Urban fox problem.

[Mulchkin]

A build up of urban foxes was always on the cards after the hunting ban. I wonder where will the folks who campaigned for it stand when children and pets become prey?

I'm sorry, but I totally disagree - hunting never controlled fox numbers - studies during the foot and mouth hunting ban showed that when hunting was stopped completely for full season the fox population was unchanged.

I campaigned for the ban. When 'children and pets become prey' I will still believe (as I do now) that people feeding and encouraging foxes into their gardens, and urban areas ever expanding out into the countryside has brought humans and fox into more and more contact and made the urban fox unafraid of humans. Nothing whatsoever to do with people no longer being allowed to hunt them for entertainment. Also, uncontrolled domestic dogs kill more pets and bite more children than foxes ever have or will do.

Errr (sorry for the rant, a pet subject of mine!!)... back to the lawn A former work colleague of mine had this exact issue a few years ago and bought some sort of ultrasonic alarm. It did seem to work, but as it apparently works at a higher frequency than humans can hear it didn't bother them or the neighbours. It was motion activated if I remember rightly.

[snohare]

peg it loosely around the lawn

It would not surprise me to find the fox would uproot the pegs and pull the fencing aside. They really do live up to their reputation for craftiness, and then some !

urban areas ever expanding out into the countryside has brought humans and fox into more and more contact and made the urban fox unafraid of humans

I agree totally, man created the problem and the onus is on man to sort it, preferably with contraceptive baits. I'd also agree with your comment on the numbers attacked with one proviso - the "or will do". There are breeds of dog that are demonstrably more vicious than foxes - foxes just want to make a living, they have not been bred to fight - but having seen a fox when it feels pushed to violence (not in a hunt I hasten to add, terrible things those) I am in no doubt that if foxes ever start running out of food in the urban environment they will be very scarey when the brakes are off. It doesn't take evolution long to breed more aggressive members of any species, all it needs is enough competition.
Here's hoping that ultrasonic thing will work, it makes sense that it would and it really is the sort of deterrent you want.

[Potstubsdustbins]

The son has an ultra sonic cat scarer that arrives tomorrow will let you know the result.

To the mod who moved the thread thanks for putting it in the right place, however you did confuse an old man who has been looking everywhere for his thread

Colin

[VirginVegGrower]

Losing your thread is not funny, neither is forgetting your worms!

[endymion]

We tried all sorts of non-mechanical things, including string soaked in the replacement for creosote, but none of them worked because they just walk round them.

If the ultrasonic scarer doesn't work you might find that one that squirts water will do the trick. There are loads of gizmos on this site Pest Help

[FionaH]

If this thread descends into a heated exchange on the hunting debate, Sarz will KILL me! Honestly fox hunting wont be the issue, it will be Fi baiting

People who have bought sonic defenders from my work have had fairly good results from them.

[Glutton4...]

Sonic deterrents are one option I hadn't even thought about! Brill!

[Potstubsdustbins]

Got up about 3 o/clock last night to pop for a wurtle, as I returned to my pit I noticed the outside light on.

Peeked through the window and there he was, a very young fox digging for all his worth. Forgetting about SWMBO I quietly open the bedroom window and slammed it shut. This had two very different outcomes, first my mate the fox left at a vast rate of knots, never even looked over his shoulder.

Second SWMBO screamed and rising horizontally from the bed gave me the biggest rocket.. I can't repeat here what was said, just to say it was hot tongue and cold a--e for the rest of the night and into breakfast. When at last she relented, she suggested I teach the young chap how to scavenge the thrown down takeaways like all his mates do.

Thanks for the ideas everyone will let you know how I progress.
Colin

[snohare]

SWMBO screamed and rising horizontally from the bed gave me the biggest rocket..

<snigger>

I think we've just found that sonic alarms do work....

[Mulchkin]

If this thread descends into a heated exchange on the hunting debate, Sarz will KILL me! Honestly fox hunting wont be the issue, it will be Fi baiting

Hee hee - sorry. best not to mention the *H* word on any forum, in any pub or basically anywhere

Good luck Colin, let us know how you get on.

[snohare]

Good luck Colin, let us know how you get on

Yes, do let us know when the ball and chain come off !

[Potstubsdustbins]

I am hoping the window slamming thing might have done the job.

SWMBO took of the restraints to allow me to rake over whats left of the lawn, its more like a dustbowl now. Still at least I will be able to see his tracks if he returns tonight, then it will be all out war.

Colin

[FionaH]

Hee hee - sorry. best not to mention the *H* word on any forum, in any pub or basically anywhere

Good luck Colin, let us know how you get on.

whispers: it might have been me who mentioned the H word

[Aisles]

Foxes and Sweetcorn

I used to grow amazing sweetcorn when I live further north but since moving down to Surrey 10 years ago I've only managed 1 crop and it's all due to foxes.

I don't mind foxes, I have nothing against them but why oh why must they always killed my sweetcorn.

Normally it's the adults crushing through it braking it all down but this year it was 3 tiny cubs who dug the plants up. I think they were trying to make dens in the earth.

How can I persuade the foxes to leave my sweetcorn alone.

I regularly get the vixen watching me water the veggie plot while I'm on one side she's watching me from the other side.

My dog, a Irish staffordshire bull terrier doesn't deter the foxes in fact he's a big wuzz and will hide in the house if he see them or even next doors cats for that matter.

I've not bothered to try germinate and grow any more but would like to grow some next year without it being distroyed by foxes.

[snohare]

its more like a dustbowl now...it will be all out war.

I'm just going by some photos from the 1930's mind, but...I think that you'll find that when Man fights Ma Nature, and he starts off with a dustbowl, Man is about to get his sorry a** kicked. (Have you ever thought of moving house ? )