Fox

Most fox 'nuisance' experienced by people in urban and suburban areas falls into three categories; digging, fouling and noise. The challenge is to keep foxes out of your garden. The first thing to be said is that trapping the fox for relocation, or even killing it, is a waste of time and money. Without doubt another fox will soon move into the displaced foxes territory and your problems will be back. Better to deter foxes from entering garden in the first place. The best way is with suitable fencing, but there are several means outlined below in our 'How to Control' section.

Best Methods for Controlling your Pest

DIY or The Professional?

Controlling urban foxes is difficult, expensive and never successful for long, so the best answer is prevention rather than control.
If you are suffering from a single rouge fox with particularly obnoxious habits, then it might be worth employing a professional to take out that single animal.

How to catch that rouge fox:

The use of a Live Catch Fox Trap can be a very successful way of targeting a particular animal.

Here's how to catch it:

Don't try to catch a fox whilst it may be suckling cubs, so no trapping between April and August - just to be safe.
Use a good quality, well built trap as you may catch a badger by mistake and a badger will wreck one of these cheap imported traps, besides, the trap mechanism is better on good quality cages and if a trap goes off but doesn't catch, you will never get that fox near a trap again.
Place the cage discreetly in a quiet corner away from the attention of poeple who may wish to disrupt your efforts.
Pre-bait the trap with cheap poulty wings or waste meat for several days until the fox is feeding from within the cage without fear.
One evening, set the trip mechanism on the trap.
Next morning you will have your fox.

Next problem is how to deal with it:

There is no easy answer to this. Releasing it into the countryside is not a good idea as you are putting it into unfamiliar territory occupied by other foxes. It will almost certainly die from stress and/or starvation, or from being shot by the local farmer/gamekeeper.
If you are going to trap a rouge fox, you must ensure that you are able to call on the services of a licenced firearms person who will come and humanely dispatcth the animal.

The best and most economic answer it to learn to live with the fox, or put in place measures that deter or keep the fox out of your life.