Destruction of Family Pets
Foxes are predators and where given the opportunity, they will feed on small family pets such as birds, kittens, rabbits, guinea pigs or chickens.
Pets may be more vulnerable in late spring/early summer when foxes are rearing their cubs.
Cats and dogs are typically safe from foxes although aggression can be caused by a fox’s defence of young cubs.
Noise and Smell
Noise - Between December and February, you will hear the mating call of foxes.
This is a sharp, high-pitched shrieking / screaming noise, which can sound quite terrifying and will keep you awake long into the night.
Smell - Foxes are hugely territorial and mark their territory with highly pungent excretions.
The fox marks its territory by producing pungent smelling urine and faeces on compost heaps, under bird tables, on drain pipes or under a favourite hiding place such as a shed.
Digging - The urban fox will cause havoc in your garden, digging up your lawn and flowerbeds looking for worms, leatherjackets and chafers and disturbing your vegetable patches and borders to establish an earth, bury food, or help themselves to fruit and vegetables.
Disease
Toxoplasmosis - a parasite contained within excretion which can affect the eyes, kidneys, blood, brain and nervous system of any species it infects.
Toxocariasis - caused by a parasitic roundworm - microscopic eggs in the faeces of infected animals can remain infective in soil for four years Humans become infected by accidentally swallowing the infective eggs.
Crawling babies and toddlers are most at risk and symptoms can range from stomach pains to sight problems/blindness if larvae reach the eyes.
Mange.- A highly contagious and painful skin condition, caused by mites and resulting in extensive loss of hair.
It can be fatal if left untreated. Foxes can pass mange on to family pets and if an infected pet then sleeps on beds or furniture, everyone will begin scratching.