Foxes are vital to ecosystems, helping reduce rodent and rabbit populations. However, they can also dig holes in yards, get into trash, tear up fencing, and steal fruits and vegetables from gardens.
While they certainly are important, you may not want them in your yard all the time. Fortunately, there are ways to naturally and humanely deter them—here, we spoke with experts about a few go-to methods.
Meet the Experts
Related: What to Do If You Find Baby Bunnies in Your Yard, According to Wildlife Experts
Build a Fence
The strongest form of fox prevention is a garden fence. However, the fence will have to be tall—around 6 feet—and include a 12-inch underground extension, according to Nicole Carpenter, the president of Black Pest Prevention.
“Foxes can jump and dig, so the fence has to be tall enough and anchored,” she says.
Remove Rodents
Rats and mice are often the primary reason why a fox would want to enter your property. “They’re naturally drawn to areas with prey because they rely on them as a primary food source,” says Carpenter. So treat your garden for rodents first by figuring out what’s attracting them to your property.
Related: 6 Natural Ways to Keep Mice Away for Good
Seal Containers
Foxes are hunters, but they’re also scavengers, and are willing to eat uncovered food—or even trash that’s been left out. Securing food containers and trash bins with lids and taking them inside can help discourage them.
“They’re probably in your yard looking for food,” says Sean A. Neiswenter, associate professor in residence at the School of Life Sciences at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. “So, if there are no easily acquired resources, they will move on.”
Install Motion-Activated Devices
Foxes are generally nocturnal, so motion-activated lights or sound can be disruptive enough to dissuade them, says Neiswenter. These methods are especially effective when targeted at a specific problem area (such as trash bins or areas near a chicken coop).
According to Carpenter, motion-activated sprinklers are the strongest way to deter foxes—along with anything that can move or make noise. “Sprinklers stay active at night when foxes are also active, and that’s their main advantage,” she says.
Related: 22 Landscape Lighting Ideas for a Stunning Nighttime Display
Get a Dog
Having a medium or large dog roaming around the yard also helps, says Carpenter. Dogs will bark and scare away foxes (and mice). After all, foxes are prey for larger carnivores, and are generally subordinate to bigger canids like coyotes or wolves, according to Neiswenter.
“Larger domestic dogs can provide the presence of a large canid. Dogs mark territory, bark, and chase smaller animals out of your yard,” he adds.
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