Dug out from the security of their earth.

This dog fox and vixen were dug from the protection of their earth by men aided by terriers and spades.  The digging out of foxes can sometimes take hours.  Not only had these foxes the fear to contend with until the men reached them, but also the terriers snapping at their faces to keep them at bay.

On reaching the foxes they were dragged from their earth and killed, possibly by a blow to the head with a spade.  All this in the name of sport!