Fox War - Snares and Traps

[snugglepup]

Thought I might give this it's own topic. We are currently at war with the local fox. In the mean time the birds are still locked in a stall in the barn, while we build Chicken Alcatraz.

I don't care if the fox leaves dead or alive, but he's got to leave. We have zero experience with any kind of hunting (city girl moves to the country). I am trying to get a police officer friend of mine to a.) come out and shoot the fox, and b.) teach me to shoot so I can take care of future problems.

What are the best options? Has anyone tried snares? Other types of traps? I understand that even if you trap the fox, you wind up shooting it anyways. If traps are a good option, what is the best way to set them?

 

[Mountain Man Jim]

My solution is a big dog

Jim

 

[snugglepup]

I have FOUR big dogs, and we have kept one of them penned up right next to the chicken pen. Apparently, the fox is not impressed.

 

[wegotchickens]

If you aren't familiar with guns, then get a live trap and then see if your police friend will come & shoot it after you catch it. I know you can trap them because a neighbor of Mom's traps foxes & coyotes in GA.

 

[silkiechicken]

Yeah I'd see if I couldn't trap it in a have a heart and then just pop it in the head with a .22. Non air rifle fire arms are going to be loud.

 

[snugglepup]

I'm thinking this might be the way to go. We are looking at ordering a bigger live trap. The one I have we originally got to trap feral cats for the S/N program. It's too small for a full grown fox, I think.

We are also thinking to clear as much brush from the edges of the property as possible, in the hopes that foxes won't like living here so much. Unfortunately, we have nothing but old grown up fields on 2 sides, and woods on the other side.

 

[silkiechicken]

Yeah, I too am slowly chewing away at walls of black berry bushes up to about 10 feet tall... nicks everywhere. But, I am hoping it makes the chicken area less appealing for large rodents... and coons.

 

[skatcatla]

"Construct net wire fences with openings of 3 inches (8 cm) or less to exclude red foxes. Bury the bottom of the fence 1 to 2 feet (0.3 m to 0.9 m) with an apron of net wire extending at least 12 inches (30 cm) outward from the bottom. A top or roof of net wire may also be necessary to exclude all foxes, since some will readily climb a fence. A 3-wire electric fence with wires spaced 6 inches, 12 inches, and 18 inches (15 cm, 31 cm, and 46 cm) above the ground can repel red foxes. Combination fences that incorporate net and electric wires are also effective."


Hope that helps. Its not necessary to trap or kill the animal if simple prevention can solve the problem.

 

[snugglepup]

I agree, skat. We are doing all those things also. My pen already has/had hot wires, and buried wire... and he still got my chickies. :-(

We are rebuilding the pen even taller and stronger, and completely enclosing it. We also buried cinder blocks 3 deep. Hopefully, this will prevent future problems. I am still very concerned about this fox, because he is coming right up in the yard even with the floodlights on and radio playing. I just want to make sure I am well educated on all my options. I hate having to kill a predator, I just wish he'd stick to mice and rats!

 

[skatcatla]

That's a pretty determined-sounding fox, snuggle! I'm sure your new and improved coop will be too much for him (or her) though.

Hey in the meantime, maybe it would be cheaper and easier to buy a couple of pairs of white mice and let them go in the area. If they are anything like the ones I had as pets as a kid, they should reproduce fast enough to keep Mr. Fox at least a few more months!