It is impossible to keep foxes out of gardens, but there are some humane and effective deterrents that gardeners can use to ensure foxes aren’t tempted to visit your outside space. Express.co.uk spoke exclusively to Robert Collins at Myjobquote.co.uk who shared the signs a fox has been in the garden, and how to deter them in the future.
Obvious signs foxes have been in the garden:
- There is a strong, musky smell present
- You notice droppings
- Plants have been trampled
- Flowerbeds are dug up
- There are holes in the lawn
- Toys or other items outside are chewed
- There is noticeable damage to fences, hose pipes, and other elements of the garden
- There is rubbish strewn across the garden
As for what entices foxes into back gardens, Robert said “there are several things that can entice a fox into your garden”.
A water source in the garden – Foxes are drawn to safe sources of water for drinking and will return again and again if they find a spot that is good for safe water.
Feeding other wildlife – If you leave food out for other wildlife in your garden, this will attract foxes.
Feeding your pets outside – The smell of leftover pet food can attract foxes to your garden.
If you have a full garden – Foxes are quite timid and will run and hide if they sense any danger. If your garden is overgrown, has decking, has a shed, or has anywhere else a fox could easily hide, this will likely attract them.
If your garden has flowerbeds or freshly turned soil – Foxes like to dig for worms and insects for a nutritious snack. Young foxes like to dig for practice and for fun.
If you use natural fertilisers – Using fertilisers that contain blood, bonemeal, or fish will attract foxes to your garden.
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How to deter foxes
- Inspect the edges of your garden to determine where the foxes are gaining entry and then block all entrance points.
- Block entrances to spaces where foxes could hide such as sheds or under decking.
- Gather all of the loose items in your garden before nighttime.
- Cover up any sources of water.
- Remove all sources of food. If you feed other animals in the garden, consider using specialised feeders so that foxes can’t get to the food inside.
- Use plant based fertilisers instead of ones that contain fish, blood, or bonemeal.
- Leave a radio playing in the shed or outbuilding.
- Use humane fox repellents.
“Foxes also dislike the smell of garlic and chilli peppers,” Robert said. “You can try infusing these in hot water and spraying this around your garden to act as a repellent. Foxes also don’t like the smell of vinegar.”
Garlic, chillies and vinegar are all cheap items often found in the kitchen.
“Foxes don’t like any loud noises either,” he added. “They are very timid in nature and will be scared away by most sounds. This is why it’s advisable to turn a radio on in the garden to help deter foxes from wanting to enter.”
If gardeners have tried all the methods above and still find their garden a popular spot for foxes to hang out, Robert said there are some devices on the market that can deter foxes.
“An ultrasound pest repellent is great for deterring foxes. This type of device emits a loud sound at a high frequency which humans can’t hear but certain animals can hear very well,” he said.
“There are many different types of ultrasound pest repellents. The best ones feature infrared sensors which detect motion and will activate when something enters the garden.
“Modern versions of this device also detect the animal’s body heat signature to prevent the battery from running out due to activating every time there is movement in the garden from other things such as insects or blowing leaves.
“Prickle strip dig stoppers are also great for deterring foxes. These strips are made from weather-proof plastic and are flexible enough for your plants to grow through them.
“They come in a mesh design with lots of small, harmless spikes which irritate foxes if they try to scratch or dig in that area,” he added.
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