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Urban sprawl has brought humans into ever-closer contact with wildlife. Adapting to this new world, foxes make homes under porches, chase mice around sheds, and nap in backyard grasses.
If you live within the red fox's present range, there's a chance you could be visited by this prince of the canid kingdom. The best time to watch is just before dusk, when feeding birds and less human presence brings foxes from hiding.
Encouraging Visits
You can encourage foxes, and other wildlife, with a few easy steps:
1. Provide fresh water. Glazed or plastic flower-pot bottoms work well, placed on the ground. Refresh the water every few days, especially during warm weather.
2. Keep canine companions on a leash, or inside a fenced area. Even mindful dogs might suddenly chase after foxes or other wildlife.
3. Educate neighbors and children by referring them to this website.
4. Leave out occasional bits of food. See "Food Selection" for details.
5. Visit the National Wildlife Federation website for more tips.
Common Concerns
Foxes are beneficial guests. They keep rodents at bay, preventing the spread of disease, and displace predators such as coyotes. Most enjoy watching foxes, but you may have some concerns:
1. Outdoor Pets
If a fox feels threatened, it will chase a cat from its territory. However, foxes do not consider cats or dogs food, and will usually co-exist as equals. Please remember that unsupervised pets can become lost, trapped, hit by cars, wounded by strays, or suffer exposure from the weather.
Solution: Foxes present little danger compared to other threats. Keep pets safely indoors at night.
2. Sounds at Night
Foxes can produce an array of unique sounds. They can be startling at night, and are most often heard during the mating season in winter, or during territorial disputes.
Solution: In most cases, the calls are brief, and should quiet down on their own.
3. Leftovers in the Trash
Human foods, rich in fats, sugars and proteins, smell like candy to wild animals. They may leave your garbage spread out like a buffet, and become sick.
Solutions: Keep trash cans in a shed or garage. Only put them out on trash day. Buy cans with a twist-lock lid, or use a bungee-cord to keep the lids on tight. Never set out unprotected trash bags.
4. Garden Sampler
As an omnivore, foxes enjoy fruits, and might sample your prized strawberries.
Solution: Foxes rarely eat plant stalks, leaves, flowers, or vegetables. Keep fruit-bearing gardens fenced from wildlife. Remember that foxes chase mice, rabbits and other plant-nibblers.
Deterrents
Foxes are a natural and necessary part of the ecosystem. However, if you're still troubled by their visits, try:
1. The Scarecrow Sprinkler. A motion-sensitive water sprinkler that harmlessly startles away animals, day or night. Buy one from your local nursery, hardware store, pet store, or online.
2. Make your yard less inviting by eliminating sources of food and water.
3. Erect a fence or plant hedges to reduce physical access.
4. As a last resort, if you live in an urban setting, and the fox seems out of place, contact a wildlife rescue specialist. They may be able to humanely capture and relocate the fox to a safer area, or refer you to someone who can.
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