Capturing a fox

Zenify · 22-05-2019 9:47am #1

I have hens in my back garden and I had a fox visit a few times last year early in the morning. He never got inside the coop but the screaming chickens would wake me up at 5 and I'd go out and scare him away.

It's a different fox this summer and he/she is coming at about 2 during the night and it's very annoying as the chickens are waking me up. I bought a cage to catch it. If it's a Male I'll release it miles away from where I live and if I can see that it's a lactating female I'll just scare it so it never comes back. I dont really want orphan Cubs. I'm thinking letting the dog bark at it in the cage or maybe spraying it with a hose. Any suggestions, would anyone suggest a few steps further to solving the problem?

magicbastarder · 22-05-2019 9:58am

try urinating around the coop.

Zenify · 22-05-2019 9:59am

magicbastarder wrote: »

try urinating around the coop.

I did...

robertpatterson · 22-05-2019 10:02am

Unlikely its a lactating female if it is however and you trap her dig a pit and put her and the cage into it, the cubs will follow her in and wont be able to get out.
Although I always thought it was an offence to release a wild animal onto someone elses land

OpenYourEyes · 22-05-2019 12:23pm

Mod Note: Locking this thread for now - will discuss with the mods of the Hunting forum to see if it's relevant to them (or indeed legal at all). Will move thread if so.

OpenYourEyes · 22-05-2019 4:56pm

Mod Note: This thread has been moved to the Hunting forum, so note that a new charter applies and the conversation here may turn to dispatching the animal.

As I suspected, having spoken with Cass, it's not actually legal to capture and release the animal into another area.

Eddie B · 22-05-2019 9:19pm

Catching and releasing the fox won't guarantee that it won't come back. It may however guarantee that it won't go back into that cage lol. Speaking of cages. A lot of fox cages on the market aint great for catching fox's. They are far too small, and fox's become wary of them.

Zenify · 22-05-2019 9:36pm

Well this fox has tried every way to get into the chickens. I think if I just put the cage beside the coop without bait he'd go in trying to get to the chickens. I travel the country for work everday. I doubt he would make his way back from Derry.

Since this has now been moved to the hunting forum by the mods, I have never posted here I would like to say hi. I do actually hunt too just never go here on boards. Any suggestions about what to do?

Eddie B · 22-05-2019 9:46pm

Zenify wrote: »

Well this fox has tried every way to get into the chickens. I think if I just put the cage beside the coop without bait he'd go in trying to get to the chickens. I travel the country for work everday. I doubt he would make his way back from Derry.

Since this has now been moved to the hunting forum by the mods, I have never posted here I would like to say hi. I do actually hunt too just never go here on boards. Any suggestions about what to do?

Well which would you rather do. Take care of it the Mary Poppins way, or the Al Pacino way?

Zenify · 22-05-2019 10:24pm

Eddie B wrote: »

Well which would you rather do. Take care of it the Mary Poppins way, or the Al Pacino way?

Legally what am I allowed and not allowed to do?

solarwinds · 22-05-2019 11:19pm

If you hunt already shoot it, problem solved for your chickens.

kunekunesika · 23-05-2019 10:34am

Welcome to the hunting forum, despite you not expecting to end up here. Your legal options are shoot, snare or cage trap (and then shoot). None of these are clearly top of your list. Bringing the fox for a drive is not legal. So maybe give an indication of your location and someone here may pm you and oblige, or go all rebellious (not sure if the fox would be required to be on a lead in vehicle)
ðŸ˜ ðŸ˜ ðŸ˜
I shoot foxes to protect my neighbours hens, but as a rule don't shoot anything in my garden? Except rats, have lost the odd chicken myself but happy to see the fox about. Broke the rule when I had an infant and curious fox about at the same time. So different strokes.

Damoeire33 · 23-05-2019 2:40pm

Hi & welcome

As a hen owner also I would strongly advise that you shoot the fox/foxes. Eventually it will get in and kill every hen you have. Ask me how I know....
They are oppornuinst feeders and will take an easy meal no matter what.

Foxes are vermin and the countryside is over run with them in my opinion. Ive shot 12 foxes in 1 field at the back of my house the past 3 months. That should give you an idea on numbers.
Its fairly likely its not just 1 fox visiting either

Heavy handed · 23-05-2019 6:54pm

If your not a shooting person and want the foxes dealt with then there’s plenty members on here that would call around and help deal with them. Don’t know what part of the country your from but there’ll surly be someone near enough to help you out in dispatching them.

JustAThought · 23-05-2019 6:56pm

Isn't it illegal.

endacl · 23-05-2019 7:00pm

JustAThought wrote: »

Isn't it illegal.

No.

solarwinds · 23-05-2019 7:20pm

JustAThought wrote: »

Isn't it illegal.

Isn't what illegal ?

g6fdyotp5nj2l7 · 23-05-2019 7:22pm

kunekunesika wrote:

Broke the rule when I had an infant and curious fox about at the same time.

Would they be a danger to children ?

kunekunesika · 23-05-2019 8:30pm

Anastasia Greasy Cattle wrote: »

Would they be a danger to children ?

Plenty of cases, stories, urban myths etc where fox went into room where infant was. Mostly urban foxes. The fox in our case had been met with his nose inside the kitchen door having a sniff round (never see similar before or since). So after the shortest discussion ever, I was informed the fox had to go. Just not a chance worth taking in our case. Infant was days old and house doors are always open during the summer. Another time he would been left to his own business.

Zenify · 23-05-2019 8:39pm

I live in a 3 bed semi in Templeogue. Dont think shooting it is an option... I have a 22 mag that hasn't come out of the safe in about 6 years. thanks for all the advice. I think I'll give it one last chance.

kunekunesika · 23-05-2019 8:43pm

Zenify wrote: »

I live in a 3 bed semi in Templeogue. Dont think shooting it is an option... I have a 22 mag that hasn't come out of the safe in about 6 years. thanks for all the advice. I think I'll give it one last chance.

Certainly not with the 22 mag,, pcp maybe. Are you sure it's a fox, and not a neighbours cat? Good luck with what whatever you try

RoscommonTom · 23-05-2019 8:46pm

poisoned sausages are the best bet,

Zenify · 23-05-2019 9:01pm

RoscommonTom wrote: »

poisoned sausages are the best bet,

I'm capable of a lot of things but poision wouldn't be one of them.

g6fdyotp5nj2l7 · 23-05-2019 10:08pm

kunekunesika wrote:

Plenty of cases, stories, urban myths etc where fox went into room where infant was. Mostly urban foxes. The fox in our case had been met with his nose inside the kitchen door having a sniff round (never see similar before or since). So after the shortest discussion ever, I was informed the fox had to go. Just not a chance worth taking in our case. Infant was days old and house doors are always open during the summer. Another time he would been left to his own business.

God he was a cheeky beggar, too right he had to go. Would they take on a dog if cornered ?

Cass · 23-05-2019 10:18pm

RoscommonTom wrote: »

poisoned sausages are the best bet,

Illegal to do that:

4. (1) A person shall not place, cause to be placed or permit to be placed or have with him or her any poisoned or anaesthetic bait that is animal or contains animal substance or other animal derivative in any place to capture, kill, poison, stupefy, anaesthetise, harm or injure or where it is likely to capture, kill, poison, stupefy, anaesthetise, harm or injure

Eddie B · 24-05-2019 7:11am

Zenify wrote: »

I live in a 3 bed semi in Templeogue. Dont think shooting it is an option... I have a 22 mag that hasn't come out of the safe in about 6 years. thanks for all the advice. I think I'll give it one last chance.

Ok your only real option is to deter it. Have you tried human hair placed in tights, and hung around the pen? Your local hair dressers has loads of it. My brother finds that works pretty well for him.

Also, an electric fence will keep him out, but they are costly. You can go down the live cage rout if all else fails, but the problem is, what do you do with the trapped fox, apart from as you say, release it again, and hope for the best.

Question, how is the fox getting into your garden? Is there anything you could do to keep it out altogether. I know its a hard task, for they are good climbers/diggers, but it may be an option.

Hoboo · 24-05-2019 7:25am

Damoeire33 wrote: »

Hi & welcome

As a hen owner also I would strongly advise that you shoot the fox/foxes. Eventually it will get in and kill every hen you have. Ask me how I know....
They are oppornuinst feeders and will take an easy meal no matter what.

Foxes are vermin and the countryside is over run with them in my opinion. Ive shot 12 foxes in 1 field at the back of my house the past 3 months. That should give you an idea on numbers.
Its fairly likely its not just 1 fox visiting either

Try being over run with rats and mice when the foxes are all gone, then youll know what vermin are.

Sounds more like you use the hens for bait if you're shooting a fox a week.

Btw, how do you know?

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Capturing a fox

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