Foxes started migrating into urban areas shortly after the First World War thanks to a change in people’s lifestyle. With food sources and shelter becoming increasingly plentiful, the creatures quickly moved into more densely populated areas so they could take full advantage of this.
We offer an expert fox control service as these days, it’s really not unusual to come across a fox. The red fox for example is native to the British Isles and is now widespread throughout maintain Britain. Because these animals adapt very quickly and easily to new environments and areas, it means that their population has increased dramatically.
Even when numbers are at their lowest at the end of winter, there’s still estimated to be about 258,000 adult foxes in Britain. Incredibly, 225,000 of these are found in rural areas. While humans and foxes seems to be able to live harmoniously for the most part, why are they actually considered to be a pest?
The problem with foxes
One of the biggest problems with foxes is that they’re very successful hunters. This causes huge problems for farmers or people who keep pets outside such as chickens and rabbits. Foxes can scale six foot fences and easily squeeze through gaps of about four square inches. What’s more, they’re also brilliant diggers.
To fox-proof your chicken run, it’s better to use weld mesh over chicken wire because the latter can easily be pulled out of shape and foxes can also bite through it.
Rabbit hutches should be secure and also use mesh wire. Most hutches have a little piece of wood on the front which when pushed up, enables the door to swing open. To a fox this is an incredibly easy catch so ensure your pet’s hutch is made so that only a person can get in and not an animal. A simple bolt on the door will prevent this. It may also be worth covering the hutch at night even if it is secure – imagine how terrified your rabbit would feel not being able to run away from a fox that’s trying to catch it.
Another big complaint about foxes is that they foul on people’s lawns and have a tendency to dig up flower beds. The reason for the digging is because when foxes find an abundance of food, rather than waste it, they bury it so they can come back to it later. A great tip to prevent this is to avoid using bone meal around plants. When foxes come across the smell of bone meal, they mistakenly think that food has already been buried around there so will dig down to try and find it.
Foxes do get a bad reputation and it’s not hard to see why. The overall impact of foxes on poultry and livestock is estimated at about £10-£12 million. Despite this however, the predatory nature of these creatures can be beneficial as well. As cute as they may be, rabbits are a huge pest for farmers and the financial benefit of foxes hunting them has been calculated at £9 million.
When it comes to controlling foxes around your home, you’re not allowed to use self-locking snares, bows and crossbows, explosives (unless it’s legal ammunition for a licensed firearm) or use live birds or animals as bait. Failure to comply with these laws can see you facing a jail sentence of up to six months or a fine of up to £5,000.
If you would like help dealing with a potential fox issue, please feel free to contact Prokill and we will be more than happy to help. Our accredited experts will be happy to provide you with a free, no obligation quote. What’s more, because we have a team of local experts, you can rest assured that there won’t be any long waiting times to get an appointment. Make an online enquiry or Call us on 0800 328 9354.
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