and zoos. I am not an expert about every animal species. I can look up information from books and the internet, but can't verify if all the information is true. Please don't ask questions about: 1. Pets. I am not a vet. Please contact a vet if your pet is ill. You may need to spend some money if you want your pet to live. Don't get a pet if you don't know how to look after it and if you can't provide it with the space, food and possible companions that will help it live a healthy life. Don't take animals from the wild, unless they are ill and/or injured and you can protect them until a wildlife charity can help. It is cruel to take animals from their parents, especially if the parents will look for the babies, while putting their other babies at risk. You may be breaking the law by keeping wild animals or you may need a licence to look after some species. Please check with a local wildlife group. 2. Eggs: Please don't remove eggs from nests. The mother birds provide the right temperature for the eggs and won't sit on them if the temperature is warm enough for them to develop naturally. It is illegal to remove eggs of some species and, unless you have an incubator or a broody hen, the egg may not develop. If you are allowed to touch the eggs, you can candle them to see if they are fertile. If theys aren't fertile, they won't hatch. 3. Fights: Please don't ask about fights between different animals. These questions assume that individuals of two species fight each time they meet and that one species will always be victorious over another. This is untrue. There are cases where a live mouse has been fed to a venomous snake, bitten the snake leading to the snake's demise. 4: Diseases: Please ask doctors or other medical experts about diseases that you may catch from animals. I can't advise on how to deal with viruses, bacteria etc.
Experience
I have a zoology degree and have been interested in animals since I was two. I am a zoo volunteer at London Zoo. I have appeared on a BBC Radio Quiz, 'Wildbrain'.
Organizations
WWF. ZSL. Natural History Museum. RSPB. London Bat Group.
Publications
Newsletters of London Zoo volunteers and the London Bat Group
Education/Credentials
BSC degree in Zoology. 'A' level in Zoology. 'O' Level in Biology.
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