Foxes (Again)

[237SJ]

Has anyone got experience of foxes living in earth dens in their garden? I have been away and found a lot of earth scattered across the paving slabs where a fox had dug into the area under a fence. Every day I have swept the earth back into the hole. Every night the fox comes back and digs it out again. Yesterday I put some spare circular stepping stone slabs along the fence to stop the digging. Last night the fox managed to dig in between them to get to the hole. I have found a couple of bits of wood this morning and chucked them in and moved the slabs so that they are over the hole. I have tried to shine a torch in there but can`t see far enough back. I`m off to work later and won`t be here for a few days. I`m not worried that the *** thing is in there (being that they are nocturnal animals). Much as they`re a pest, I don`t want to see one suffer. Has anyone else been in this situation and found a fox has been sleeping in the den during the day?

[237SJ]

I meant to say "I`m NOW worried"

[237SJ]

In the absence of any replies, I have just removed the wood and opened up the hole again just in case foxy is in there. I`ll see what I find when I come back (a hell of a mess probably). The fox is running rings around me. It`s seems it`s difficult to outwit a fox.

[jno]

they're very supple, and good diggers. We just filled any gaps under the fence with old bricks etc when they appeared, and it did seem to deter the diggers. But as most of them can jump over a 6ft fence, it wasn't a total solution.

[237SJ]

I can sort the digging out sooner or later but I`m worried about filling the hole when the fox is in there as it could suffocate. I think it is illegal as well. If it`s digging every night because I have filled the hole with soil, that makes me think it`s trying to get access to sleep in there. I`ll have to sort it out properly when I get more time. I might put a bit of rubber hose down there and give it a prod and see what happens.

[Ratty2E]

We had a problem with a fox digging under our fence from next doors jungle of a garden, where it suspect it was living. We filled the holes with bricks and it gave up. In our case it was obvious it was just a short cut not a den but if there's any doubt I'd be more cautious if it is a den there may be cubs.

[ladybirder]

Foxes are mainly nocturnal 237 but do sometimes venture out during the day. So you could well be imprisoning him/her/them in the den. You can call someone out to get rid of them for you but they will kill them. Why don't you call your local wildlife people and get some advice. Mine are very helpful. They might relocate them for you. Or you could just live with them, some people would think you are very lucky:-)

[hc4361]

I have had foxes in my garden for years without problems but now I have badgers which I definitely don't want.

[mallyh]

my daughter had foxes under her wooden patio .one morning i went and filed in the hole with rocks etc ,late at night my daughter and son in law had to unblock it as i'd accidently blocked in the vixen and the dog fox was howling really loudly .(i felt really bad )

[DrFilth]

there is a fox with at least 4 cubs two gardens away from mine and they have been advised to leave them as the cubs will have to move off when they grow up

it is a very big den with at least two entrance holes

me and next door think the den has been there for years as the garden has not been touched for years and was very overgrown

i was looking for them this morning just after 4-30 am but never saw anything other than the squirrel that comes in next doors garden for some food

[DrFilth]

this is the front entrance which was found when they started to tidy up the garden

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=w5zd2&s=8#.U66lELG8OSE

[ladybirder]

Looks like a palace for foxes DrF but have they now been displaced? Tidy up isn't good for foxes:-)

[DrFilth]

no they are leaving it like that till the cubs grow up after that only the owner knows

[DrFilth]

about five doors away they have a small pond in their garden and a few days back there was two of them having a drink from the pond this was around 5am

i have not seen them yet

[DrFilth]

they keep digging holes under next doors fence

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=eg7605&;s=8#.U6633bG8OSE

[ladybirder]

That's good of them it means the hedgehogs can get through as well:-)

[DrFilth]

not seen any hedgehogs at the back for a few years but got loads of frogs

[ladybirder]

Thinking about it I haven't seen any for a long time either, not alive anyway. I hope they manage to hang on and don't get wiped out totally poor things.

[DrFilth]

i use to have loads of slugs and snails but don't see them these days just frogs and spiders

[janbee]

I have a family of foxes living in my compostor and they also LOVE to dig holes and try to burrow under the wall into a neighbours garden. There's also another fox family living two doors away but that's a more upmarket dwelling. They're living in a shed so they've settled into a detached property !! One up from my scabby old compostor that's for sure. Wish I had hedgehogs though. I'd love a few of them.

[hc4361]

Foxes eat hedgehogs