Unbelievable!! Foxes are now coming in the middle of the day!

[chickenannie]

This time of year is when the foxes are REALLY hungry and will go to greater lengths to find food. I think this is also the season that females are getting ready to have baby foxes (pups?).

 

[sepiolida]

Ugg. Take them down B4 they reproduce!

 

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

What about a hot wire?

Less than a hundred bucks, problem solved. No blood shed.

 

[sepiolida]

Quote:
Hey. You're smart.

 

[The Brick Coop]

A trap is worth trying once. After running out to check a night commotion and seeing fresh varmint damage, we set a big raccoon trap; that's all we had on hand. Within two hours a fox came INTO the barn to retrieve the back half of the exhibition Jersey Giant cockerel that he left behind when he pulled it out through the dog-kennel wire. Fox was young, no brush-tail yet but so big it hardly fit in the trap. Its littermate appeared in the back door then bolted (good for him, never came back--yet). Dispatched it with car exhaust. The trap was so long we had to use 2 huge garbage bags to cover it first, one way, then on the other end. I would recommend a bigger trap for an adult fox.

 

[BantyRooster]

Save your time and effort trying to catch a fox in a live trap. Trust me, it's not going to happen. If a fox is coming in looking for an easy meal, unless he finds an easier place to eat, he will come back.

Fox have a small home range and are moving closer to peoples homes in order to survive being killed by the increasing coyote populations that are taking over the foxes normal territory.

If this one is bold enough to not run off and even sits down and looks at you he's not likely to just go away.

You could tray a foothold trap. As a trapper I can tell you, this option is alot easier said than done. Raccoons, skunks and possums are not scent or trap shy, making them very easy to catch. A K9 is a whole different story. If you want details PM me and I will explain.

Gamo makes a nice air rifle that will humanely eliminate this problem. They're not extremely expensive and are very accurate and powerful.

Good luck with your problem.

 

[Chook-A-Holic]

Quote:
This is what I did. I ran a strand at 6", 12", 36", and 72". With a sufficient charger, properly installed and maintained, you will know it when something gets too close. I have about $200.00 in my charger, ground rods, insulators, and wire. Don't skimp out on the charger or the installation.I grounded mine with 6 8' ground rods then connected the 6th one to the skirt and cage itself thereby making my run a continuous ground. Keep safety in mind also. A high powered pulsed charger is safer than a low voltage constant charger. You don't want humans or animals getting hung on a constant voltage due to muscle contraction. My charger is very hot(11,600volts w/digital fence tester)but it is safe. It hurts but does not harm. Also keep in mind that in the winter it may take more voltage to keep the same predator discouraged due to their winter coat. If a predator hits the hot wire and stands there thinking about it, you need to check into a larger charger or your installation. He should run off screaming in pain. He won't be back. We have a heavy predator load here including bobcats, opossums, raccoons, and no telling what else(confirmed wolves in my part of county), but none in my yard. "BURNUM' UP BOYS"

Make sure that the electric fence is an added bonus to an already secure coop/run and not the sole means of deterrent/protection.

 

[theFox]

Quote:
Check my sig .....

 

[CityChicker]

LOL, you all are too funny.

Thank you for all the suggestions! Now, me using a bow just has disaster and tragedy written all over it, LOL. I don't know if I have the physical strength to use one anyway (or at least I haven't when I tried my brother's bow). I will check into the air rifle option and look closer into the regulations as well.

Right now, it seems like the most reasonable option is to do more extensive hot wire. I think I will feel safer going that route anyway, so I don't have to worry about the birds being out to forage during the day. I just worry that if I am lucky enough to trap the foxes, there will just be something else to take their place. Anyway, thanks again for all the advice!

 

[jqs birds]

I used to be like you BantyRooster. I swore you would never catch a fox or coyote in a live trap!

I've done both now. Urine is the trick. Red Fox urine will draw almost anything from coyotes to bobcats, raccoons, and of course red fox. Why? I'm not sure. But hang a dead chicken in the back of the cage and put a good splash of urine in the back past the pan and you will catch predators.
Camoflage your trap with some brush on top and around the sides too.