Fox Under My Shed

[r-englefield]

Hi I used to have a hedgehog under my shed. Last week I saw a fox dig in under my shed where the hole was and I think he has made it his home. My cats are always looking in there with their fur up. As much as I love animals I am worried about the fox's living in my garden. My patio doors are only 15ft away from the shed. I don't want to block it up in case he's in there. How can I politely request he moves! Any suggestions please.

[Peter Pedant]

shoot it ? (vermin)

[carrust]

Get a humane trap & re locate the fox.

[Baldric]

PP, careful now, I got into sooo much trouble with AB's tree-huggers when I said Foxes were vermin a while back, didn't alter myopinion though!

[carrust]

To shoot a fox you'll have to use a 12 bore or a bullet rifle. Do you think the OP will have any of these?

[Peaspeculiars]

Hiya,
Foxes hate dog's and humans and an age old humane trick is to put some dog or human hair on the ground where you don't want them to be. (they hate the smell)
If you don't have a dog, explain and ask a friend or neighbour to donate some after grooming their dog and pop it around the entrance to the hole (shove a couple of stones on top to keep it from blowing away). This shouldn't bother your cats.
Although I think foxes are lovely, I don't like them anywhere near my garden as I have 2 cats and I know it's very rare for foxes to attack cats but I always worry when the vixen in the woods is calling at night. (luckily I have a dog now so they no longer come into the garden (they used to).
I would say try the ultrasonic devices you can get, but it will affect your cats, so probably not the solution. Also, If you spot any dropings, clear these up and rinse the area well, as this will lessen their territorial bond with your garden.
With a repellent scent around the hole, the fox should move out within a couple of days taking with her any cubs, then you can block it up.
Good Luck :-)

[Baldric]

www.pestcontrol-uk.org › News › 2013‎

The culling of foxes is permitted by law, however you must be sure to enrol in the services of a pest control company who is able and willing to rise to the challenge. As a member of the public, you have the right to protect your property and livestock from damage.

[carrust]

I take it you don't like foxes baldric? :-)

[Peaspeculiars]

Additional - without an easy food source, they are more likely to move on, so check your bins are fastened well, protect any spring bulbs with netting etc (they eat these too), and if you compost - put a secure lid on so they can't get any kitchen scraps.

[Baldric]

There's a place for everything, it's not my backyard.
I grew up on a smallholding with riding stables and a poultry breeding business, so you're right, I'm not that keen!

[Robinia]

Taken from the rspca ...Living with urban foxes

How can I block a fox earthI have found in my garden?

If you find a fox earth in the garden, don’t block it unless you are sure it is empty. To check, lightly block the entrances with loose soil or sticks, through which a fox can easily dig out. If after a few days the holes are still blocked, pack them more thoroughly with soil. Take great care in the spring to avoid blocking cubs into an earth – instead block earths during autumn and winter.

[r-englefield]

Thank you for all your replies but hurting them is out of the question. I like yours Peaspeculiars so I am going round asking for dog hairs and I will give it a try. Thank you.

[sandyRoe]

Poor Reynard seems to get a bad press it's probably those huntin' people trying to justify their bloodlust. Here's another take on them.


http://www.foxproject.org.uk/

[Baldric]

///Hiya, Foxes hate dog's///. . . . . . . if that's the case, why did we often get a dog fox sitting outside our patio-doors making eyes at our two Dobermans who in turn sat by the doors just looking pleased to see him?
This was our old house btw, not where we are now.

[tamborine]

Run a hosepipe to flood it out

[Peaspeculiars]

Baldric, I've no idea I guess some foxes are just braver than others... :-}

[r-englefield]

Thanks Robinia I like your idea too, I will try it.

[Old_Jim]

Just spend time in your shed making plenty of noise. If you see the fox, run towards it. (It will stand it's ground but run away when you get within about 2 feet) Eventually they'll get the message that this is your territory and move on. Any unwanted bath products you got for Christmas poured around the lair will mask their scent and make them feel unwanted.

If all else fails, you can dig them out. (They won't stand their ground. They'll run off especially not if you have a spade in your hand) Then fill in the lair and they won't come back.

[chanel5]

The fox or his ancestors probably lived in that area before your house was built, so you are invading his territory, not the other way round. Now you are going to try to move him on. He hasn't tried to move you on, he is happy to share his territory with you, and let you live in peace. Couldn't you give him the same courtesy?

[r-englefield]

In answer to your negative criticism chanel5, I love all animals, we have a lot of foxes where I live and I put food out for them in the field where they live. My garden is very small I have cats, a dog and young children and I do not relish foxes a few feet away from my patio doors. Climb down from your soap box.

[snags]

''Couldn't you give him the same courtesy?''

Quite right... in fact, based on chanel5's opinion, maybe open your house up to rats, mice, squirrels etc. etc... you can all 'live peacefully' side by side...