If you are reading this, then you are probably suffering from fox infestation, or at least you know someone who is. Also, if you don’t know how to get rid of foxes without killing them, keep reading. First and foremost, you cannot kill foxes. Not that you cannot but you are not allowed to. For instance, the United Kingdom government and policy for wildlife protection state that foxes should not be poisoned, gassed, asphyxiated, maimed, stabbed, impaled, drowned, clubbed, or snared. That’s not all. The law continues that anyone caught or found guilty of the above-mentioned is liable to 6 months imprisonment and a 5,000 euros fine per fox.
That’s why you need this guide. Luckily, this guide will begin with a brief overview of foxes and what they are about. Then, you will learn the reasons foxes could be attracted to your yard in the first instance. These are all the things you’ll learn while also gathering how to get rid of foxes in your yard the right way (without killing them).
When it comes to the topic of pests, you would likely think of rodents, bugs, and things of such nature. But what about foxes? Foxes are a major disturbance for homeowners that live close to the woods. In North America alone, there are five (5) fox species. They include the red, kit, gray, swift, and arctic fox. Truly, there are other species of foxes that might not be common to urban cities but they still exist. They are fennec fox, crab-eating fox, silver fox, Tibetan fox (that can almost be mistaken for a stripeless tiger), dusicyon cultigens (similar to a hyena), and so much more. Though these foxes are easily recognizable with their physical differences, it might still be a hassle to tell them apart.
The red fox adapts easily to any environment and so makes it the most popular of them all; especially in big cities and homes with the woods as a neighbor.
Though foxes are naturally shy of humans, they like to feed on small farm animals like lambs, piglets, birds, turkeys, and chickens.
For this reason, farmers and homeowners with pets and farm animals are liable to a fox visit. Besides that foxes feed on small-sized farm animals and animal offspring, they are also carriers of rabies. Therefore, their bite (in any situation; accidental or not), is poisonous to humans. For these reasons, you need to know how to get rid of foxes around the house – away from your farm animals, yard, and decking.
One notable characteristic about foxes is that they are naturally shy. This means that even if they come out to play during the day, it is difficult (to an extent) to spot them. So if it is generally challenging to find a fox, how can you tell if there’s one in your backyard? Luckily, just like pests, foxes leave behind ‘fingerprints’ of their presence. So when you see these telltale signs, you would be able to detect whether or not you have a fox (or some foxes) around your house.
It’s simple – small animals. If you own a farm with chickens, birds, rabbits, and other small-sized animals, you will likely attract foxes to your backyard. This is because these intelligent but shy wild animals love to feed on helpless animals that are easy to hunt. But aside from having numerous small animals roaming around, here are other things that can attract foxes into your backyard;
If you find yourself ticking one or more of the boxes above, then you are in for a surprise. Prepare yourself by knowing how to get rid of foxes in your backyard fast. One way is by knowing what repels them.
Though adult foxes have no natural predators (especially in Britain), smaller foxes can be prey to eagles and larger birds. Yet both adults and kits are afraid of four (4) things. These elements are people, flashy light, sudden movement, and loud noise.
Here are three points on how to get rid of foxes without killing them.
Foxes are not great climbers, so if you have a fence – they will likely not try to climb through. But this is not guaranteed. However, a wired fence carefully placed across all the ends of your home or yard will ensure they stay out for good. Simply make sure that you check the fence regularly for any breaches if any.
Recall that foxes don’t like sudden movements, this is why motion sensor alarms are the best. What this sensor triggers, is up to you. You can decide whether it turns on the lights, releases noise, or sprinkles water. Either of these results of the alarm should scare them off after one or two-time encounters.
You can also use things around your home (or even nothing at all) to repel foxes. If you want to know how to get rid of foxes from chickens and your other farm animals, see below.
White vinegar is a natural repellent for foxes and hence great for how to get rid of foxes under a shed. Simply pour some amount of white vinegar into a bowl and place them around your shed and yard.
Things that attract foxes are food litter/scatters, an open water source, animal scent, and piled dirt. Therefore, if you can keep food from being scattered all over the place, find a way to securely close your water source, or even mask the scent of dead pet/animal-based fertilizer, then you might make the foxes disinterested in visiting.
A weird but true fact is that just like dogs, foxes tag pee with territory markings. Before a fox or a dog urinates, they smell the ground. When there is a scent of urine on the ground, the fox assumes that the territory has been claimed by another and will find somewhere else to ease itself. In that case, spread human or dog urine around your house and that should do it- – naturally.
Garlic scent is another natural repellent for foxes and hence, you can use garlic cloves to make a DIY repellent spray. Simply grind some cloves and mix them with a small amount of water. Pour it into a spray bottle and use it in areas you suspect the foxes usually visit.
Foxes may not be directly harmful to humans because they don’t hunt humans. But they can be disturbing and unhealthy to have around. Foxes target small-sized animals and pets and also carry rabies. Hence, it is best to know how to get rid of foxes to keep your farm animals safe and also protect yourself against fox rabies.
As was said before, human and dog urine deter foxes. Foxes are similar to dogs because they sniff the ground before taking a piss. If there is a prevalent urine smell on the ground, the fox will assume that the territory has been marked by another creature and will leave.
This guide began with an overview of foxes where the general features and characteristics of foxes were established. Foxes are shy and scared of numerous things but they are also smart. In your attempt to get rid of them, you need to know what scares them and what attracts them. While foxes are called in by the food, water, smell, and dirt, they can be scared off by sudden movements, lights, humans, and loud noise. Nonetheless, if you have followed the guide closely, there are natural ways and not-so-natural ways in tackling how to get rid of foxes. Getting a wired fence or a motion-activated alarm can help you send the foxes off for good. But you can also use natural repellent like white vinegar, urine, and garlic.
