How can I keep foxes away from my yard?

Question

A fox has been coming near my yard lately, mostly during the late night hours. It begins to 'scream' and it won't leave until i shine a flashlight at him. Anyway to keep it away?

Answer 1

It is much easier, and more effective, to simply remove any potential attractants from your property, which will keep foxes at a distance.

First, you can prevent foxes from visiting your yard bytaking a few simple precautions: keep your garbage in a secure container, and only put it outside on the morning of pick-up; do not put any meat scraps in compost heaps; do not leave any cat or dog food outside overnight; restrict the use of bird seed – foxes are attracted to both the bird seed and the birds and rodents who use the feeder; pick up fallen fruit from underneath trees; and cut back brush around your property that provides cover for coyotes or their prey.

Harassment strategies may also encourage the foxess to abandon your yard.  Place dirty,

smelly, sweaty socks, or rags sprinkled

with a strong-smelling household cleaner such as ammonia, around your yard where you see the fox. This tends to make the foxes

uncomfortable and encourages them to find a new location.

Fpxes are also very wary of humans and do not like interaction.  In the evening make a loud presence in the yard at random times.  If you do this at regular times the fox will learn that 7 and 10 pm are not good times and they will learn and adjust their visit times.  Random provides a general irritation and the fox will seek more private areas.

Lastly, you can always call animal control and request a trap.

Good luck!

Answer 2

First, make sure you don't have something around that is attracting him, such as a food source.  Make sure all trash cans are securly closed, don't leave trash bags outside, remove any piles of garden clippings,  clear any overgrown areas, and make sure any birdseed stays in the feeders not on the ground.  Also, if you have a shed, check to see that any gaps between it and the ground are filled in (foxes can get in any space 4 inches wide or larger).  

There are commercial repellants available that have smells foxes don't like.  Check your local hardware or feed store, and follow the instructions.  DO NOT try to poison them.  Besides the fact that poison is inhumane, many poisons people use for foxes are also attractive to cats, and you don't want someone showing up at your door with a shotgun because you killed Fluffy :-)