Hi Rad
Sorry to hear about the problem with the fox. I haven’t had a problem here, but have heard of various problems elsewhere. Apparently, young foxes sometimes play, chasing the hogs and sometimes bite off hind legs.
But also apparently some adult foxes become hog catching experts. I’m told they wait for the hog to unroll and then pounce on the belly area – which fits in with the poor hog you found. Sadly, once they learn this behaviour, it seems unlikely they will stop and if they have any youngsters, it’s possible they could learn the same behaviour from their parent.
So I think you are wise stopping feeding the hogs. I know it is sad, but the hogs may not be so wary approaching and leaving feeding areas, even if a fox could not get into the actual feeding station. I imagine if the hogs were foraging for wild food, they might be more alert.
Maybe the best thing to do is to make your garden as wildlife friendly as you can, so that the hogs can forage for wild food, when you might still see them.
Sorry not to give better news. But, good luck to the hogs in the area – hope that they can evade that fox.
