Leeds City Council does not offer a service in relation to foxes, however there are steps you can take to help prevent or deal with a problem with foxes yourself
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Keep all rubbish and waste in a tightly sealed bin
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Do not continue to feed birds / other wildlife so as to not provide attraction for the foxes
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Ensure that all holes in garden fencing are fixed and place wire mesh across any gaps
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Foxes immensely dislike strong odours. Soak rags in something strong smelling such as diesel and hang it where the fox is entering the garden, this will help discourage them
The fox is an opportunist which has adapted perfectly to urban and suburban environments. It is a small member of the canine family, an omnivore that will eat practically anything. Its diet includes worms, beetles, berries, carrion, small rodents, rabbits and birds. Although an efficient predator, it is basically lazy and will not bother with elusive prey where scavenging might produce an easier meal. Larger items it takes and buries to insure against future hard times when food may be sparse.
Fox screams often wake and scare people, but they are no more than fox conversations. This is usually only problematic for short periods during autumn, when juveniles are dispersing, and in the breeding season, between Christmas and early February.
Concern is sometimes expressed over too many foxes being present in an area. The population, like that of all carnivores, is self regulating and limited by the amount of food and territory available. Cubs born simply replace the number of adults lost since the previous breeding season. Foxes are loners, not pack animals, and the family usually disperses by late autumn.
Foxes will take livestock such as chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs if they are not properly secured, but are unlikely to threaten cats, dogs or humans, all of which are more than a match for an adult fox. The fact that they often appear unafraid of humans has more to do with the fact they know how slowly humans can move, and how fast they can move if they have to!
As foxes search for food, garden damage may occur, particularly as fish, blood and bone meal fertilisers can be confused with buried food. Most garden damage can easily be prevented by using chemical repellents which move foxes on humanely.
Foxes are protected under a series of wildlife protection laws against poisoning, gassing, asphyxiating, maiming, stabbing, impaling, drowning, clubbing and snaring, with anyone carrying out such acts subject to 6 months imprisonment and/or £5,000 fine per animal.” *
* Courtesy of www.foxproject.org.uk
For further information about foxes please refer to the National Fox Welfare Society at http://www.nfws.org.uk