Fox attacks on lambs increase in northern districts

Foxes have attacked more sheep than usual this summer in northern districts, mbl.is reports, citing veteran fox hunter Birgir Hauksson. He says he knows of five cases in his hunting area and believes foxes are venturing into settled areas more often than before.

In one incident three weeks ago, a fox attacked a well-grown lamb in Vatnsskarð in Húnavatn County. The lamb was so badly injured around the muzzle that it had to be put down. A passer-by witnessed the attack.

Birgir said the fox ignored continuous traffic on a nearby road, but fled when a motorist stopped. The fox was later shot nearby, and Birgir believes it was the animal responsible. It was not known whether it had a den or cubs, and no occupied dens were found nearby.

Another lamb was killed by a fox during the lambing season in Bólstaðarhlíð in Húnavatn County. Farmer Einar Kolbeinsson confirmed the incident. The fox was also killed, and a lamb tag was found in its den. Einar said there were cubs in the den.

Einar said the fox had taken at least one additional lamb from the farm, although he did not know whether it had killed more. He said that while only a small proportion of foxes attack lambs, a fox that develops the habit and is left undisturbed can kill large numbers, potentially taking dozens of lambs from a single den.

Birgir also said two foxes killed lambs at the Stekkjarflatir farm in Austurdalur in late April. He said a livestock-killing fox had also been active there in spring 2025. That spring, lambs at the Viðvík farm at the mouth of Hjaltadalur were also believed to have died after fox attacks, with several dead lambs found bearing bite wounds.

Einar said the problem at Bólstaðarhlíð was discovered early, so the fox had probably not killed many lambs.