AboutStephen Vantassel Expertise I was a professional animal damage controller. If you are having problems with squirrels, raccoons, beavers, moles, voles, etc. damaging your property, I can help give you information to resolve that damage. I was an assistant editor for Wildlife Control Technology magazine and have published numerous articles as well as two books in this field.
Experience former Assistant Editor of Wildlife Control Technology magazine, the nation's only exclusive professional magazine for animal damage controllers. I have published two books, the Wildlife Removal Handbook and the Wildlife Damage Inspection Handbook.
Question There is a family of red fox living under my neighbors shed, but they seem to
like my yard at night, they are trampling my flower gardens & digging holes,
at first I thought they were cute but they are starting to upset me, is there
anything I can do to keep them away?
Answer Foxes can be kept out of gardens through fencing. Fencing would need to be at least 4 feet high and preferably angled outward to reduce likelihood of them jumping it. However, the fence top would still need to be 4 feet off the grouund.
Electric fencing can be effective as well. Just be sure it is legal in your area.
Controlling the food sources for the fox would also help. No food means no foxes. I suspect you have plenty of mice, voles and other undesirable rodents around. Learn how to control them at http://icwdm.org/handbook/rodents/HouseMice.asp .
Trapping is also effective. Be sure it is legal in your state first. Visit http://www.icwdm.org/VendorsService/default1.asp for links to your state agency. You can also find information on how to hire a professional there if you wish to go that route. Be sure to read our tips on what to look for in a professional very carefully. It’s easy to claim one is a professional but few actually are.
We are always looking for images (if you can safely take them) of wildlife damage to help us in our educational mission. Tips on taking better photos can be found at http://www.icwdm.org/Photos/shootingphotos.asp We prefer high resolution, (3 mg or higher). Send to svantassel2@unl.edu or if your e-mail can’t handle large files upload to http://members.icwdm.org
Username use all caps. ICWDM
Password (all lower case) guest
Please include permission to use the images and where and when the photos were taken. Month/year is fine as is county or city and state.
Disclaimer: As with any activity, remember that animal damage control comes with its own risks and problems which can include but are not limited to legalities, health threats, and personal liabilities. Be sure to follow all state laws governing wildlife and make sure you have a thorough understanding on how to resolve the animal damage complaint. My advice is only as good as your understanding of me and my understanding of your situation. If you have any questions be sure to write back.
