Foxes can climb fences, though their success depends on the fence’s construction and their motivation. While climbing is one method, they also use digging and squeezing through small openings to access areas.
Understanding Fox Climbing Abilities
Foxes are agile creatures with physical attributes that facilitate climbing. Their sharp claws provide excellent grip on surfaces like wire mesh, wood, and textured materials. Strong hind and forelegs enable them to push upward and maintain stability. Some species, like the gray fox, have semi-retractable claws and flexible ankles, allowing them to climb trees with a “hugging and scrambling” technique.
Wire mesh or chain-link fences offer numerous footholds, making them susceptible to climbing. Fences with horizontal supports or imperfections can also serve as ladders. While a fox can jump approximately 0.9 meters (3 feet), their climbing allows them to overcome much taller barriers, with urban foxes scaling fences up to 1.8 meters (6 feet) high. Solid, smooth fences present a greater challenge due to fewer grip points.
Beyond Climbing Other Entry Strategies
Beyond climbing, foxes employ other entry strategies. They are excellent diggers, capable of burrowing under fences with speed. Tunnels can reach depths of at least 450 millimeters (18 inches) and often have multiple entry and exit points. Their strong digging capabilities allow them to exploit any unsecured ground beneath a fence.
Foxes can also squeeze through surprisingly small gaps due to their flexible bodies. An adult fox can fit through an opening as small as 10 centimeters (4 inches) in diameter, thanks to a flexible rib cage that allows chest compression. If a fox can get its head through a gap, its body will likely follow. Opportunistic foxes may also use overhanging branches or objects near a fence to jump over, bypassing the barrier.
Securing Your Property Against Foxes
To effectively secure a property against foxes, a multi-faceted approach focusing on physical barriers is recommended. Fences designed to deter foxes should be at least 1.8 meters (6 feet) high. Incorporating a smooth material, such as metal sheeting, on the lower portion of the fence can make it difficult for foxes to gain purchase. An inward-facing overhang, angled outwards at the top of the fence, can prevent them from scaling over.
To counter their digging abilities, fences require a buried component. Wire mesh should be buried at least 30 centimeters (12 inches) deep, or ideally 45 centimeters (18 inches), around the perimeter. An L-footer, which involves extending mesh outwards horizontally for 30 to 60 centimeters (12 to 24 inches) at the base, can also effectively discourage digging. Removing attractants, such as securing garbage bins and not leaving pet food outdoors, can also reduce a fox’s motivation to enter a property.