How to trap a fox?

[Iain Utah]

A few days ago, my neighbor lost a few of his chickens to a fox. He said he caught fox in act, but could not catch it. I told him I would set our trap out by his coop (which backs up onto our side pasture), but do not know the best way to bait it. We have had great success using canned cat food to trap raccoons. Would this work for foxes?

 

[bigoledude]

Foxes are not particularly hard to trap. Cage traps, in my opinion, are the least effective. Foot-hold traps are inexpensive and work very well. A #1.75 or #2 coilspring trap or a #11 longspring would work well.

http://www.rpoutdoors.com/duketraps.html
http://www.rpoutdoors.com/viccoilsprin.html

You can use the same techniques on foxes that you would use on any canines. A fox that is coming near populated or human inhabited areas is already vulnerable to trapping since he is accustomed to the sights, sounds and smells of humans and is less likely to be extremely wary. Foxes are extremely curious and will check out your visual "attractant", especially if there is also bait at the set.

Do a YouTube search for "trapping foxes", "dirt-hole set", "trapping coyotes" and "trapping canines". You would probably never have to get any more sophisticated than the very dependable dirt-hole set. Just pay close attention how the pros do it and you'll have your fox quickly.

 

[20736]

Foxes are much more wary than 'coons. I used to have to put Fox urine around sets to cover human smell to be successful.
Most fish flavored cat food has fillers that repel foxes.
Night vision goggles and a shotgun.

 

[birdonerous]

I would suggest a fishy smelling cat food or other meat like canned tuna or anchovies.

 

[Iain Utah]

Thanks for the replies and great suggestions!! If it was not so cold at night, hubby would patrol with 22. So, we will try using the live trap. With the other types of traps, not sure if there is a concern about any of our animals getting caught? We have cats, geese and horses that live together on pasture, and we do occasionally wind up with one of our cats in the live trap.

 

[Howard E]

I don't trap......I keep them at bay with an electric fence.

But if you DID want to trap a fox, this is the best method I've seen to date......with video right here on BYC>

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/i-caught-my-fox-updated-now-with-the-video.677983/

Study the technique and what you will see is a tunnel being created........trap is covered so there is only one way in. Live bait used here, but it is said that KFC....original or Extra Crispy will work as well.

 

[Scott H]

Check this thread out.....they can be difficult.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

It usually takes a LARGE trap to catch a Fox.
You'll likely only get one chance

 

[TexasJ]

Good luck there two around here a friend set up a camera to see the fox just to see one holding the trap open while the other grabbed the food ..sly as a fox....maybe a snare trap or a bullet

 

[frigginchi]

I have trapped foxes with live traps baited with a quail inside a smaller cage within the live trap. Depart of fish and games here says nuisance animals need to be destroyed because relocation of them is illegal.