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How to keep foxes out garden

(41 Posts)
polomint Mon 29-Mar-21 23:16:09

Our little jack russell has being going crazy every night around 9pm and barkingvto get in back garden. He runs around mad sniffing. I think he has the scent of a fox as there are woods near us. Has anyone any idea how to stop them coming into my garden at night? If that isn't the reason for our dog to behave this way, have you any ideas on what the problem could be?

Azalea99 Tue 30-Mar-21 14:06:56

I haven’t seen a hedgehog in at least 15 years, and we used to get several in our garden, even babies. As I understand it the foxes kill the babies when their spines are still soft. I just walked up the garden yesterday and found that a fox had removed the floating aerator from my pond and chewed through the air pipe. I have six sonic repellers, but although they avoid going near them the foxes find other routes, as the repellers’ range isn’t great enough to cover my garden. I clean the greenhouse with Jeyes fluid and it definitely keeps them away for awhile. If your garden is fairly small I would recommend sonic repellers.
I even have to block up the area beneath my side gate nowadays, as they use it to get to people’s bin bags on dustbin day!
Cute, yes, but filthy and destructive. You can’t keep some out, but it’s a good idea to deter them as best you can. Lions’s wee pellets didn’t work for me at all, but there’s a powder sold in garden centres (can’t remember the name) which you mix up with water then spray around your garden. It works for a while. Best of luck

Whitewavemark2 Tue 30-Mar-21 14:08:31

Terriers are hard wired to kill vermin, it could be rats especially if he is getting really excited. I bet it isn’t foxes.

Granarchist Tue 30-Mar-21 15:11:47

Definitely foxes. rats have very little scent - terriers mostly hunt rats on sight not scent. Badgers are the ones killing hedgehogs - they eviscerate them and just leave the skins - it is heartbreaking. Since badgers got protection we have hardly seen a hedgehog whereas we used to see them a lot. The problem is that both badgers and foxes are at the top of the food chain with nothing but man and illness to control their numbers. The number of dead animals on roads is a good indication of numbers in the wild - so if you are no longer seeing dead hedgehogs it is because there are far fewer around. Loads of dead badgers been run over round our area. They are thriving but at the expense of hedgehogs.

Clarer Tue 30-Mar-21 15:20:42

In my old house my dogs used to bark like mad in the evenings at the patio doors. I discovered we had hedgehogs visiting the garden.

Clarer Tue 30-Mar-21 15:24:04

Granarchist

Definitely foxes. rats have very little scent - terriers mostly hunt rats on sight not scent. Badgers are the ones killing hedgehogs - they eviscerate them and just leave the skins - it is heartbreaking. Since badgers got protection we have hardly seen a hedgehog whereas we used to see them a lot. The problem is that both badgers and foxes are at the top of the food chain with nothing but man and illness to control their numbers. The number of dead animals on roads is a good indication of numbers in the wild - so if you are no longer seeing dead hedgehogs it is because there are far fewer around. Loads of dead badgers been run over round our area. They are thriving but at the expense of hedgehogs.

ptes.org/campaigns/hedgehogs/hedgehogsandbadgers/
Badgers will only kill hedgehogs if food isn’t readily available. Generally they eat other things.

Greeneyedgirl Tue 30-Mar-21 15:41:07

We live with fields behind, and the occasional rat visits, which sends our neighbour’s dogs wild. We have stopped feeding the birds because of this. There are plenty of foxes around but they never come into the garden.

Whitewavemark2 Tue 30-Mar-21 15:42:53

Granarchist

Definitely foxes. rats have very little scent - terriers mostly hunt rats on sight not scent. Badgers are the ones killing hedgehogs - they eviscerate them and just leave the skins - it is heartbreaking. Since badgers got protection we have hardly seen a hedgehog whereas we used to see them a lot. The problem is that both badgers and foxes are at the top of the food chain with nothing but man and illness to control their numbers. The number of dead animals on roads is a good indication of numbers in the wild - so if you are no longer seeing dead hedgehogs it is because there are far fewer around. Loads of dead badgers been run over round our area. They are thriving but at the expense of hedgehogs.

???*rats have very little scent*

ReadyMeals Tue 30-Mar-21 20:18:49

I don't think the foxes will come into a garden where a dog could appear at any moment, if they can avoid doing so.

Minerva Tue 30-Mar-21 22:00:13

Next door’s dog is terrified of the urban foxes which roam our area unchecked and seem not to be afraid of anything.

We have an alley up the side of our house which the foxes used to access the road and the smell of them was overpowering and coming into the house through vents. Eventually I went into battle and scrubbed the alley, added chicken wire to the wrought metal gate and half way down the alley created a further barrier of wire fencing with 50mm holes which they find impossible to climb. Then I made another barrier at the garden end of the alley. It sounds extreme but after 10 years of the stink coming through into our toilet, shower and kitchen, all is now sweet smelling,
I grow my own vegetables so I made raised beds with bars across to keep the foxes from messing among the veg. My next anti-fox project is to fix 18” high sections of the wire fencing to the top of each fence panel. Foxes can scale a 6 ft fence but not with the wire at the top.
I have tried all the tricks to keep them away - had no idea that Jeyes was a bad idea - but chilli powder, coffee, male pee, anti cat powder etc, etc, are only effective until the next rain shower. It seems only barriers work.

polomint Tue 30-Mar-21 22:49:36

Thanks folks...a few good suggestions that I will follow up. Havnt seen a fox in my garden, no poo droppings although I have seen a fox a few times in the stŕeet here. It may well be a cat as some of you have said and you have also said if a dog was around the garden, a fox wouldn't be in. Our dog has just started doing this for a few weeks so I'll just have to wait and see how things develop

Shropshirelass Wed 31-Mar-21 08:29:28

We get foxes too! I have some Scoot and will use that around the area where the fox gets in. It is supposed to deter them but have yet to try it. I have also been told that human male urine in the area stops them - not tried that either!

Katie59 Wed 31-Mar-21 09:31:31

Just occasionally we have a fox visit, I don’t particularly object until our terrier rolls in fox poo, then comes in and rolls on the carpet.
Not nice

Puzzler61 Wed 31-Mar-21 10:14:17

There is a hedgehog that comes into our garden most nights under a fence. We can see where it comes as it disturbs the little pebbles and lifts the mat to keep the weeds at bay under the pebbles. He/she can keep coming as long as it wants as we know they are becoming rare. ?

polomint Thu 01-Apr-21 22:44:41

It's definitely a fox! I saw it tonight in my front garden as my dog was barking like mad and I took him outside on the lead thank goodness or he would have been off after it I'm sure. Now how to put male urine in front garden?! Maybe I should try vinegar first

catladyuk Sat 03-Apr-21 12:34:25

sorry Lulubelle500, i don't understand your post, will you clarify please