Foxes

The Council's pest control service does not cover foxes.

Landowners may take action to deal with foxes on their own land and may wish to take the following information into account.

Foxes are cunning and intelligent and it is very difficult to entice them into a trap, even when filled with an attractive treat. On average it may take up to three weeks to catch a single fox. Furthermore, foxes live in family groups and it is likely that by the time all of the family group have been captured other opportunistic foxes will have moved into the vacant area.

The most effective means of discouraging foxes is by removing or controlling the things they find attractive; the most important being the removal of all potential food sources e.g.

• Keep all domestic refuse in bins or containers with tightly fitting lids, NOT black plastic bags.
• If possible only put out refuse on the morning of collection.
• Do not leave food out for other animals, e.g. cats, dogs, rabbits. Also be careful when feeding wild birds and only use suspended feeders or bird tables.

Foxes may also be attracted to an area because it offers shelter during the day or night. This can be due to overgrown areas or voids beneath buildings such as garden sheds. Voids can be protected by using welded mesh with holes of 50 mm diameter buried to a depth of 30 cm to prevent burrowing. If you have any neglected areas it is advisable to remove any weeds and scrub etc to deter occupation by foxes.

If the above methods prove unsuccessful a number of animal repellents are produced which can be used to discourage foxes. However, there are strict controls over their use. Renardine 72-2's product licence has been revoked by the Pesticides Safety Directorate and users have until 30 June 2005 to use any remaining stocks or to arrange the safe disposal of any excess stock. Further information on 'Renardine 72-2' and how to dispose of remaining stocks is available on the PSD website http://www.pesticides.gov.uk/.

The PSD have supplied the following information about alternative products. These alternatives are all supplied for the home garden market and carry very general recommendations in the 'Directions for Use' such as 'effective against a wide range of animals and birds'. They may only legally be used in the situations specified.

Should you require additional help it is recommended that you contact the British Pest Control Association, Ground Floor, Gleneagles House, Vermongate, Derby DE1 1UP, Tel. 01332 294288 or via their website by clicking on the following link BPCA.

Also whilst the fox is not a protected species it is covered by Wild Mammal Protection Order 1996 and the Abandonment of Animals Act 1960. Not only is it an offence to release foxes back into the wild, urban foxes released into a rural area seldom survive as they are only used to surviving by scavenging, and do not have the skills to hunt for their own food.