Ruth C.
Pest Control in Bealeton, VA
Even though foxes are cute and might seem harmless, they are wildlife and will bite when they feel threatened. They are mostly nocturnal scavengers, however, it is not unusual to see them during the day.
Foxes prefer to feed on poultry, snakes, small game, eggs and are known to raid chicken coops. Foxes use a variety of habitats for dens, including abandoned holes dug by other animals. They won’t hesitate to take up residency under decks, porches, or decks. Those areas are ideal to raise their kits.
Trapping is the best way, but foxes are extremely smart. It is important that the traps are concealed and have the correct bait in them. Foxes have a very keen of smell and if they detect any human scent on the traps, they will not go in it. An inexperienced trapper can cause a fox to recognize and avoid traps in the future. In some locations, trapping and relocation may not be an option.
Be sure to check your local fox trapping laws and legal requirements as they may differ from county to county. The safest method of removal is to contact a qualified professional to take care of the fox problem. Our wildlife control specialists are trained to humanely catch and remove troublesome foxes from your property.
One of the most common diseases spread by foxes is rabies, leptospirosis, and tularemia. Foxes can carry canine distemper and are also a host for parasites, like ticks, fleas, mites which can transmit numerous diseases as well.
Attacks occur around dawn or dusk on pets left outside to wander. To avoid attacks on pets:
Foxes causing severe damage to pets or poultry, or posing a threat to public health and safety, may be controlled through regulated trapping and hunting or, outside the season, through special permits issued by state wildlife agencies to professional nuisance wildlife trappers. Trapping foxes require advanced training and trapping skills and traps need to be set and checked in accordance with state laws.
Foxes have been known to transmit mange to dogs through the environment around their dens and loafing areas or by contact. Keep dogs away from these areas and sick animals. Dogs that have come in contact with foxes with mange should be taken to a veterinarian for treatment.
The cost of fox removal can vary depending on the particular situation. Because of this variance, we send out a Wildlife Expert to your home at no charge. He will inspect the fox problem and provide you with a free, no-obligation estimate.
Foxes are largely active during dawn and dusk hours, but they can also be active during the day. Foxes den in burrows, wood piles, rocky outcrops, hollow trees, and brush piles, as well as under sheds and decks. They tend to be opportunistic feeders, consuming small mammals, rabbits, birds, eggs, insects, fruit, and poultry. The breeding season for foxes is generally from March through April with an average litter size of 3-5 pups. Breeding seasons should be considered in nuisance control activity in order to avoid orphaning young.
Foxes readily adapt to urban areas where suitable habitat exists. They may aggressively attack and kill domestic cats and occasionally threaten and attack dogs when protecting their den or young.
Foxes are a known rabies threat and animals exhibiting abnormal behavior should be reported to local police. Mange also affects foxes, resulting in weakened animals coming in close proximity to pets and people while scavenging for food. Mange from foxes may be transmitted to dogs by contact through the environment around dens and loafing areas.
While we attempt to provide guidance about state and federal regulations pertaining to specific species and control techniques, we do not provide information about local jurisdictions (city, town, county, etc.) where regulations may be more restrictive, especially as it applies to discharge of firearms, transport of animals or use of trapping equipment. Contact your local city or county government to inquire further. No guarantee is made that information (or lack of information) associated with a species or control technique is completely accurate or current. You should become familiar with federal, state and local laws before beginning any wildlife control activities.
Wild animals are constantly in search of food, so proper sanitation and management of food sources, including garbage, is essential. Keep your garbage indoors until trash pickup or, if garbage is stored outside, use wildlife-proof garbage containers that are anchored securely, for example, to a tree or pole to keep them from being moved or displaced. Place garbage at the curb the morning of or near the time of pick up rather than the night before. Have your trash hauled away regularly to a licensed landfill.
Fox Trapping | Fox Removal | Fox Repair | Fox Clean Up | Insulation Replacement | Fox Disinfecting and Deodorizing | Fox Guard | Fox Repellent
Contact us online or give us a call at 703-520-5868 when you need our services. For dog or cat issues, contact your local municipal animal control office.
Fairfax, Alexandria & Arlington, VA
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