Anyone trap Foxes?

[secuono]

I need help and tips on catching foxes. They have several den holes on our property and are always lurking. My lambs will be small enough for them to kill and the barn is actually in the middle of a den hole triangle....
I heard it this morning at 4AM looking for more ducks to kill. Not sure if it got any chickens, yet.
Buying a huge trap today, help me!

 

[Cricket]

They are boogers! I would contact your state trappers association-fox are pretty cagey and hard to trap even for a professional. Seems as though their pelt would be worth the most this time of year, too, and better than trapping in the spring when they have their babies.

 

[quiltnchik]

They are boogers! I would contact your state trappers association-fox are pretty cagey and hard to trap even for a professional. Seems as though their pelt would be worth the most this time of year, too, and better than trapping in the spring when they have their babies.

We contacted our state trappers and they wanted $125 just to set the trap, and another $50-$75 just to remove the fox from the trap, depending on its color!

 

[daisychick]

I have tried to trap a few foxes that patrol my place for the past 5 years. I can't catch the darn things!!! They are really really smart and have never even tried to go in our traps no matter what bait I use. My best defense I have had is to let my black lab out every evening and she goes around sniffing and peeing around the property. I think her scent is keeping them back a bit. I still see them every once in a while but I haven't lost any chickens in the past 2 years. I have no idea how to catch the foxes. We were given permission by the game warden to shoot it, but I swear the foxes know when we have the gun and they stay away. Good luck. I have to lock up every creature at night so I don't have any losses.

 

[secuono]

I've seen shows where they use large cages, 15x15x48 or even coyote cages to trap them. They fill the inside with leaves and cover the outside with more leaves, sticks and branches. One I got is the 15x15x48.

I'm hoping to put it down near a huge tree close to the creek at the back of the property. I'm hoping my pony won't play with it. He played with the smaller one last time and really, anything he can reach is a giant play toy, even lawn mowers.

Going to use some smoked ham to get him in, don't really have anything else. Do they eat eggs? What else could I put in there? I have loads of fresh chicken feathers I can put into the cage so it smells like a bird is in there.


Will a fox return 'home' if I release it miles away??

 

[redtailgal]

It may help to collect some dirt from the area that you plan to set the trap, then paint the trap the same color as the dirt (or as close to it as you can), and while the paint is wet, sprinkle the dirt onto the wet paint.

Cheap wet cat food is a good thing to use in traps, it really really has a strong odor.

Here is another option that works pretty good with foxes and coyotes. It's gonna sound preety strange.

Have your "menfolk" urinate in a 20 ounce bottle and then tke that bottle and "mark their territory". Wildlife doesnt typicaly challenge the scent of man, and chooses to avoid the area instead (esp fox, coyote and deer). You can even take this bottle full of man-urine (sorry ladies, yours doesnt stink enough)....and put a few small holes inthe bottom of the bottle for a "drip can".

We have had alot of coyotes. I am fortunate enough to have three "menfolk". They "marked" the posts in our goat pasture and just last week I saw a coyote come up to our fence, sniff, and leave quickly with its tail between it's legs.

We also used this method when I had chickens, "marking" the bottom of the fence. I never lost a single bird to a predator, despite having a family of foxes living less than a quarter mile from the coop. (I must add the the dog kennel is right next to the coop, but the dogs are inside at night).

OK, so it sounds gross. But, it works. A gal's gotta do what a gals gotta do. My menfolk all roll their eyes when I hand them a 20 ounce bottle. (yeah, if you try this, dont use Mountain dew bottles, we ALMOST had a catastrophe once)

 

[secuono]

Eww...


I would let my dog out, but he chases the sheep. He was out in the big yard, though while I was working.

 

[Cricket]

[
. My menfolk all roll their eyes when I hand them a 20 ounce bottle.

I never thought of bottling it! I bought a 6 pack of beer, waited 'til a few were 'gone', and then broached the marking plan. 3 fence post later, we were laughing too hard to finish the rounds.

I wonder if fox would bother lambs if they're with their moms? We, too, have to lock up chickens at night, but in spring the fox come around in daytime. One of my dogs is quite consistent with patrolling, and that seems to have been doing the trick for the last 2 years. Let us know how the trapping goes! In Vermont, it is illegal to transport trapped animals (a rabies prevention thing). It's a lot easier emotionally to shoot something running off with your hen in it's mouth than it is to shoot something in a trap. Good Luck!

 

[MonsterMalak]

My experience with coyotes and fox brought me to the eventual conclusion that nothing works as good as a LGD.

Fox and Coyotes are SMART. You might catch a few, but the others will learn from that. And they remember.
I have used Electric fence, steel traps, snares, beaver traps, box traps, posion, shooting and everything I can think of.

But problem is that even if you do get them,,, you have created a void in the territory that is filled by the surrounding coyotes or fox.
So at best, you have 2-4 weeks of saftey.

A good LGD will keep 100% of EVERYTHING away all the time. And they work for cheap.

Less risk of collateral dammage with the traps, like catching your neighbors cat or dog, or your own lambs.

Takes time to get and train a dog, but will function for 8-12 years.

Just my opinion,,, after loosing so much to varmits for many years, to never loosing anything for years.

 

[secuono]

Problem with dogs is finding a real working dog breeder and not all the pampered 'show' dogs or garbage dogs people breed just for money. Then the price, making it a kennel while it grows up, keeping my dog away from it, getting the fiance to agree to another dog[we aren't fans of dogs/cats anymore though we have 2 of each], finding money to spay/neuter, keep up shots, etc.
If I could get my dog to stop attacking my sheep, I would have him out there to keep them away, but then in rain/snow or freezing weather, he is a short haired spoiled dog that can only do so much.