Probable Red Fox Den Very Close to My Barn

[The Dapper Duck]

Almost no experience with furbearers. Got a fox easily last year (see post #47 https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/red-fox-in-barn-at-0415.1244409/page-5.) Will be getting a good number of muskrats and possibly a couple of otters as the production season progresses.

Try cruising through some trapper forums for more set ideas. Maybe whatever you are using this guy isn't into. Off the top of my head, if this fox is used to taking birds, try adding in a dirt hole set, throw some raw chicken in the hole, and stuff some feathers in the opening and sprinkle a couple on the backing. Might garner some interest.

 

[centrarchid]

Try cruising through some trapper forums for more set ideas. Maybe whatever you are using this guy isn't into. Off the top of my head, if this fox is used to taking birds, try adding in a dirt hole set, throw some raw chicken in the hole, and stuff some feathers in the opening and sprinkle a couple on the backing. Might garner some interest.

I will give it a try. Last two nights it is not even coming in close enough to inspect sets.

Current bait is a live chicken as shown in linked thread.

 

[roosterhavoc]

Some foxes are simple to catch others might take weeks or longer. Some of them have made me want to pull my hair out. They’re all too smart for their own good but the bolder ones are easier to catch. It’s the wary ones that take time.

 

[roosterhavoc]

I am using like linked below. Fox not coming in. I have only seen it once with light since I started going after it; no recent evidence in camera traps. This is how it works, fox gets a bird, dogs then get on to it and fox stays away for a while. It is where fox does not just keep coming in just because you have chickens as a buffet. Owls do same.
https://www.cabelas.com/product/Bri...mkjE3E0Doc9TRyUfeJcaAt2fEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Have you lowered the pan so it sits flush or just below the level of the jaws when set? Also the pan tension needs to be set around 2-3 lbs so it won’t fire to easily and miss or not fire at all because the tension is too high.
Those two things are more important than anything else. I’m not sure if you know how or not but a screw driver stuck in the slot on the post where the dog is bent forward or back will adjust the pan height while the tension screws adjust the actual pan tension.

 

[roosterhavoc]

Another thing about traps is keeping odor off of them. I doubt you’ve dipped or dyed them since the process is pretty time consuming especially if you’re not trapping every season for fur.
If no dip or dye is being used a simple boil in baking soda or just plain hot water should be ok for scent as long as you handle them with gloves on.
The single most important thing though is to make sure the trap is bedded solid. Meaning once set it doesn’t budge when pushed on any section of the trap jaws or levers. I’ve have more traps dug up because of this than I would like to admit.

 

[frackmomma]

I have no idea if this will work, but I've heard that human urine around the coop/run area helps keep predators away. You can also buy dried coyote urine online. Worth a shot!

 

[hhill1970]

It appears that a pair of Red Fox have made a den very close to my barn on the neighbors property. It is roughly 60 feet feet from my barn. Despite close proximity, the foxes have made only two incursions on my property that are impactful. Two nights ago a fox came in took a hen roosting too low and attempted to take a broody hen the night before she committed to brooding. Broody hen will be OK, other hen a loss. Fence was total dead out at time and fixed yesterday evening. A game camera was re-positioned to record fox probing fence on side opposite where dogs approach from. Dogs helped line out very accurately where fox comes in and out of property. Spots would be ideal for snare, but neighbors have small dogs out making snare not good option. My dogs cannot beat fox when it has such a short run to safety on other side of fence. My male dog and I crossed fences to get to den site where he exchanged growls with something in the den area. Opening is too small for him and he can not dig in because it is mostly concrete slabs. My female dogs might be more effective although whole me be too tight for them as well.

This will be first time I have had to live with foxes denning almost in my underwear. Game camera will be moved around a lot to observe. If I can keep them out, then we will watch kits for a while watching them grow on rabbits and neighbors chickens.

I've had success using a live trap, then euthanasia of fox (gun) I used a Large DOG-sized trap, and put dead chicken, or other poultry inside (I used a whole, frozen pheasant), and hung feathers, or wing, from top of trap to attract the fox's attention.
Just let neighbors know that you have a live trap set up, maybe even put it on their property, and open it during the hours it has been showing up. If you let them know what times it will be open, you'll be less likely to catch dogs!
Hopefully you can catch them!

 

[hhill1970]

Also, if you catch a skunk, just walk up slowly to the cage with a large sheet in front of you. Talk softly to skunk, as they like the human voice. Place sheet over trap, kill, relocate or release skunk within 5 miles from your home, to minimize rabies outbreaks. You can open trap utilizing the sheet as a barrier. Skunks CANNOT see very well, and usually only spray if touched, or a lot of rushed movement, so go slow!
Your local Animal Control Officer should have a trap that they might let you borrow.
Otherwise, you'll have to stay up all night long in order to shoot it.
Hopefully this helps!

 

[frackmomma]

Make sure to check laws on relocation. Sometimes you are not allowed to relocate a trapped animal.

 

[hhill1970]

Make sure to check laws on relocation. Sometimes you are not allowed to relocate a trapped animal.

True! Sorry, I was giving our own laws! We can relocate rabies vector species within 5 miles of our location.