The population of foxes is rising with many now present in urban areas, feeding off our endless supply of rubbish. While it may seem impossible to get rid of this most canny of creatures, Primrose recommends ultrasonic repellers as a lasting solution to your fox problem.
Fox Behaviour
Intelligent and adaptable, foxes are among the species best suited to the anthropocene era (now, when humans live), thriving in both rural and urban environments. Unafraid to colonise new areas, foxes will roam across huge areas in search of food: country foxes will move into urban areas and vice-versa.
Foxes breed between December and February, and in autumn cubs will move into new territories. This is the period where many inexperienced foxes will be hit by cars.
Despite commonly held beliefs, foxes are omnivores and will eat nearly anything.
Tips to get rid of foxes
Remove the Attractions
Key to avoiding pests is to put your rubbish in a secure bin and close the lid. This will deprive them of a source of food, removing the main pull factor.
For foxes specifically, it is important to secure your livestock and pets. Chickens should be enclosed in a coop and guinea pigs/rabbits in a hutch.
Don’t leave food out for other animals, especially cats or dog food. Bird feed should always be put up high in specialised containers, inaccessible to rats.
Animal-derived fertilisers, such as bone meal, can attract foxes.
Remove the Habitat
You can make your garden less appealing to foxes through keeping your garden tidy, removing garbage and sources of shelter. Foxes’ curiosity will be piqued by discarded rubbish such as old gardening gloves.
Overgrown gardens provide excellent shelter and holes in the ground can be used as dens, which foxes will return to again and again.
Dens are common in urban areas under sheds and garages. Any holes you do find we recommend you fill in. This is best done in late autumn, when there are no cubs. You can lure a fox out of a hole by using ammonia or human urine. New garages should always be built with a concrete base.
Restrict Entry
Securing your property is always worthwhile. A partially buried fence will make it difficult for a fox to dig under. A fence 6ft above ground level will be difficult for a fox to scale. Fence spikes can secure your property from both pests and intruders.
Deterrents
While all the above methods can help secure your property, you can’t control your neighbours, of which, some will inevitably attract foxes. This is why it is useful to first try ultrasonic devices, before resorting to more expensive solutions.
Ultrasonic Repellers
Ultrasonic repellers work by emitting ultrasound, which is inaudible to humans, but painful to foxes, causing them to leave the area. Ultrasound is preferred as it functions as a permanent deterrent to foxes, and causes no inconvenience to humans.
Our latest model is fitted with a sensor and will only activate in the presence of a fox. This ensures that a fox will associate its presence with the noise. Our device also emits at random-timing intervals in a wide range of frequencies, which ensures the noise is as disconcerting as possible, making it impossible for a fox to get used to the noise.
We are so confident of its effectiveness, we are willing to offer a money-back guarantee.
Jet Spray Repeller
Similar to ultrasonic devices, our jet spray repeller is fitted with a sensor and will spray any warm body within 10m in a 120 degree arc.
Sprays
As previously mentioned, human urine and ammonia can be used to deter foxes in the short term. This is what the product Scoot, a popular deterrent, is based off (aluminium ammonium sulphate).
Dogs
Foxes will not mess with large dogs, which can be great if your dog roams the garden.
Ineffective Methods
Killing or trapping a fox does nothing, except make room for another fox. Placing unsecured traps or poisons will get you into trouble with the law.