Foxes vs vegetables!

[ediblehedge]

Good evening,
We have had 6 fox cubs in our garden's den this year (much to the neighbour's annoyance) and although I have great regard for them and we encourage all wildlife, my patience is wearing thin with their destruction in the veggie beds. I've read they do move off at some point, but this year they've been in the garden since May and all 6 are still around and it seems that the adults have left them here...!
I've resorted to constructing netted cloches and putting pots & bricks around the cloches and using fox off but nothing seems to deter them. I am wondering about using big chicken wire to place on the soil and plant through too... We have lots of hedgehogs here and so I try to keep them in mind but with all these cloches etc it's like an army battle field and they can't get in to eat all my slugs etc
...so I was wondering if anyone has had any real success in a very humane way of keeping foxes off areas please?
Many thanks for your help!

[Words]

Some useful advice and links at the Fox Website, maintained by Bristol University's Mammal Unit.

For what it's worth the cubs should start moving off very soon as the annual search for mates/winter dens starts in earnest. Meanwhile do what you can to limit any available foodstuffs to encourage them to hunt further afield. It is usual for the adults to move away once the cubs are fending for themselves, but they may reassert their authority and do the chasing off of the youngsters for you. I've seen adult foxes who were perfect parents with young cubs get quite aggressive with them as autumn sets in and the cubs become rivals.

Good luck, and don't despair. They will move away!

[posie]

I would love to see some photos, have you got any you could put on here?
Posie..

[mbaldw]

Hi

in addition to the link and suggestions provided above, there is some additional info on my website about fox deterrence:

Wildlife Online - Red Fox Deterrence

Alternatively, you could try leaving the radio on (i.e. Radio 4 'Bores' foxes from attacking swans), although whether your neighbours would appreciate that is something to consider!

Good luck and please post back if you find something that works.

Cheers,
Marc.

[ediblehedge]

Hi Posie,
Will try later to upload some photos - just tried to do some now and my computer is not behaving! I have tons from the garden camera along with some great hedgehog behaviour... be in touch later.

Hi Words - many thanks for the assurance of them leaving - I'll also make sure the bird food is away at night, but the cheeky things empty the ground feeder during the day, often just after I've filled it... I don't mind, but I am hoping they are not reliant on it.

[ediblehedge]

Hi mbaldw,
Many thanks for the link to your website - I've come across your site before, I think it was earlier in the year and found it very informative but I'll definitely consult it for more ideas - thanks!
I love the opening statement with the 'militarized zone' reference as that's exactly what my garden is turning into!
Interestingly my cat got into a screaming match with the vixen when the cubs were in the garden and our cat just came out of his cat flap. After this, our cat did not leave the house for a few months and now is just getting his confidence again when there's a fox around. It was a little scary as the sounds of the screaming was intense and even some crows came to join and see what the spoils were.
Will let you know how it goes
Thanks again!
ediblehedge

[posie]

I look forward to your pics...I see that there is a Thread called..''How to post photos'' or something like that by a kind wabber...I struggle with the PC stuff.

Posie..

[ediblehedge]

Managed to get three uploaded... these are from our garden camera and so not amazingly sharp - hope they're okay to view.

[Words]

Nice images... especially seeing them so young.

[mbaldw]

I was thinking the same thing, Words: you don't often see wild fox cubs that young, outside of a rescue centre. Lovely shots.

Cheers,
Marc.