Foxes
Fox Facts
Identification
The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is the most
common of the foxes native to North
America. Most depredation problems
are associated with red foxes, although
in some areas gray foxes (Urocyon
cinereoargenteus) can cause problems.
Few damage complaints have been
associated with the swift fox (V. velox),
kit fox (V. macrotis), or Arctic fox
(Alopex lagopus).
The red fox is dog-like in appearance,
with an elongated pointed muzzle and
large pointed ears that are usually
erect and forward. It has moderately
long legs and long, thick, soft body fur
with a heavily furred, bushy tail (Fig.
1). Typically, red foxes are colored
with a light orange-red coat, black legs,
lighter-colored underfur and a whitetipped
tail. Silver and cross foxes are
color phases of the red fox. In North
America the red fox weighs about 7.7
to 15.4 pounds (3.5 to 7.0 kg), with
males on average 2.2 pounds (1 kg)
heavier than females.
Gray foxes weigh 7 to 13 pounds (3.2
to 5.9 kg) and measure 32 to 45 inches
(81 to 114 cm) from the nose to the tip
of the tail (Fig. 1). The color pattern is
generally salt-and-pepper gray with
buffy underfur. The sides of the neck,
back of the ears, legs, and feet are
rusty yellow. The tail is long and
bushy with a black tip.
Other species of foxes present in North
America are the Arctic fox, swift fox,
and kit fox. These animals are not usually
associated with livestock and
poultry depredation because they typically
eat small rodents and lead a
secretive life in remote habitats away
from people, although they may cause
site-specific damage problems.
Range
Red foxes occur over most of North
America, north and east from southern
California, Arizona, and central Texas.
They are found throughout most of the
United States with the exception of a
few isolated areas.
Habitat
The red fox is adaptable to most
habitats within its range, but usually
prefers open country with moderate
cover. Some of the highest fox densities
reported are in the north-central
United States, where woodlands are
interspersed with farmlands. The
range of the red fox has expanded in
recent years to fill habitats formerly
occupied by coyotes (Canis latrans).
The reduction of coyote numbers in
many sagebrush/grassland areas of
Montana and Wyoming has resulted
in increased fox numbers. Red foxes
have also demonstrated their adaptability
by establishing breeding populations
in many urban areas of the
United States, Canada, and Europe.
Gray foxes prefer more dense cover
such as thickets, riparian areas, swamp
land, or rocky pinyon-cedar ridges. In
eastern North America, this species is
closely associated with edges of
deciduous forests. Gray foxes can also
be found in urban areas where suitable
habitat exists.
Food Habits
Foxes are opportunists, feeding mostly
on rabbits, mice, bird eggs, insects, and
native fruits. Foxes usually kill animals
smaller than a rabbit, although fawns,
pigs, kids, lambs, and poultry are
sometimes taken. The fox’s keen hearing,
vision, and sense of smell aid in
detecting prey. Foxes stalk even the
smallest mice with skill and patience.
The stalk usually ends with a sudden
pounce onto the prey. Red foxes sometimes
kill more than they can eat and
bury food in caches for later use. All
foxes feed on carrion (animal carcasses)
at times.
General Biology,
Reproduction, and
Behavior
Foxes are crepuscular animals, being
most active during the early hours of
darkness and very early morning
hours. They do move about during the
day, however, especially when it is
dark and overcast.
Foxes are solitary animals except from
the winter breeding season through
midsummer, when mates and their
young associate closely. Foxes have a
wide variety of calls. They may bark,
scream, howl, yap, growl, or make
sounds similar to a hiccup. During
winter a male will often give a yelling
bark, “wo-wo-wo,” that seems to be
important in warning other male foxes
not to intrude on its territory. Red
foxes may dig their own dens or use
abandoned burrows of a woodchuck
or badger. The same dens may be used
for several generations. Gray foxes
commonly use wood piles, rocky outcrops,
hollow trees, or brush piles as
den sites. Foxes use their urine and
feces to mark their territories.
Mating in red foxes normally occurs
from mid-January to early February.
At higher latitudes (in the Arctic) mating
occurs from late February to early
March. Estrus in the vixen lasts 1 to 6
days, followed by a 51- to 53-day gestation
period. Fox pups can be born
from March in southern areas to May
in the arctic zones. Red foxes generally
produce 4 to 9 pups. Gray foxes usually
have 3 to 7 pups per litter. Arctic
foxes may have from 1 to 14 pups, but
usually have 5 or 6. Foxes disperse
from denning areas during the fall
months and establish breeding areas in
vacant territories, sometimes dispersing
considerable distances.
Damage and Damage
Identification
Foxes may cause serious problems for
poultry producers. Turkeys raised in
large range pens are subject to damage
by foxes. Losses may be heavy in small
farm flocks of chickens, ducks, and
geese. Young pigs, lambs, and small
pets are also killed by foxes. Damage
can be difficult to detect because the
prey is usually carried from the kill site
to a den site, or uneaten parts are
buried. Foxes usually attack the throat
of young livestock, but some kill by inflicting
multiple bites to the neck and
back. Foxes do not have the size or
strength to hold adult livestock or to
crush the skull and large bones of their
prey. They generally prefer the viscera
and often begin feeding through an
entry behind the ribs. Foxes will also
scavenge carcasses, making the actual
cause of death difficult to determine.
Pheasants, waterfowl, other game
birds, and small game mammals are
also preyed upon by foxes. At times,
fox predation may be a significant
mortality factor for upland and wetland
birds, including some endangered
species.
Rabies outbreaks are most prevalent
among red foxes in southeastern
Canada and occasionally in the eastern
United States. The incidence of rabies
in foxes has declined substantially
since the mid-1960s for unexplained
reasons. In 1990, there were only 197
reported cases of fox rabies in the
United States as compared to 1,821 for
raccoons and 1,579 for skunks. Rabid
foxes are a threat to humans, domestic
animals, and wildlife.
Legal Status
Foxes in the United States are listed as
furbearers or given some status as
game animals by most state governments.
Most states allow for the taking
of foxes to protect private property.
Check with your state wildlife agency
for regulations before undertaking fox
control measures.
Damage Prevention and
Control Methods
Exclusion
Construct net wire fences with openings
of 3 inches (8 cm) or less to exclude
red foxes. Bury the bottom of the
fence 1 to 2 feet (0.3 m to 0.9 m) with
an apron of net wire extending at least
12 inches (30 cm) outward from the
bottom. A top or roof of net wire may
also be necessary to exclude all foxes,
since some will readily climb a fence.
A 3-wire electric fence with wires
spaced 6 inches, 12 inches, and 18
inches (15 cm, 31 cm, and 46 cm)
above the ground can repel red foxes.
Combination fences that incorporate
net and electric wires are also effective.
Cultural Methods
The protection of livestock and poultry
from fox depredation is most important
during the spring denning period
when adults are actively acquiring
prey for their young. Watch for signs
of depredation during the spring, especially
if there is a history of fox depredation.
Foxes, like other wild canids,
will often return to established denning
areas year after year. Foxes frequently
den in close proximity to
human habitation. Dens may be located
close to farm buildings, under
haystacks or patches of cover, or even
inside hog lots or small pastures used
for lambing. Because of the elusive
habits of foxes, dens in these locations
may not be noticed until excessive
depredations have occurred.
The practice of shed lambing and farrowing
in protected enclosures can be
useful in preventing fox depredation
on young livestock. Also, removal of
livestock carcasses from production
areas can make these areas less attractive
to predators.
Frightening
Foxes readily adapt to noise-making
devices such as propane exploders,
timed tape recordings, amplifiers, or
radios, but such devices may temporarily
reduce activity in an area.
Flashing lights, such as a rotating beacon
or strobe light, may also provide
temporary protection in relatively
small areas or in livestock or poultry
enclosures. Combinations of frightening
devices used at irregular intervals
should provide better protection than
use of a single device because animals
may have more difficulty in adapting
to these disturbances.
When properly trained, some breeds
of dog, such as Great Pyrenees and
Akbash dogs, have been useful in preventing
predation on sheep. The effectiveness
of dogs, even the “guard dog”
breeds, seems to depend entirely on
training and the individual disposition
of the dog.
Toxicants
The M-44®, a sodium cyanide mechanical
ejection device, is registered for
control of red and gray foxes Nationwide
by USDA-APHIS-ADC personnel,
and in some states by certified
pesticide applicators. Information on
the safe, effective use of sodium
cyanide is available from the appropriate
state agency charged with the registration
of pesticides. M-44s are
generally set along trails and at crossings
regularly used by foxes.
Fumigants
Gas cartridges made by USDAAPHIS-
ADC are registered for fumigating
the dens of coyotes, pocket
gophers, ground squirrels, and other
burrowing rodents. Special Local
Needs permits 24(c) are available in
North and South Dakota and
Nebraska for gas cartridge fumigation
of fox dens. State and local regulations
should be consulted before using den
fumigants.
Trapping
Trapping is a very effective and selective
control method. A great deal of
expertise is required to effectively trap
foxes. Trapping by inexperienced
people may serve to educate foxes,
making them very difficult to catch,
even by experienced trappers. Traps
suitable for foxes are the Nos. 1 1/2, 1
3/4, and 2 double coilspring trap and
the Nos. 2 and 3 double longspring
trap. Traps with offset and padded
jaws cause less injury to confined animals
and facilitate the release of nontarget
captures. State and provincial wildlife
agencies regulate the traps and sets
that can be used for trapping. Consult
your local agency personnel for
restrictions that pertain to your area.
Proper set location is important when
trapping foxes. Sets made along trails,
at entrances to fields, and near
carcasses are often most productive. Many different sets are successful,
and can minimize the risk of
nontarget capture. One of the best is
the dirt-hole set. Dig a hole
about 6 inches (15 cm) deep and 3
inches (8 cm) in diameter at a downward
angle just behind the spot where
the trap is to be placed. Four to five
drops of scent should be placed in the
back of the hole. Move back from the
bait hole and dig a hole 2 inches (5 cm)
deep that is large enough to accommodate
the trap and chain. Fasten the
trap chain to a trap stake with a chain
swivel and drive the stake directly
under the place where the trap is set.
Fold and place the chain under or
beside the trap. Set the trap about 1/2
inch (1.3 cm) below the ground. Adjust
the tension device on the trap to eliminate
the capture of lighter animals.
When the set is completed, the pan of
the trap should be approximately 5
inches (13 cm) from the entrance of the
hole with the pan slightly offset from
the center of the hole. Good locations for setting leghold traps for foxes:
Fenceline
Gateway
Trail
Haystack
Saddle
Pond
Dike
Carcass pile
A dirt-hole set showing proper trap placement.
the area between the jaws and over the
trap pan with a piece of waxed paper,
light canvas, or light screen wire. The
trap must be firmly placed so that it
does not move or wobble. The entire
trap should be covered lightly with
sifted soil up to the original ground
level.
Fox scents and lures can be homemade,
but this requires some knowledge
of scent making as described in
various trapping books. Commercial
trap scents can be purchased from
most trapping suppliers (see Supplies
and Materials). Experiment with various
baits and scents to discover the
combination of odors that will be most
appropriate for your area.
Equipment needed for trapping foxes
includes traps, a sifter with a 3/16- or
1/2-inch screen (0.5 or 1.3 cm), trap
stakes, trowel, gloves (which should
be used only for trapping), a 16- to 20-
ounce (448- to 560-g) carpenter’s hammer
with straight claws, and a bottle of
scent. Remove the factory oil finish on
the traps by boiling the traps in water
and vinegar or by burying the traps in
moist soil for one to two weeks until
lightly rusted. The traps should then
be dyed with commercially available
trap dye to prevent further corrosion.
Do not allow the traps and other trapping
equipment to come in contact
with gasoline, oil, or other strongsmelling
and contaminating materials.
Cleanliness of equipment is absolutely
necessary for consistent trapping
success.
Cage traps are sometimes effective for
capturing juvenile red foxes living in
urban areas. It is uncommon to trap an
adult red fox in a cage or a box trap;
however, kit and swift foxes can be
readily captured using this method.
Snares made from 1/16-inch, 5/64-
inch, and 3/32-inch (0.15 cm, 0.2 cm,
and 0.25 cm) cable can be very effective
for capturing both red and gray
foxes. Snares are generally set in trails
or in crawl holes (under fences) that
are frequented by foxes. The standard
loop size for foxes is about 6 inches (15
cm) with the bottom of the loop about
10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm) above
ground level (Fig. 7). Trails leading to
Fig. 7. Properly set neck snare for foxes.
and from den sites and to carcasses
being fed on by foxes make excellent
locations for snares.
Shooting
Harvest of foxes by sport hunters and
fur trappers is another method of reducing
fox populations in areas where
damage is occurring. Livestock and
poultry producers who have predation
problems during the late fall and winter
can sometimes find private fur
trappers willing to hunt or trap foxes
around loss sites. Depredations are
usually most severe, however, during
the spring when furs are not saleable,
and it is difficult to interest private
trappers at that time.
Artificial rabbit distress calls can be
used to decoy foxes to within rifle or
shotgun range. Select a spot that faces
into the wind, at the edge of a clearing
or under a bush on a slight rise where
visibility is good. Blow the call at 1/2-
to 1-minute intervals, with each call
lasting 5 to 10 seconds. If a fox appears,
remain motionless and do not
move the rifle or shotgun until ready
to shoot. If a fox does not appear in
about 20 minutes, move to a new spot
and call again.
Aerial hunting can be used in some
western states to remove problem
foxes. This activity is closely regulated
and is usually limited to USDAAPHIS-
ADC personnel or individuals
with special permits from the state
regulatory agency.
Den Hunting
Fox depredations often increase during
the spring whelping season.
Damage may be reduced or even
eliminated by locating and removing
the young foxes from the den. Locate
fox dens by observing signs of fox
activity and by careful observation
during the early and late hours of the
day when adult foxes are moving
about in search of food. Preferred denning
sites are usually on a low rise
facing a southerly direction. When fox
pups are several weeks old, they will
spend time outside the den in the early
morning and evening hours. They
leave abundant signs of their presence,
such as matted vegetation and remnants
of food, including bits of bone,
feathers, and hair. Frequently used
den sites have a distinctive odor.
Fox pups may be removed by trapping
or by fumigating the den with gas cartridges
if they are registered for your
area. In some situations it may be
desirable to remove the pups without
killing them. The mechanical wire ferret
has proved to be effective in chasing
the pups from the den without
harming them. This device consists of
a long piece of smooth spring steel
wire with a spring and wooden plug at
one end and a handle at the other. This
wire is twisted through the den passageways,
chasing foxes out of other
den openings where they can be captured
by hand or with dip nets. Small
dogs are sometimes trained to retrieve
pups unharmed from dens. Wire-cage
box traps placed in the entrance of the
den can also be useful for capturing
young foxes.
*The above information was taken from a University of Nebraska Web site with
express permission of Stephen Vatassel, wildlife damage project coordinator.
Let United Wildlife's Fox Experts control your situation.
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