- Size
- Body 60–70 cm, plus a bushy tail
- Active
- Mostly dusk and night
- Noisy season
- December to February
- Cubs
- Born in spring, leave the den by summer
Foxes aren't a protected species, but how you deal with them is regulated. The effective, legal approach is to make your garden less attractive and block access to den sites once they're empty.
Signs of foxes
- Shallow holes dug in lawns and flower beds
- Strong musky smell and droppings, often left in prominent places
- Screaming and barking at night in winter
- A hole under a shed, decking or outbuilding with fresh earth at the entrance
- Bin bags torn open, or shoes and toys carried off
How to be sure
Foxes leave twisted, pointed droppings with fur, seeds or bones in them, and a distinctive musky smell. Badgers dig deeper, wider holes and snuffle up lawns for grubs. Badgers and their setts are legally protected, so be sure which you have.
What you can do yourself
- Remove food: use bins with secure lids, don't leave pet food or food waste outside, and clean up under bird feeders.
- Use only repellents that are approved for foxes, following the label.
- Block access under sheds and decking with mesh buried at least 30 cm into the ground, but only once you're sure no fox is inside.
- If there are cubs, wait until they've left the den, usually by early summer, before blocking the entrance.
- Use chicken wire laid flat under soil to stop digging in beds and newly laid turf.
- Keep rabbits and chickens in secure, fox-proof runs.
Call a professional if
- You need a den under a building cleared and proofed
- Deterrents haven't worked and the damage is serious
- You're not sure whether you have foxes or badgers
The law: Foxes aren't legally protected as a species, but animal welfare law applies to any fox you catch. In England it's illegal to poison or gas foxes, to block or destroy an occupied earth, or to hunt them with dogs. Government guidance says not to move urban foxes and release them in the countryside. Rules in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are similar but differ in detail.
Safety: Don't try to handle a fox. If you find an injured fox, contact the RSPCA in England and Wales, the Scottish SPCA in Scotland, or the USPCA in Northern Ireland.
Keeping them out
- Keep bins closed and food waste secure
- Proof gaps under sheds and decking in late summer, after cubs have left
- Don't feed foxes deliberately if they're causing problems
Kit that helps
- Secure lidded bins
- Galvanised mesh for proofing
- Chicken wire for beds
- Approved fox repellent
Product types only. We'll only ever point you to things we'd use ourselves.
Questions people ask
Can I trap a fox and release it somewhere else?
Government guidance in England says not to move urban foxes and release them in the countryside, as the stress of unfamiliar surroundings harms their welfare. Another fox will usually take over the territory anyway.
Can I poison foxes?
No. Poisoning and gassing foxes is illegal.
What should I do about cubs under my shed?
Leave them. Cubs usually leave the den by early summer. Once you're sure they've gone, block the entrance with buried mesh.
Why do foxes scream at night?
It's mostly part of the mating season in winter. It's alarming but harmless and usually stops by February.