Foxes are clever, adaptable animals increasingly common in residential areas, drawn by the readily available food and shelter found near human homes. This proximity often leads to conflicts, including property damage, digging, and safety concerns for small pets and livestock. The most effective strategy involves a humane, multi-layered approach that convinces the fox your property is not rewarding. By systematically reducing attractants and installing physical and sensory barriers, homeowners can successfully encourage foxes to move on.
Eliminating Common Food Sources
The primary reason foxes enter residential spaces is the promise of an easy meal, making the removal of accessible food the foundational step in any deterrence plan. Securing household trash is paramount, as foxes are scavengers who will quickly break into standard garbage bags left outside. All refuse should be contained in sturdy bins that utilize locking or latching lids, or secured with bungee cords to prevent them from being tipped over.
Leaving pet food outside, especially overnight, provides a consistent and predictable food source. Pet bowls and any spilled food should be brought inside immediately after mealtimes to eliminate this attraction. Foxes are also attracted to natural food sources like fallen fruit, which should be promptly collected and cleared from the ground.
Compost piles, which contain decomposing organic materials, are another common draw and should be managed using closed, secure composting bins. Furthermore, avoid using fertilizers that contain meat, fish, or bone products, as the scent of these ingredients can encourage foxes to dig in the garden. By removing these accessible meals, the motivation for a fox to visit your property significantly decreases.
Securing Your Property with Physical Barriers
Physical exclusion provides the most reliable long-term defense against determined foxes, as it actively prevents access to vulnerable areas like gardens and small livestock enclosures. Foxes are skilled climbers and diggers, so any perimeter barrier must account for both vertical and subterranean entry attempts. Fences should be at least six feet high to discourage jumping, and a wire mesh material like chain link or welded wire is preferred.
The most frequent point of failure is digging, which foxes will attempt to do directly under a fence line. To counteract this, the barrier must extend below the surface, ideally at least one foot deep into the ground. Alternatively, a wire mesh apron can be laid flat on the ground and extended outward from the base of the fence for about 12 to 24 inches. This horizontal apron is then secured to the ground, preventing the fox from digging immediately next to the fence line.
For small animal enclosures, like chicken coops, the structure requires a solid roof and a floor made of concrete or buried hardware cloth to prevent entry from above or below. Small gaps under sheds, decks, and porches—which foxes seek out for shelter—must be sealed using heavy-gauge wire mesh or hardware cloth. The mesh size for any barrier should be small, preferably less than two inches, to prevent a fox from squeezing through.
Utilizing Sensory and Electronic Deterrents
When physical barriers are not feasible, or to supplement them, methods that target the fox’s senses can be effective at creating an uncomfortable environment. Motion-activated devices, such as sprinklers or bright lights, capitalize on a fox’s timid nature by delivering an unexpected, startling stimulus. A sudden burst of water or light can be enough to startle a visiting fox and cause it to retreat immediately.
Ultrasonic deterrents emit high-frequency sound waves that are generally inaudible to humans but are irritating to foxes. These devices are typically triggered by motion sensors and provide a non-harmful, localized area of discomfort. However, the effectiveness of these devices can be variable, and they may be heard by other domestic animals.
Scent-based deterrents work by capitalizing on the fox’s highly developed sense of smell, using odors they find offensive or indicative of danger. Products containing predator urine, or strong natural smells like chili, garlic, or vinegar, can be sprinkled around the perimeter. These methods require frequent reapplication, particularly after rain, to maintain their potency. For the best results, combine deterrents that target different senses, such as using an ultrasonic device with a scent repellent, and rotate the methods used to prevent the foxes from becoming accustomed to a single tactic.