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Foxes

Kevin SpackmanKevin Spackman Posts: 6
in Problem solving
Hey all, It would appear we have a family of foxes living in a bush in our front garden in SW London. They are extremely noisy at night as they right outside our bedroom window. We have only just moved in to this place and was going to remove the bush in question anyway, but I wondered if there is a good way to do it as I think there maybe be young foxes in there too. Many thanks in advance
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Posts

  • bekkie hughesbekkie hughes Posts: 5,294
    Hi kevin, from what ive seen on the tv etc, they will be getting ready to leave soon, could u maybe wait another month or so? Im a little envyous,would love that in my garden! image

    There is bound to be a specialist fox organisation by you, why not have a look online?
  • Kevin SpackmanKevin Spackman Posts: 6
    Hey Rebecca,



    Well these urban foxes are quite lively and extremely loud. We can hear the chatter of what appears to younger ones but have not actually seen them. Might call the RSPCA and see what they advise, didn't want to start cutting it back and being attacked by the mum or dad!!
  • bekkie hughesbekkie hughes Posts: 5,294
    I have heard that foxes in your ares are very bold, they are still very timid by my house and wont stay around if i even put the light on. Im not sure the rspca will help but they may be able to reccomend someone. I wonder id a repellent like lion poo might put them off? You could try my mother in laws trick for cats- she has a dog ornament which barks when something moves by it, it could mean a few sleepless nights, but might work as they wont enjoy being disturbed, a bit lime us i suppose! image
  • WelshonionWelshonion Posts: 3,114

    It is nearly chucking-out time, when they all go off to be run over, judging by the main roads near us.  You may want to discourage them as they are noisy, they rip open rubbish bags and carp in the flower beds.

    Before you call the RSPCA do work out exactly what you want them to do.  Pest control firms will kill them for you.  It is illegal to trap and release elsewhere.

    They will be even noisier when they start mating in January.

    Above all, do not feed them under any circumstances or you will only encourage them to see your garden as a feeding-station.

    And keep your dog, if you have one, away from their lair as many urban foxes have mange.  A terrible complaint and expensive to cure a dog of.

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,129

    When we had a small-holding and had a problem with foxes raiding the poultry the RSPCA weren't interested.  

    They said the only way they would come out would be if someone shot the vixen while the cubs were still suckling.

     If  that happened the would dig out the cubs who would be reared and then kept for the rest of their lives in a confined area.   


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Kevin SpackmanKevin Spackman Posts: 6
    Thanks guys for the above. I am a bit worried about tackling the bush, it might be worrying about nothing and they are only there during the day. We are expecting a child in October so wanted it sorted sooner rather then later.



    We had a fox just sat at our back door a few days ago, it was closed but these guys are so street wise it wouldn't surprise me if they had a key!!



    One issue I have is that it's very overgrown so you can't even really see into it so anything in there would be a surprise when it jumps out. Might have to get the shin pads out and just cut it back.
  • bekkie hughesbekkie hughes Posts: 5,294
    This probably sounds really stupid, if they are only there in the day, why not start chopping the bush back at night? If they come back to find their hide out has gone or been disturbed, they arent likely to stay around image
  • Kevin SpackmanKevin Spackman Posts: 6
    Sorry I meant they were there at night. Not too sure about during the day. Would assume if the young foxes are there then mum will visit at different parts of the day.



    It might be that they only visit at night and there are no young ones there. Might need to brave it and get rid of the bush. We have a shed in the back garden that we can't get to the back of so also thinking we have some there too. The house was empty for nearly a year so they have had the run of the back garden and the person use to feed them before too.
  • WelshonionWelshonion Posts: 3,114

    Dove, I think that would be illegal now.  It is not permissible to take cubs from the wild and rear them unless something 'natural' like a traffic accident had killed the vixen.

    Kevin, the fox is more scared of you than you are of the fox.  But I am not sure why you think the cubs are only there during the day.  It is not normal fox behaviour to move the cubs in that way.

    Set your alarm for the middle of the night and look out of the window.  You will see the comings and going then.  Especially in the next few days when the moon is bright.  Though it gets light very early now.

  • WelshonionWelshonion Posts: 3,114

    Sorry, Kevin, we cross-posted.

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