Fox control
Foxes
Foxes are an increasing nuisance in towns. They cause problems of noise, digging, fouling, going through bins, leaving food debris lying about. Foxes will attack pets. Mange is carried by foxes which can be picked up by dogs but more seriously Roundworm is a parasite in foxes that can cause blindness in children.
Control
For the above reasons foxes need to be controlled. There are 2 methods that we use, live trapping or shooting. Shooting is the preferred method as it is more cost effective, achieves better results & more humane. Shooting is done at dusk. Not all sites are suitable for shooting. When trapping is carried out we ask the customer to check the traps twice a day & occasionally tip food into the trap. The customer must then call the office as soon as a fox is caught.
Costs
Initially we carry out a survey to assess the suitability of shooting & trapping. A charge is made for this initial survey. For shooting we charge an initial call out followed by a charge for each fox shot. Trapping is charged for the initial set-down & pickup & then per visit. Not all fox trapping/shooting programs are successful. Foxes are unpredictable & clever.
Foxes - General Information
Foxes
The Fox is a member of the dog family & is found in country & urban areas throughout Europe, Asia, North Africa & North America. In towns the population density of foxes can be high particularly around areas that provide cover such as cemeteries, railway line & waste ground.
They will hide up during the day & forage for food at night. Foxes live in Earths. These may be dug especially or they may enlarge rabbit burrows or badger setts. Foxes mate in January & February. At this time of year they cause a nuisance with their barking & screaming. Litters are born in March with an average size of 5. Cubs are weaned at 5 weeks but may stay with the mother for 3 - 4 months.
In captivity foxes can live up to 14 years but in the wild the average life span is 2 years.
Food depends where the foxes live, in urban areas they will eat a mixture of wild food (berries, small mammals, insects, worms & fruit) mixed with bird food, refuse & carrion.
Complaints about foxes include: noise, smell, digging, bones & other refuse, killing pets/ livestock & killing cats. Killing cats is very rare & often exaggerated.
Foxes carry roundworm (Toxocara canis) which can cause blindness in children. Cats also carry these worms.
Control is by shooting or live cage trapping.
