Fox

Fox

Many people enjoy seeing foxes around their homes or in local parkland, however, foxes can be a nuisance and sometimes cause damage to gardens as well as killing small family pets such as rabbits. Although foxes do carry diseases, they are not considered a public health pest.

They are not a protected species as such, but they are protected against abuse and ill-treatment. Foxes are opportunists, searching for and defending areas with suitable food and shelter. The most humane and long-term solution to discourage foxes from your garden is to remove or prevent access to what attracts them to the area.

Facts about Foxes

• In urban areas such as the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, the life expectancy of a fox is 14 months.
• 70- 80% of fox cubs die before they reach maturity and so never breed. 
• Foxes are nocturnal and hunt during the night but they do sometimes venture out during the day. 
• In urban areas, foxes eat a diet of scavenged food scraps, berries, plant bulbs, worms, garden insects, birds such as feral pigeons and the occasional small mammal including rodents, as well as pet rabbits, guinea pigs and chickens where they can. 
• Foxes generally avoid contact with dogs and cats. Foxes can carry the same diseases as domestic dogs, although it is rare for a fox to transmit disease to humans
• Residents often complain they can hear foxes scream at night, particularly during the mating season in December and January.  Although the noise is harrowing when first heard, it is entirely normal behaviour. If you are a light sleeper, it may be best to wear earplugs.

Foxes are noisy and keep me awake at night:

In late August and September fox cubs leave their dens and prepare to find new territories of their own. Vixens (female foxes) may be heard calling loudly as they lose control of their cubs, and the cubs may be heard squabbling over food and rights to new territories. This behaviour is normal and will be difficult to prevent, so if the noise is disturbing your sleep, the best thing to do is wear earplugs.

The good news is that these sounds are only heard for a few weeks, a couple of times a year. If you don’t want to wear ear plugs and you are kept awake by foxes, try turning on a light, making a sudden noise or opening the door. Usually these sounds and movements will scare a fox away. Other advice given previously on good housekeeping will also help keep foxes away.

The foxes are causing damage to my garden

Around February Vixens look for a place to have their cubs. They may enlarge a hole under a shed, dig under tree roots or into compost heaps to create an 'earth'. Overgrown gardens are attractive to vixens looking for a place to have their cubs as they provide shelter and plenty of cover.

In August and September there are lots of cubs trying to find food and new territories for themselves. They dig up plant bulbs and create holes in lawns looking for insects to eat. Contrary to normal, the cubs prefer well-maintained gardens, as digging for food is easier and there is more space for play.

Fortunately this damage usually only occurs for a few weeks a year. Blocking off the underside of sheds and removing piles of debris and compost heaps before the breeding season will encourage them to look elsewhere, but be careful never to block a cub into an earth. Careful use of deterrents can protect a garden and cause the foxes to move on.