Foxes
Biology and behaviour
Foxes are a member of the dog family. They are mostly nocturnal and their main food source is rabbits, birds, rats/mice, insects, fruit and some plants, but they will also eat any waste food that has been left or thrown out. They will also tear open bin bags in search of food.
Foxes breed in the spring, having up to five pups in each litter. They can be heard making loud screeching noises in the spring, this is their mating call to attract the opposite sex.
They will normally have their den under a shed or hole in a bank in or around bushy areas.
Description
- Reddish fur
- White tip on tail
- Size of a small dog
Signs to look for
- Hair left on thorns, fences etc. where foxes pass through
- Droppings (similar to dogs but normally greyer in colour)
- Footprints
- Scent
- Dens
Prevention
There are products available that can be placed around an area that is frequented by foxes. These products give off a smell that is unpleasant to foxes, putting them off that area.
We do not offer a pest control service for foxes.
A number of private pest control companies will provide a service on a fee-paying basis. Details of companies appear in trade directories and members are listed on the NPTA website or the BPCA website.
More information about wildlife can be found on the Natural England website.
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