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Getting rid of foxes

Maybe in the wrong forum I dont know.
But I really am uncomfortable that I get foxes in my garden.
Especially with young kids.
Cant see anything great on the net to get rid of them. Apart from shotguns. :-)
Any ideas???

Thanks !

Comments

  • forgotmyname
    forgotmyname Posts: 32,837 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Get a fence?

    Nothing wrong with foxes, They dont eat children. Some of the stories of them attacking babies seem rather iffy to me.

    Get the kids to put food out for it and setup a camera. See if you can spot it.

    Or make sure nothing edible is ever left our for them and they wont bother after a while.
    Censorship Reigns Supreme in Troll City...

  • System
    System Posts: 178,254 Community Admin
    10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Keep a pack of hounds in the garden?
    This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
  • peter_the_piper
    peter_the_piper Posts: 30,269 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I suspect the pack of hounds may dump more rubbish than the odd fox.:eek: I'm pleased that badgers and foxes find my garden an acceptable place to come into, they cause no damage as we feed them. Sounds almost like blackmail.
    I'd rather be an Optimist and be proved wrong than a Pessimist and be proved right.
  • evoke
    evoke Posts: 1,286 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    Foxes are an utter menace where I live. They poo in the garden and make lots of noise at night.

    I have invested a lot of money in stopping foxes from entering my garden. I have four 'sonic fox repellent' devices - these detect movement and emit a high-pitched noise that humans can't hear for 25 seconds after they've been triggered.

    They are placed strategically to cover most entry and exit points in my garden that foxes use. They seem to work quite well but use a LOT of batteries (6 AA batteries per device and they last around 2 months max!).

    I have also invested in a radar (microwave) guard dog alarm that is placed in an outbuilding in the garden. It is plugged into the mains and can detect movement through walls. It basically barks like a dog when it detects movement. The volume and sensitivity (range of detection) can be adjusted. This seems to work the best by far at deterring foxes.

    Also ensure that there is no food whatsoever in your garden. Having PIR lighting has no effect on foxes.

    I've also found that foxes are creatures of habit and take the same route over garden fences at night to do their scavenging. Fences are absolutely no obstacle to them - they easily get over my 6' fences.

    The fox repellent devices cost around £50 each. The guard dog alarm was around £70. Expensive, but it's the only solution I have found that works.

    I also tried carpet gripper rods on top of my fence panels to cause discomfort to the foxes but there were ethical issues with that approach and I didn't want to cause any unnecessary discomfort to any animals so I took them off after a few days.
    Everyone is entitled to my opinion!
  • Leif
    Leif Posts: 3,727 Forumite
    evoke wrote: »
    They are placed strategically to cover most entry and exit points in my garden that foxes use. They seem to work quite well but use a LOT of batteries (6 AA batteries per device and they last around 2 months max!).


    Get yourself some rechargeable LSD NiMH batteries, they are excellent, and a slow charger. Panasonic are good, Sony Eneloop are arguably the best. 7DayShop do them at a good price. Also Amazon but they are tax evading scum. Avoid normal rechargeables, they discharge ~1% per day! Not only do you save money, you save landfill.
    Warning: This forum may contain nuts.
  • evoke wrote: »
    Foxes are an utter menace where I live. They poo in the garden and make lots of noise at night.

    I have invested a lot of money in stopping foxes from entering my garden. I have four 'sonic fox repellent' devices - these detect movement and emit a high-pitched noise that humans can't hear for 25 seconds after they've been triggered.

    They are placed strategically to cover most entry and exit points in my garden that foxes use. They seem to work quite well but use a LOT of batteries (6 AA batteries per device and they last around 2 months max!).

    I have also invested in a radar (microwave) guard dog alarm that is placed in an outbuilding in the garden. It is plugged into the mains and can detect movement through walls. It basically barks like a dog when it detects movement. The volume and sensitivity (range of detection) can be adjusted. This seems to work the best by far at deterring foxes.

    Also ensure that there is no food whatsoever in your garden. Having PIR lighting has no effect on foxes.

    I've also found that foxes are creatures of habit and take the same route over garden fences at night to do their scavenging. Fences are absolutely no obstacle to them - they easily get over my 6' fences.

    The fox repellent devices cost around £50 each. The guard dog alarm was around £70. Expensive, but it's the only solution I have found that works.

    I also tried carpet gripper rods on top of my fence panels to cause discomfort to the foxes but there were ethical issues with that approach and I didn't want to cause any unnecessary discomfort to any animals so I took them off after a few days.

    Great feedback thanks. Yes every night I see them taking the same route.
  • Get a fence?

    Nothing wrong with foxes, They dont eat children. Some of the stories of them attacking babies seem rather iffy to me.

    Get the kids to put food out for it and setup a camera. See if you can spot it.

    Or make sure nothing edible is ever left our for them and they wont bother after a while.

    Forgotmyname. This is a complete and utter nonsense post.
    I have experience of one well publicised attack - in that I know the family it happenned to. Nothing iffy there at all. Just distressing. I spot them every night I dont need a camera. They are not shy. And they jump fences.
  • rum1
    rum1 Posts: 130 Forumite
    Ive found that male human urine saved in a bottle then sprinkled around the edge of the fence works wonders. Laugh if you want but it works for me. You can also buy fox strips that fit along the top of your fence but if you have a cat they are no good as it will stop the cat aswel
  • cyclonebri1
    cyclonebri1 Posts: 12,827 Forumite
    Trouble is they are smart little devils, will sniff there way around most deterrents.

    At this stage as a pest controller/advisor/ agent I have to play my cards.

    I look after a few farms, the key is do not ever let them draw blood, they will be back forever then, but then again that's where I come in.;);)

    We don't use shotguns, there are more effective way of despatching unwanted predators.
    I like the thanks button, but ,please, an I agree button.

    Will the grammar and spelling police respect I do make grammatical errors, and have carp spelling, no need to remind me.;)

    Always expect the unexpected:eek:and then you won't be dissapointed
  • Davesnave
    Davesnave Posts: 34,741 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    rum1 wrote: »
    Ive found that male human urine saved in a bottle then sprinkled around the edge of the fence works wonders. Laugh if you want but it works for me.

    Yes, but the OP doesn't want to keep you out! :rotfl:
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