Advice on urban foxes

Foxes are normally found in woodland areas and on farmland, but are increasingly common in urban areas. They are mainly active at night although can be seen on occasion in the daytime. The mating season occurs between January and February, with litters born during late March/April. The average litter size is 5 and the cubs can remain with the vixen for up to 4 months.

Hart District Council does not provide a service for the treatment of foxes, but you may find the following advice of some help if you are experiencing problems:

1. Refuse should be stored in a secure location and only put out for collection on the actual morning the waste is collected, not the night before.
2. Food should NOT be given to foxes or left out for birds/cats/dogs as this will only encourage them further.
3. Food should not be placed on open compost heaps. Such an action would also encourage rats into your garden.
4. Provide secure, fox-proof accommodation for vulnerable pets, as foxes could kill such animals if the opportunity arises.
5. If you find foxes have been digging in your garden, loosely fill in any excavations as they appear, checking that they are empty first.
6. Fencing up to at least 2 metres high would help prevent foxes entering your garden. Ideally, the fence should have a 30cm overhang at the top and 30cm buried in the ground.
   

Please note that it is illegal to use chemical repellents such as creosote, diesel oil, renadine/renardine, or any other poisonous baits to deter foxes.


Spread of Disease

There is little evidence that foxes spread disease to domestic animals in Britain, although there is evidence that mange can be passed from foxes to dogs. However, as a precautionary measure, it is advisable to ensure that pet cats and dogs are regularly wormed and also vaccinated against Weil's disease.

If you continue to experience problems, you can contact the 'Fox Project' on 0906 272 4411, which may be able to offer further advice.

The following leaflet produced in conjunction with the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) provides further guidance on the control of urban foxes:

• Living with Urban Foxes