Who knows how to get rid of urban foxes?

[Leesifer]

Anybody got any ideas on how to keep urban foxes out of my garden.

I don't mind them too much, except lately they have taken to shitting all over our patio, right outside our back door.

I found something online called Renardine which is an animal repellant - but this also deters cats and obviously I don't want to stop my cat from using the garden and his catflat which is right by the back door.

[The Lone Ranger]

Sprinkling about the urine of a predator has long been used as a tactic to discourage unwanted visitors to one's garden. In the case of foxes, perhaps what you need is the urine of a bigger predator (http://www.comfortchannel.com/prod.itml/icOid/1495). On the other hand, there aren't too many coyotes in England. Maybe your local foxes wouldn't recognize it as a danger signal. Do you have a dog? My guess would be that if they aren't afraid of a dog, the seeming presence of a coyote wouldn't impress 'em much, either. Some zoos sell the urine of lions and tigers, or so I've been told . . .

Cheers,

Michael

[Leesifer]

Thanks Michael, I have heard that some of our zoos sell big cat manure but am not sure how this would affect my own small cat! :kitty:

[Scotty]

Well, I assume YOU are a bigger predator.

-Scott

[Leesifer]

Only just at 4'10". :D

We don't really see them during the day - plus I'm at work. They just leave their smelly presents on the patio in the very early hours.

[Scotty]

Oh okay, so no peeing on the patio for you?


;)


-Scott

[Leesifer]

Depends on how much I've had to drink, I suppose. :eek:

[viscousmemories]

Am I the only one who thought urban foxes was a euphemism for those two sleazy disco stylin' guys on SNL? Hmm... probably.

[Bluenose]

Is there an SPCA chapter, Animal control officer, or Fox hunting club in Esssexxx ???

Surely there must be some local expert on the local pest problems.

If all else fails, I would try the county health dept.
Just a few random thoughts before my nap. :yawn:

[Leesifer]

I have phoned the local Council about it but it is illegal to harm or kill the foxes. Also, I don't really want them killed - just to stop them shitting on the patio.

Apparently, they don't like water very much so I'll just have to stay up late with the hose at the ready and give them a good soaking.

[Corona688]

I have phoned the local Council about it but it is illegal to harm or kill the foxes. Also, I don't really want them killed - just to stop them shitting on the patio.

Apparently, they don't like water very much so I'll just have to stay up late with the hose at the ready and give them a good soaking.Motion-activated sprinkler?

[Bluenose]

Is there an SPCA chapter, Animal control officer, or Fox hunting club in Esssexxx ???

I was not thinking of hurting the little fellows, and should have added that some expert at one of the above might know how to catch them so they could be released at a more suitable location. I read someplace back when that some of the foxes for fox hunts had been caught in cages before the hunt.

[Leesifer]

Unfortunately, the local Council will not do anything about these foxes. They did give me the number of a man who said he would come round and shoot them illegally for a fee - I told him to fuck right off!

I like the idea of a motion-activated sprinkler, if there is such a thing. Google here I come...

[Ronin]

I bet a liberal sprinkling of cilantro will do the trick.

[livius drusus]

I bet a liberal sprinkling of cilantro will do the trick.
Why didn't I think of that?

[Petra]

Speaking as an urban fox, I can assure you it wouldn't work. :P

[Ronin]

Well, I surely hope a few stern words should keep you from crapping on Lee's patio, luna.

Save the cilantro for demon-dousing.

[The Lone Ranger]

In my work, I often use Havahart (http://www.havahart.com/nuisance/cageproduct.htm)-style traps to capture wild animals alive and unharmed, for research purposes. It occurs to me that if you can legally trap the foxes, you could then relocate them to a nice, wooded area yourself.

Havahart also sells dog repellents (http://www.havahart.com/nuisance/dogs/dog_repellents.htm), which might be effective against foxes.

Cheers,

Michael

[Petra]

Well, I surely hope a few stern words should keep you from crapping on Lee's patio, luna.Good heavens! As a refined urban fox, I wouldn't dream of doing such a thing in the first place!

Save the cilantro for demon-dousing.Bring it on. :cool:

[Leesifer]

Thanks for all the advice.

I'd never even heard of cilantro. I googled it and found this information, which may be why:

"An interesting note is that people of European decent frequently are reviled by the smell of cilantro. It has not gained in popularity in Europe as it has in many other parts of the world."

Then I read the website properly and realised it is actually coriander :qduh: - which I already have growing in a pot on the patio - so that doesn't work.

Also, I looked at the Havahart site and they actually have a motion-activated water repellant. Perhaps I'll give that a go.

Luna, you foxy lady, I'm glad you wouldn't poo on my patio. :fox:

[Leesifer]

Talk about a thread revival: Obviously one of my neighbours has set down poison. My next door neighbours found a dead fox in their garden last week and this evening I found a very dead fox cub under my patio heater cover.

[Farren]

Oh that's terrible.

I was going to suggest putting out two litre transparent bottles filled with water. A lot of people do it to keep dogs from shitting where they're not supposed to (they're loathe to shit near a water source - its instinct), so I thought it might work with foxes.

[beyelzu]

Talk about a thread revival: Obviously one of my neighbours has set down poison. My next door neighbours found a dead fox in their garden last week and this evening I found a very dead fox cub under my patio heater cover.
have you considered calling the police?

you said it was illegal, plus any kind of poison that can kill foxes and that a fox is likely to eat might be equally as enticing and deadly to dogs.

[Leesifer]

Oh that's terrible.




I know, the poor little thing obviously crawled under the cover to die. Thing is it's also been really hot here for a couple of days so the smell was disgusting.

[Leesifer]

Talk about a thread revival: Obviously one of my neighbours has set down poison. My next door neighbours found a dead fox in their garden last week and this evening I found a very dead fox cub under my patio heater cover.
have you considered calling the police?

you said it was illegal, plus any kind of poison that can kill foxes and that a fox is likely to eat might be equally as enticing and deadly to dogs.

I think I might call the Local Council. Our neighbours did when they found the dead fox in their garden and they weren't particularly helpful but now there's another dead one, they may take action.