Getting rid of foxes

[threadders]

I know there is a problem with foxes everywhere in London however to the back of our house there is loads of them.

Every night all I can hear is them screaming. Last night I opened the back door and shone my torch out and Mrs fox came running towards me... When I confronted her she didnt even move. I threw water at her and she didnt move. Everytime I went outside she was trying to get into the house.

We have a small cat who has just recently been allowed out to wander and I'm worried about him.

It there any legal way I can get rid of them ? I'm scared for my little cat but also by the fact that the foxes are not scared of anything and I don't want them in the house.

My neighbours have mentioned some people where we live (oakhurst grove) actually feed them which I think is awful

[KidKruger]

it's their territory.

[lozzyloz]

We have 2 cats and there are at least half a dozen foxes living next door. They don't trouble the cats and the cats find them quite interesting to watch. I think it's rare that foxes attack cats, much more likely for your cat to have a scrap with another cat. If your cat is still a kitten then probably best to wait a bit until you let it out all night, for peace of mind.

[lionandmouse]

We have had the same problem - I cannot stand them! I don't think they like the smell of cat poo, male pee or household products. If you can find where they are in your garden (Do they have a den? Do they jump over or climb under a fence?) then maybe throw your cat's poo or a bleaced cloth in the area, paint the fence...or get your husband to pee on the fence? I know the latter may sound a bit different, but it seemed to work for us. Generally make as much noise and disturbance in the garden as possible so they get the hint that humans are around.

[Sarah9999]

Advise from the Fox Society is to make sure there's nowhere for them to make a den, under sheds, in long undergrowth etc. The most effective deterrent is 'Scoot' or equivalent. If the fox thinks there is another family of foxes living in the garden they are unlikely to stay and 'Scoot' imitates the smell.

I'm not sure what you can do about them just passing through, probably not much, but you can stop them setting up camp.

[DulwichFox]

I have a Fox or two that visits me every night.

The come up to my house, sit outside, even sit on my car (Cheeky Buggers)

They never come into my garden even though the gate is open.

They rarely enter into homes.

(I would not encourage them into my house.)

There are lots of cats about. The foxes do not bother them.

Foxes are timid and often are scared off by cats.

I feed the foxes.. They are hungry.

They even follow me all the way home from Lordship Lane area.

They walk along side me.

Sue on EDF a neighbour has witness how to foxes wait for me to come home.

No need to be scared of them.

DulwichFox

[lionandmouse]

Yes I have also heard Scoot was good - you can get it Robert Dyas.

[KidKruger]

What's the law on killing a fox in your garden, say with a bow and arrow ?

[RicB]

Interesting, I just found this post on the EDFF (the East Duwlich Fox Forum).

Post by Mrs Fox

Last night I was wandering about near my house that my family has been for generations when some human came out and shone a bright light straight in my eyes. Blinded, I stood there in terror. Next thing I know she was trying to throw water at me and scare me away.

I know there has been a problem with humans everywhere in London, the humans have mercilessly slaughtered our ancestors, shot us, set dogs on us, destroyed our natural habitat, built constructions over our homes, throw things at us, run us over with their cars etc. Everyday, I can hear them making a large ruckus, but have to just accept that we all just have to get along.

I am grateful to some humans who show kindness and compassion to us by feeding us from time to time. Thank you to those people.

[Jeremy]

You do realise that Fantastic Mr Fox was a work of fiction, right?

[fl0wer]

Plenty of useful information on these pages => http://www.islington.gov.uk/publicrecords/library/Environmental-protection/Information/Factsheets/2011-2012/(2012-03-03)-Foxes.pdf

[threadders]

RicB Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Interesting, I just found this post on the EDFF

> (the East Duwlich Fox Forum).

>

> Post by Mrs Fox

>

> Last night I was wandering about near my house

> that my family has been for generations when some

> human came out and shone a bright light straight

> in my eyes. Blinded, I stood there in terror. Next

> thing I know she was trying to throw water at me

> and scare me away.

>

> I know there has been a problem with humans

> everywhere in London, the humans have mercilessly

> slaughtered our ancestors, shot us, set dogs on

> us, destroyed our natural habitat, built

> constructions over our homes, throw things at us,

> run us over with their cars etc. Everyday, I can

> hear them making a large ruckus, but have to just

> accept that we all just have to get along.

>

> I am grateful to some humans who show kindness and

> compassion to us by feeding us from time to time.

> Thank you to those people.

You wouldn't have given us such a nice rendition if it were ugly rats I was talking about and not fluffy cute foxes !!

[PeckhamRose]

My boys and girls* know my call now, and they come and wait for me. Some I think they recognise the sound of the motorcycle engine and know to come and wait by the garage. And then I will feed them. I have seen them with some of the cats actually walking around together, and a neighbour who walks her dogs on leads, she feeds the foxes and neither foxes or dogs are scared of one another. I am so sorry others have huge problems with them.

* foxes, obviously.

[maxxi]

RicB Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Interesting, I just found this post on the EDFF

> (the East Duwlich Fox Forum).

>

>

> I am grateful to some humans who show kindness and

> compassion to us by feeding us from time to time.

> Thank you to those people.

But next time they leave their back door open I will nip in and shit on their mat.

[DirtyBox]

I have an electronic fox repeller (FoxWatch) and have not seen a single one in my garden since I put it in. It's so good I got another one for cats...

[steveo]

They'll all be asleep soon

[DulwichFox]

Foxes go out at night....

Like me.. :)

Foxy

[aquarius moon]

Wonderful posts from Foxy, PeckhamRose & RicB.

The foxes have just as much right to be here as we do.

Learn to live alongside them.

[LadyDeliah]

DulwichFox Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I feed the foxes.. They are hungry.

I doubt it, with the amount of food waste avaialble.

[Dulwich Born And Bred]

Judging by the size of the foxes around here , they are definitely not hungry .

[DulwichFox]

LadyDeliah / DulwichBorn&Bred

Foxes do not over eat...

Any food over will be taken away and stored for a later meal.

If you watch a fox eat.. they eat slowly.

They do not gulp food like a domestic dog that knows there is always more food available from their owner.

Foxes seem to savour their food.

There may well be a pecking order but they seem to share their food with other foxes.

People need to understand foxes. It is a privilege to be in their company.

We do not see much wildlife in the city.

People in the countryside just kill anything that moves.

DulwichFox.

P.S. League Against Cruel Sports http://www.league.org.uk/

http://www.league.org.uk/uploads/media/52/11648.jpg

[LadyDeliah]

Eating slowly and sharing food doesn't mean they don't have an abundance of discarded food in London to feed on. Foxes in London are enormous compared to foxes in the country.

They are clearly not hungry.

Your motives for feeding them has nothing to do with their welfare.

[Jeremy]

I quite like the foxes too, but it's quite reasonable for people not to want them howling or shitting in their gardens. I don't think I'd be very happy if my neighbour was feeding them.

[DulwichFox]

Jeremy Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I quite like the foxes too, but it's quite

> reasonable for people not to want them howling or

> shitting in their gardens. I don't think I'd be

> very happy if my neighbour was feeding them.

I have more problems with cat s craping in my garden. (and I still like cats.)

There is one dominant? large fox.. most of the others are quite scrawny little mites.

They are hungry.. that's why the go out at night foraging..

They are not walking the streets for fun.

Some might suggest feeding foxes will reduce their ability to naturally hunt.

Well foxes do also kill rats and mice..

Problem is that many rats and mice have ingested poison put down to kill them.

This in turn will kill foxes.

So there is an element of Welfare in me feeding them.

DulwichFox.

[EDLove]

Agree with Dulwichfox on this one, save for the part about people in the countryside killing anything that moves. I'm a country girl (and so is a large portion of my family) and completely against fox-hunting, badger culling etc.

The majority of London foxes I have seen are quite lean (certaintly not over-eating), keep themselves to themselves and are entitled to remain. They do a great job of keeping the rat population down too.

My issue is not with the foxes, but a small portion of neighbours who decide to leave their bin-bags out on the street/hanging out of their wheelie-bins with very little thought for the mess it makes when a fox, quite rightly, wants to have a rummage.