Urban Foxes
What do they look like?
A fully grown fox is slightly larger than a male cat. It
weighs about 6kgs and is about 60cms long excluding the bushy tail.
All have pointed faces, red brown fur with long black hairs, a
white throat and chest, and black legs.
Where do they live?
Due to suburban development of their natural habitats, foxes
are born and raised in built up areas, and would struggle to
survive in open country.
Foxes dens, called earths, have one entrance and one exit
(bolt hole), and these are to be found under garden sheds, in dense
undergrowth, or in banks of earth.
What damage do they cause?
To buildings
Foxes will make an earth under a house if they can gain access
through an airbrick, or by any other means.
Within gardens
Although fouling and urinating is the main method of marking
their territory, this should not cause a great problem in our
gardens, as foxes only shed a few drops of urine at a time.
However, foxes will tunnel under sheds or among shrubs, making
large piles of earth or sand. Occasionally they will, at certain
times of the year (mainly Autumn), dig shallow holes in the lawn
when they hunt for earthworms or grubs.
How can I get rid of them?
Proofing
To protect chickens, rabbits and other domestic pets, or
prevent access to a garden, a barrier of at least 2 metres high
with a 30cm overhang should be erected and buried into the ground
to a depth of 30cms. Cages and runs for animals should be
constructed of galvanised mesh rather than chicken wire.
Repellents
Chemical repellents, approved for use against foxes, are often
the most effective way of keeping them away from your property.
These products contain pungent chemicals which, although not
harmful to animals, will make treated areas less attractive to
foxes. Products of this nature can be purchased at most garden
centres.
Deterrents
Other methods of keeping foxes at bay are ultra sonic devices
and automatic water jet adapters, which connect to hose
pipes.
Remove food sources
- Keep all domestic waste in refuse bins or closed
containers.
- Protect all animals and livestock.
- Only put refuse out on the morning of collection.
- Do not leave food out for other animals e.g. cats, dogs,
rabbits. Be careful where you put food to feed birds, this should
be in proper bird feed containers.