Author: Briglinhall | Updated 4:05 PM, October 6, 2021

Foxes are hidden, opportunistic hunters, and may be the bane of farmers and suburban homeowners. When you restrict foxes’ access to food sources, it’s easier to eliminate them, so it is necessary to reduce rodent infestation and keep the chicken coop in good condition. Use various insect repellents to scare them away or use professional traps to remove them from the area to prevent foxes from building nests or returning to steal chickens. The following is a list of the best ways to get rid of foxes completely.

Time required: 1 day to 3 weeks Difficulty: Intermediate Estimated cost: US$20 to US$400

There are many ways you can try to get rid of the fox, from fencing your property to scaring the fox away. Properly protecting your property is the first step in preventing foxes from regularly rotating food in your house. Foxes do not pose a threat to humans, but they are hidden and smart, so trapping them can be challenging and it is best to leave them to professionals to deal with.

Lost poultry or eggs, stolen garbage, eaten fruit, and trampled gardens are common signs of foxes, but depending on your area, they may also be mistaken for raccoons. One major difference is that foxes leave an unpleasant smell of ammonia to mark their territory. Foxes usually create dens in March or April to produce their cubs. They prefer hidden areas and can dig and create multiple access points. The dense vegetation near the foundation of the house is very attractive for building nests.

Human food, animal food, and garbage are all attractive to foxes, as long as they are easily available. Make sure to store food in closed containers to prevent foxes from entering. Small animals, including rabbits and chickens, will attract foxes if they can enter their cages. Be sure to lock the door at night and repair any holes or gaps if they appear. Foxes will hide in bushes or stakes as a cover, so please clear any excess vegetation and set up fences in any areas that might attract or hide foxes.

Restricting any infestation by mice, voles, snakes, or frogs will help prevent opportunistic foxes from thinking that your property provides abundant food. If the prey is not there, the predator will not be nearby. If rats are a problem for people living in rural areas, and if the use of rodent sprays is not proven effective, hire a rodent control company to help reduce the number of rats or voles.

Shiny Mylar balloons or rainbow tape (usually used to keep large birds away) can be placed near any possible access point used by the fox. Placing them near the newly constructed lair can prevent foxes from coming back. Using fox repellent spray can effectively prevent foxes from investigating food sources. However, if the insect repellent spray is used frequently or incorrectly, the fox may become accustomed to the smell, so it is best to use multiple methods or resort to professional applications.

If you have multiple areas that attract foxes, electronic insect repellent may be the best option. It is a motion-activated sensor that can trigger a sprinkler system to make a sharp sound or turn on a light to scare a fox. Place some of these electronic insect repellents near gardens, sheds, chicken coops, or nests.

If the entire house cannot be enclosed, then installing a small fence around the garden can be equally effective to prevent foxes from eating easily available food. Barbed wire or strong netting can form a fence that is at least a few feet high. The opening in the net should be less than 3 inches. Since foxes are good at digging, you need to bury the fence at least 1 foot deep. Adding a mesh roof that does not affect the garden’s sunlight is also an option to prevent foxes from jumping into the garden; however, installing an electric fence wire on top of the fence should also be sufficient to stop the fox.

Catching foxes is another option to humanely remove foxes and their families from your property. Foxes are very smart, even if they are disguised, they are not easy to be fooled by traps. In some states, trapping foxes is also illegal. Wildlife control experts will be able to answer your questions about how to eliminate foxes. They can also determine the best place to set the trap, monitor it, and safely relocate any foxes.

Foxes can cause damage to the yard and are also dangerous to small pets. If you suspect that there are foxes in your property, please prevent them from returning and possibly building nests. Keep any food or small animals safe without damage or leaks. If you cannot use fox repellent sprays, electronic insect repellents, or other simple equipment to deter foxes, qualified professionals can remove rodents or fox dens to help quickly resolve fox infections.

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