# Ideas for Fox repellant **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 19, 2010, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-for-fox-repellant/543772 "2010-06-19T12:58:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2010, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-for-fox-repellant/543772/1 "2010-06-19T12:58:48Z")
Where live in an urban area we have a fox (maybe several) who rip up bags of rubbish in our yard looking for food. Has anyone some ideas on a scent that would keep them away ? I’m thinking maybe lemon or onion but don’t really know if that will attract them or repel them. The fox concerned is a bog standard British urban fox. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Drew\_Kit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Drew\_Kit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drew_Kit)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2010, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-for-fox-repellant/543772/2 "2010-06-19T15:31:17Z")
It would be interesting trying dung from you nearest zoo, perhaps lion or wolf or bear. I know all horses are instinctively terrified of lion dung. At worst itwould fertilise your garden or scare everything away. ---
**Author:** ![Paragonkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c0e974/32.png) [@Paragonkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paragonkid)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2010, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-for-fox-repellant/543772/3 "2010-06-20T03:31:16Z")
> [@Drew\_Kit](#): > > It would be interesting trying dung from you nearest zoo, perhaps lion or wolf or bear. I know all horses are instinctively terrified of lion dung. At worst itwould fertilise your garden or scare everything away. I doubt you would be able to convince a zoo to give you their animal’s wastes, but you never know! On the other hand, dog urine or dung might work. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2010, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-for-fox-repellant/543772/4 "2010-06-20T07:05:31Z")
Jon Stewart. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Drew\_Kit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Drew\_Kit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drew_Kit)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2010, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-for-fox-repellant/543772/5 "2010-06-20T11:43:12Z")
> [@Paragonkid](#): > > I doubt you would be able to convince a zoo to give you their animal’s wastes, but you never know! On the other hand, dog urine or dung might work. Nah, I’ve seen foxes attack a chicken coop adjoined to a husky kennel, which is why I’m not sure if even wolf or tiger dung would scare them. Zoos don’t give you their dung, but they do sell it if you phone up. In fact a [safari park puts theirs shit on EBay](http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article636004.ece). ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2010, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-for-fox-repellant/543772/6 "2010-06-20T23:55:27Z")
We feed the fox that come here. they are fun to watch. Cheap dog food and table scraps. You will get the odd, possum, skunk, raccoon, coyote and wild dog but is is cheap, fun and your kitties do not get eaten nor your trash torn up. Or you could get a proper rubbish bin & lid that even a bear can’t open and your problem is solved… YMMV ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-for-fox-repellant/543772/7 "2010-06-21T00:05:05Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > Jon Stewart. 😃 Bastard…beat me to it. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-for-fox-repellant/543772/8 "2010-06-21T02:21:11Z")
> [@GusNSpot](#): > > We feed the fox that come here. they are fun to watch. Cheap dog food and table scraps. You will get the odd, possum, skunk, raccoon, coyote and wild dog but is is cheap, fun and your kitties do not get eaten nor your trash torn up. > > Or you could get a proper rubbish bin & lid that even a bear can’t open and your problem is solved… > > YMMV We’ve got a fox problem in my area and they seem to have no problems eating cats (or maybe it was the remains of a small dog I came across, hard to tell). ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-for-fox-repellant/543772/9 "2010-06-21T06:25:42Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > We’ve got a fox problem in my area and they seem to have no problems eating cats (or maybe it was the remains of a small dog I came across, hard to tell). I think the idea was that if the foxes are sated from eating dogfood, they won’t bother to attack pets. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-for-fox-repellant/543772/10 "2010-06-21T11:01:45Z")
I don’t know about satiating the foxes, they’re getting plenty of food one way or another from humans but they’re still decimating the national songbird population. Thanks for the ideas but I don’t think that having carnivore dung (which IME tends to have a rather pungent and unpleasant smell) outside my front door would be much nicer then the aftermath of hungry foxes. As to getting myself a bearproof container for my rubbish, our local refuse disposal operatives, or dustmen as we know them around here, refuse to pick up plastic bags that pensioners have put out for collection because they’re too heavy and R.D.O.s might strain their backs. But thanks for the ideas. I think that we need a licence or something this side of the pond to trap or kill them so its back to the think tank I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![UncleFred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f0a364/32.png) [@UncleFred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleFred)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-for-fox-repellant/543772/11 "2010-06-21T11:39:33Z")
SWAG ; Try sprinkling some crushed red pepper on the bags. It seems to have kept the woodchucks out of my garden. Maybe it will work for other animals. ---
**Author:** ![BobC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@BobC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobC)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-for-fox-repellant/543772/12 "2010-06-21T12:18:09Z")
I have an electronic cat repeller that is supposed to work on any small mammal, it certainly works on cats , cost about 15 gbp from amazon . > **[Defenders STV610 Mega-Sonic Cat Repeller, Motion Activated Cat Repellent, Mains...](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Defenders-Mega-Sonic-Repeller-Ultrasonic-Deterrent/dp/B000NR8Q1U)** > > Defenders STV610 Mega-Sonic Cat Repeller, Motion Activated Cat Repellent, Mains and Battery Powered, Green, 120 sq m : Amazon.co.uk: Pet Supplies ---
**Author:** ![JFLuvly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ac91a4/32.png) [@JFLuvly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JFLuvly)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-for-fox-repellant/543772/13 "2010-06-21T13:24:02Z")
Shoot them with a paintball gun. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Duality](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.duality/32/4098_2.png) [@Mr.Duality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Duality)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-for-fox-repellant/543772/14 "2010-06-21T13:30:38Z")
Cayenne pepper or strong curry powder sprinkled liberally in the immediate vicinity. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-for-fox-repellant/543772/15 "2010-06-21T13:38:59Z")
> [@GusNSpot](#): > > We feed the fox that come here. they are fun to watch. Cheap dog food and table scraps. You will get the odd, possum, skunk, raccoon, coyote and wild dog but is is cheap, fun and your kitties do not get eaten nor your trash torn up. ``` This is not a good idea. You're making the situation worse by attracting even more scavengers and allowing them to become dependant on you for food. ``` > [@GusNSpot](#): > > Or you could get a proper rubbish bin & lid that even a bear can’t open and your problem is solved… This is the only plausible solution. If there is no available food source they will move on. Of course, all your neighbours must also keep their food waste, etc. secure. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-for-fox-repellant/543772/16 "2010-06-21T13:44:37Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > We’ve got a fox problem in my area and they seem to have no problems eating cats (or maybe it was the remains of a small dog I came across, hard to tell). … I think you might have a coyote problem, not a fox problem. Foxes are only as large as a cat themselves, and not prone to group coordination. A fight with one would be potentially lethal to both parties. And I have a real problem with the concept of foxes eating cats. I doubt they even could. Foxes prey pretty much exclusively on nuts, berries, mice, and small birds. I’m also really curious as to how foxes are getting to these bags anyway. It should be easy to put them out of a fox’s practical reach. They’re not mighty climbers, though they can jump decently. ---
**Author:** ![BobC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@BobC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobC)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-for-fox-repellant/543772/17 "2010-06-21T14:30:00Z")
Headline “Scarred and bandaged, but smiling again: Twins savaged by wild fox as they lay in their cots pose in first family photo since bloody attack” Read more: [Twins savaged by fox pose in first family photo since bloody attack | Daily Mail Online](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1288175/Twins-savaged-fox-pose-family-photo-bloody-attack.html?ITO=1490#ixzz0rUz07bQQ) ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-for-fox-repellant/543772/18 "2010-06-21T20:13:49Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#): > > … > > I think you might have a coyote problem, not a fox problem. Foxes are only as large as a cat themselves, and not prone to group coordination. A fight with one would be potentially lethal to both parties. And I have a real problem with the concept of foxes eating cats. I doubt they even could. Foxes prey pretty much exclusively on nuts, berries, mice, and small birds. > > I’m also really curious as to how foxes are getting to these bags anyway. It should be easy to put them out of a fox’s practical reach. They’re not mighty climbers, though they can jump decently. Not sure they have many coyotes in England. 😉 That said, your other points are valid. OP, have you _seen_ the foxes? It’s quite probable that wild or feral dogs are ripping up your trash. Er, rubbish, excuse me. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-for-fox-repellant/543772/19 "2010-06-22T01:12:48Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#): > > … > > I think you might have a coyote problem, not a fox problem. Foxes are only as large as a cat themselves, and not prone to group coordination. A fight with one would be potentially lethal to both parties. And I have a real problem with the concept of foxes eating cats. I doubt they even could. Foxes prey pretty much exclusively on nuts, berries, mice, and small birds. > > I’m also really curious as to how foxes are getting to these bags anyway. It should be easy to put them out of a fox’s practical reach. They’re not mighty climbers, though they can jump decently. You could be right but foxes are bigger than cats. I can’t find the most recent attack on video but here’s a grainy [video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGvOrNlhmMI)of one attacking someone. I do know for a fact the neighborhood has foxes because I’ve seen them. Nobody has reported seeing or hearing coyotes yet but they are in surrounding farm land. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-for-fox-repellant/543772/20 "2010-06-22T04:52:53Z")
The cats lay around within 10 feet of the foxes while they eat. They mostly ignore each other. We have one cranky old white female that chased one fox off. We do have one older & bigger fox that might not run but he only comes late in the night & we have not seen him this year and also we keep the cats put up during darkness. There are bobcats and big owls that will take a cat and of course dogs & coyotes that might get them before they could get to a tree if they were not paying attention. Biggest danger is drivers going too fast on our dirt road… I live trap a lot of the skunks, raccoons and possums and relocate except for one old he-coon that is way too smart to get caught. As long as he escapes me, I’ll keep feeding him… it is like a contest between us. We are on top of a mountain and we do not try to get rid of the critters and as so feeding them does us and them no real harm as they get a lot of human food from the visitors to the state park that is here. Big difference from England… YMMV [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-for-fox-repellant/543772.md?page=2)