Fox digging up the beds

[albert onglebod]

Any ideas to keep a fox from digging in the veg?
I dont think its eating the veg,it must be after insects or slow worms or something.
This morning there was a big hole in the carrot bed and yesterday one of the sweetcorn plants was just uprooted.It also likes the onion bed and the herb bed.Do they eat slugs as we have a lot this year and maybe the slugs like the aromatic plants so that's where the fox is digging.
I really need a method of deterrence as the fox has lived in next doors garden for years but the veg patch is a new thing.

[Camile]

Good morning ..

One of my old neighbor told me that if you leave some dirty smelly socks at a few places in your veg patch .. the human smell so could them off ...

At least I believe it's worth a try ..

Good luck .
Camile

[peckhamcottage]

I've considered this problem trying to keep Foxes away from my chickens. Although I havn't tried the idea, Human urine (I think it is better if it is male) is meant to keep them away. You could apply this directly or perhaps experiment with an open container or a rag.

I would be interested to hear if this works

good luck

[eeksypeeksy]

Are you using a new fertilizer or something else that a fox might find attractive? I've read that things like fruit, compost, and bone meal can attract them.

If the fox were digging in specific spots, or if you valued certain spots more than you value others, you could try laying a strong wire mesh over those parts of the garden to allow plants to grow up through it but prevent paws from digging down. Or if you own a wire mesh factory, I suppose you could lay a gigantic grid down over your entire property.

Also, is it better to have (A) a fox digging in your vegetables or (B) a man wandering around peeing on everything and leaving his dirty socks lying about? Because if it's B, I'll have to tell the wife I'm not as useless as she claims. I'm not just repellant, I'm fox repellant.

[albert onglebod]

Well I can easily get hold of some smelly socks so I'll give that one a go.
OH is always moaning that his socks dissappear so he wont notice a thing.

[Camile]

Hi Albert ..

Fill in the socks with some humain hairs and they should'nt come anymore ..

Good luck .
Camile

[eeksypeeksy]

Fox in socks, our game is done, sir.
Thank you for a lot of fun, sir.

[Hillbilly]

oops meant to post new thread! sorry :-(

[hedgewizard]

Foxes are bold and cunning, and not a bit afraid of you. Unless the fox is actually trying to bury something* he should go off the idea in a bit. I'd wait and see, myself.

*such as the back half of a rabbit, a frequent occurance around here!

[albert onglebod]

I havent managed to purloin any smelly socks so weve put up a scarecrow in the hope that it puts him/her off the veg patch.Its all plasticky and flappy so it might help. Certainly I havent seen any more holes since it went up but then it wasnt digging them every day.

[DebbieP]

You could get a electronic fox repeller, it's not strictly self sufficient as it's battery powered, but you can also get a mains adapter - I reckon it wouldn't use much electricity as the batteries last for quite a while, so it could easily be powered by a wind turbine or solar panel.

It basically sends out a high pitched noise that's triggered by the fox (or cat) walking past, my mum's got one outside her chickens and hasn't had a problem since!! http://www.primrose-london.co.uk/fox-re ... -1251.html

Worth it I reckon, she tried all sorts before getting it and nothing worked!!

[Davy]

to stop rabbits, foxes and my dog from going through the veg i put a 2ft high fence up with some chicken wire

[MuddyWitch]

Davy,
Sorry to be a wet blanket but our urban foxes often climb over our 6ft Greyhound-proof fencing
MW

[Millymollymandy]

Davy do you have a very small dog?

[urbanwookie]

Using socks to keep away a fox?

Is this some kind of sympathetic magic approach; use something that rhymes with the thing you're trying to deter?

Would putting a chair in the veg plot keep hares out but not work on rabbits? :c)

rb