Quick Fox Facts

• Average Life Span: 2-4 years
• Foxes typically weigh between 10-20 pounds
• The Red Fox is the most common species of fox in North America
• The fox is actually a member of the dog family
• Foxes adapt well in human environments and will opportunistically dine on garbage and pet food
• Male foxes are called reynards
• Female foxes are called vixen, and will birth 2-12 pups a year
• Foxes are mainly nocturnal creatures
• Diet: Omnivore

Fox

Is your nuisance animal a Fox? Effective Fox Control Methods are Available!

The damage foxes cause isn’t usually to your lawn or garden, but mostly killing livestock.  Poultry producers are at risk of foxes killing chickens, ducks and geese and young pigs, lambs and small pets can also fall prey to a fox. Fortunately, a number of effective fox control methods are available.

How to Control Foxes with havahart® Fox solutions

live trapping as a fox control method

The trap:
Although this critter is known for being keen, cunning and sly, they can still be humanely trapped, if you have a large enough trap to catch them.  The Havahart® Model #1081 is a good size to trap problem foxes.

All Havahart® traps are constructed of sturdy rust-resistant wire mesh with steel reinforcements and rounded edges to protect the animal and you from harm.

The placement:
To trap a fox, you’ll have to outsmart him! Since fox are typically suspicious of new surroundings, it’s important to get the fox used to the trap before expecting it to enter inside. But just how do you do that? Here are some helpful hints:

• Be sure to place the trap as close to the fox’s den entrance as possible
• Many times, fox will have two holes into their den, so be sure to cover the remaining holes forcing the fox to use the hole nearest your trap
• Next, be sure to cover the trap with landscape on the sides, top and bottom to disguise the trap as a natural landscape object; use twigs, leaves, straw, hay, grass clippings – whatever you have on hand
• On the first night, set the trap but leave the bait outside on the ground – this way, you’re just asking the fox to get close to the trap
• On the second night, if the bait was taken the night before, place the bait at the mouth of the trap on the second night; make sure to wire the door open so it doesn’t close accidentally
• On the third night, if the bait was taken, place the bait inside at the back of the trap; on the previous two nights, the fox has become acclimated to the food being in this location and around the trap so, with any luck, you’ll have a fox by morning

The bait:
Use a small plate to place the bait at the end of the live trap. Havahart® recommends the following baits:

• Fish
• Eggs
• Meat

• Poultry
• Honey or sugar-coated vegetables
• Crisp Bacon

Expert Tips

• Remember: Foxes are intelligent and wary of anything out of the ordinary, so camouflaging the trap is important
• Once set, make sure no sticks or other materials are obstructing the operation of the trap
• Make sure to contact your local wildlife commission to be sure of the laws in your area before using trapping as a fox control method
• Once caught, cover the trap with a blanket or tarp during transport to keep the fox calm
• Proper fox dropping identification is a good way to tell if foxes still pose a threat after capture

Now you know how to control foxes and prevent the damage these wily creatures can cause!