Fox attack. How to trap a fox?

[irf1983]

A fox wiped out 5 chickens last night. This is my first loss. What can i bait a trap with to lure the fox?

 

[SAORSA]

I am new on the forum but since no one else has chimed in I thought I would stir up a response for you. At least it will be a bump. I am in California. I live at FOX CENTRAL. I have feral cats at the barn that I feed and supply water for and so over the years have provided many generations of Kit Foxes and Red Foxes with sustenance. I have LOTS of foxes around here especially in the spring, and honestly, I really enjoy them, especially when the babies are running around playing at the barn. I also very much like the reduction in the rodent population. Foxes are territorial and even in the spring you will only see one family of each species hunting in one area. Usually, if any survived, the females from the previous year will help their mother with the current years kits and so you could see "a family" all together in one place but only the mother fox will produce babies. The male offspring from the previous year are driven off and the two year old females leave to stake out their own territory. The daddy only stays around long enough to accomplish "the dead". (adds a whole new meaning to - "that guy is a fox" doesn't it) This has been going on for the 26 years I've lived here, (and a whole lot longer).

Even when I had a simple and raggidy large picket and horse wire enclosure for my chickens I never lost a bird to foxes. Maybe they were getting their fill of cat food but I can't recommend that as it can get expensive. Eventually the raccoons discovered me I had to get more serious. Now my pins are formal and ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING PROOF. This time of year there is more pressure on the fox family as the kits are here. This is when you will probably see an increase in predation on your birds because of the increased number of mouths to feed in one area. Once the babies are on their own they will disburse. If you trap the mother, or even the daughters, the babies survival is threatened. I know what you are thinking ... BUT, you have to remember, if you have foxes, you are in an area that has foxes. You will always have foxes and there are a couple of endangered species out there that could cost you if you get caught.

The only way to FIX the problem is to ... BUILD A BETTER COOP !!!!

Wow, that two cents turned into a dollar fifty, by now maybe some one else has given you a better answer.

 

[THough1956]

I applaud you for having the fox best interest at heart. I have also had a fox show up at my place, but my pens are secure, so no problem. he did try to pull a hen out of a temporary pen that I left unattended briefly, but that was my fault. Beautiful fox.

 

[aprophet]

Quote:
I use 1.5 coil springs for the traps this time of the year a food based lure / bait is the best if it is a grey fox fish works the fastest if a red fox mice are better greys and raccoons really go for molasses in a big way if you have a feral cat problem

 

[yotetrapper]

While I've seen fox go in cage traps, they don't like to. As Aprophet said, you'll need to get you a foothold trap.

 

[iajewel]

I live in an extremely rural part of Iowa where fox and other critters are as common as cows. I have over the years tried fencing, sprays, and just about everything else. The best thing I have ever used to keep varmits away is leave my dog out all night. She hates it, oh well.. my chickens live and she can always come in and curl up on her bunny pillow and sleep all day. Its part of farm life, and dogs are part of the necessary equipment.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Canines are hard to trap. Here is a link that gives some good advice.

http://www.bugspray.net/catalog/products/page2039.html

I use cat food as bait the seafood type.

Steve

 

[irf1983]

A few stragglers have come in from the woods. Only 4 missing now, and only one confirmed death.

 

[irf1983]

Quote:
Thanks everyone for your help. My coop is a tank. I just got back too late last night. I understand that predators are part of rural life, but that doesn't mean I want to give them a free meal. That fox is a goner.