A fox would be perfect in the role of James Bond, digging and climbing to penetrate a guarded building. You can repel his assaults in a number of ways, but don't expect to be immediately successful. The best strategies usually require numerous attempts, until you figure out which one is best against the local foxes. The closest approach to a solution for all situations is a well maintained electrified fence, but with patience you can usually find a less laborious method.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Discourage Foxes
Step 1. Make your land less attractive
To keep foxes away, there is no magic formula that stops all intrusions, but every precaution you take will greatly reduce unwanted visits. With the right planning and maintenance foxes will have fewer reasons to approach, an important first step. Furthermore:
- Remove all food scraps and close the compost bins.
- Cover standing water at night to prevent foxes from coming to drink.
- Do not use blood, bone or fish based fertilizers.
- Collect excess fruits and vegetables instead of leaving them on the plants.
- Keep shoes and other small items around the house. Foxes can use them as toys.
Step 2. Block access to enclosed spaces that can become lairs
Before doing this, check that there are no animals already living inside. Walling animals alive can be illegal and attract other scavengers.
Step 3. Choose a repellent
Most repellents work with a smell, which confuses foxes and prevents them from marking your property as their territory. If you can't find a specific product for foxes, look for one for dogs. You may need to try some repellents before finding one that is suitable for local foxes. Check the ingredients list to make sure the solutions you try are really different:
- Aluminum ammonium sulphate - an odor-based repellent.
- Methyl nonyl ketone - a different smell.
- Capsicum (pepper spray) - extremely spicy flavor. It is usually less effective, because the fox has to eat it.
Step 4. Apply repellent strategically
Usually these products fail to discourage foxes when they have already reached the chicken coop or your delicious vegetables. Instead, you should spray them in the following places, or mix them with sand and sawdust before spreading them:
- Spray them directly on the droppings, without removing them. Foxes leave their droppings in visible spots to mark their territory, and they can return to the same spot if you remove them. If children are playing in that area, also use disinfectant to protect them from disease.
- Sprinkle them on the ground over buried food, compost, or buried animals.
- Spray them where foxes can use to sneak into your land, or over walls and fences.
Step 5. Leave bad tasting food out
Foxes who have bad experiences when they eat something in your garden may decide not to return. Try leaving out leftovers covered in hot sauce or very bitter substances.
Step 6. Add some male urine around the perimeter
You can use human or predator urine, which you can find at a garden store. This method usually works best for keeping prey animals away, not predators, but some people testify to its effectiveness. As with all deterrents, the results vary based on individual foxes and how attractive your terrain is to them.
Step 7. Get a guard animal
Many breeders use guard or guinea fowl dogs to scare away predators. Often these solutions are effective against foxes, if you are not bothered by the noise.
Step 8. Try commercial products designed to scare animals
There are many solutions on the market for frustrated gardeners and farmers. Most of them have not been thoroughly tested and receive many different reviews from users. You may get the best results from products that have worked for your neighbors. Here are some of the more common examples:
- Devices that spray water when an animal approaches.
- Ultrasonic devices that emit high frequency sounds.
- Devices that illuminate foxes.
Method 2 of 4: Build a Fence
Step 1. Use a tightly meshed steel mesh as a fence
The lower part of the net (60 cm) and all the underground sections should be made with meshes of 1.5 x 1.5 cm. Contrary to barbed wire, foxes cannot break such nets with their teeth.
For extra protection, use two layers of mesh
Step 2. Bury an L-shaped fence to prevent foxes from digging
These animals are exceptional diggers. Bury the net for at least 20-30 cm if the soil is soft or sandy. Fold the net at 90 ° and spread it outwards for 20 cm, so that the fox will not be able to get over it if it digs downwards.
Lay bricks or stones on the horizontal layer before covering it with soil, to make it even more difficult to overcome by digging
Step 3. Prevent foxes from entering your property by jumping or climbing
A large fox can jump and climb considerable heights. An ordinary fence should be at least 1.8m high to keep these animals away. You can limit the height to 1.5m if you fold the top of the net outwards.
Try to fold the net at 45 °, so that it protrudes 50 cm outwards
Step 4. Consider electric fences
This is one of the most effective ways to keep foxes away. These animals usually examine the fence before attempting to jump or climb it. If they come into contact with an electrified grid, the pain caused by the shock is usually enough to discourage them. Run three cables for best results: one at the fox's head, one at the top, and one in the center. You also need a battery that produces around 5,000-7,000 volts.
- This method discourages almost any fox who intends to jump over the net, so you can build a lower fence.
- If hedgehogs live in your area, the lowest electrical wire should be at least 6 inches from the ground to prevent accidental death. Other small mammals are usually safe.
- Electric fences are not recommended in areas with small children.
- The fox must create a circuit between the electric wire and the ground to take the shock. If the fence is not grounded, run a ground wire about 2-3 cm from the top and middle wires.
- Alternatively, use an electrical grid.
Method 3 of 4: Protecting a Chicken Coop
Step 1. Secure the floor
Foxes are exceptional diggers and can break or burrow into very small holes. Use one of the following solutions to protect your pets:
- Wooden floor: use thick wood, with a layer of wire mesh underneath.
- Earth floor: bury a 1.5 cm mesh wire mesh 30 cm deep around the perimeter. Extend the barrier horizontally, 20-30 cm outwards, so that the foxes cannot burrow under it.
Step 2. Cover the barbed wire and holes with wire mesh
Foxes are able to tear barbed wire with their teeth. Cover it with a galvanized steel mesh or with mesh sizes not exceeding 1.5 cm. Regularly check for holes in walls and floors, covering those entry points as well. Secure the nets with construction staples. Even the smallest holes can be enlarged or used by small predators.
Also cover any weak points in the construction, such as the edges of the poorly secured boards
Step 3. Install multiple locks
Foxes can open the simplest locks. Use latches instead, with a tie to secure them. If you want to be really safe, install two or more locks to protect your pets in case one breaks or someone doesn't lock them properly.
Step 4. Install a very tall perch
If you are trying to protect birds, install a perch at the top of the aviary, which they can reach in times of danger. This solution does not stop a fox permanently, but it can give you enough time to react to the noises you will hear.
Method 4 of 4: Drive Foxes out of a Burrow
Step 1. Consider waiting until the puppies have grown
If a fox is raising their family in your yard, you may want to let them live there until the little ones are old enough to move around. They should be able to move around once they are 9 weeks old, when they start hunting with their parents. This usually happens in late spring or early summer.
The first time you see puppies outside the den, they are usually 4-5 weeks old. Wait another month before chasing them away
Step 2. Block the entrances with repellent
Almost all burrows are found in closed spaces, such as cavities or rock shelters. Soak rags with commercial fox repellent and place them near the entrance. Stack them up, without blocking access entirely.
Step 3. Replace the rags every day
If foxes live in the burrow, you should renew the repellent often. Check it every day and replace it if necessary.
Step 4. Block access permanently when the foxes are gone
If the repellent still blocks the entrance after two days, the animals have probably fled. Block the entrance with a more effective barrier, such as bricks.
Advice
- An adult fox can easily enter a hole 12-13 cm in diameter. Make sure you plug all the holes in the fences and walls.
- Repellents are less effective in the summer, when young foxes live alone. These animals are less territorial at a young age, so they tolerate odd smells better.
Warnings
- Killing foxes is illegal in some areas. Check local laws before firing or setting lethal traps.
- Spraying turpentine or other chemicals to keep animals away is illegal in some states. Furthermore, these "solutions" often do not work and can have permanent consequences on the environment.
