Over the last few weeks I have been noticing small holes in my lawn. They are about 2-3 inches diameter and a couple of inches deep. They are easy to spot because there is usually a tuft of dug out grass by the side.

I thought it was the magpies digging for grubs etc but last night I was up a bit late and around midnight I heard the CCTV recorder clicking on and off a lot so I first switched the screen on and then looked out of the window. I saw the culprit - a fox. Bold as brass it was roaming up and down the lawn and every so often it would scratch the surface and dig a bit.

Sure, I could "shoo" it away but no doubt it will be back if the problem has been going on for a few weeks.

Questions

What on earth can it be digging for? There will undoubtedly be the odd beetle or grub in the lawn but that is hardly a meal for a fox. There is no sign of mice in the lawn and no moles or the like.

How to I deter the thing? I will guess that often it visits very late at night or in the early hours so personal involvement is not practical

Anybody else had this problem

- incidentally I an not located in a rural setting. I am towards the edge of the estate in Wallasey but there are lots of houses in the area.

Snod

Maybe its just marking the ground?

You can get pellets that smell horrid - Scent Off?

Ask the RSPCA?


I wouldn't recommend following the best answer from here

I would phone the RSPCA. I presume they won't be interested unless it is hurt but they might point you to the right people to talk to.

Or maybe a ranger from one of the parks, Wirral Country Park?

We have seen them around the roads off Egremont prom, when taking an evening walk.

we got that to keep the cats out,wast of money.

have you tried chilli pepper?

not yet will give that a go tried everythink eles

it worked on our front wall - i have to bleach it, then sprinkle it on - puts dogs off stopping for a wee on the wall.

A fox did this:



Bent a crossmember that had to be scrapped because it couldn't be straightened!

Why worry, sit back and enjoy nature, on the other hand if its joined by 100 hounds and 20 horses you have a problem.

I'd like to know where they all go during the daytime?

I think a 50cal might work nicely.

Stick o dinomite leading to a pressure pad?

Lend someone's large wrotweiler?

I hope this helps

Block gaps in fence, gates etc

Hummm

The lawn concerned is 90 ft x 20ft and the thing digs (seemingly) random places all over, so chilli pepper or any other material put down would be expensive / impractical

The house is on a corner and the lawn runs alongside one road - with just a 2 - 3 ft brick garden wall and a big double gate sized opening to the driveway. So, no way can we have a fence to keep it out. I have watched the b***r on the CCTV and it tends to come in through the driveway opening and leaves over the wall.

I handed my shotgun in years ago, anyway, to say the least using that is a wee bit impractical in a built up area.

I think I will try spreading the odd patch of something nasty smelling that I have ("old" Jeyes fluid before it went all Health & Safety approved) to some of the areas I have seen it visit more often. If I soak a rag in that stuff, tie it to a string and then walk up/ down the grass it should leave enough there to be a deterrent. It will not harm the grass because I have used it years before to clear leather jacket grubs out of a lawn. I know the smell will also likely deter the neighbours, although personally I quite like the carbolic smell.

Apart from that I guess I am stuck with the visits.

Snod

Ok this sounds stupid but I remembered something a friend done some time ago and just googled it! Human hair tied in socks or something similar around the garden. You can get it from a hair-dressers or barbers!
No harm in trying it?

I hear spiders don't like horse chestnuts, but that's a different matter

[youtube]dRIUMc5F8BU[/youtube]
Best advert in the world, for sure!!

Just a genuine thought, for a change, would a cat deterrent work with foxes? As in the contraptions people buy, to stick in their gardens, and they sound a very high pitched screech (that the human ear can't hear) when the PIR detects movements, and deters cats from entering the garden??

the only cat deterrent iknow of that keeps cats out of gardens is lion poo chester zoo sell it thing £5.it might work on foxes.?

Mine doesn't work...the cats walk along the top of the fence behind it! Cost £25 quid! Thats 5 bags of lion poo, which fertilize as well. Just watch where you tread..