Are you experiencing problems with your neighbours feeding foxes? Foxes can quickly become a nuisance when they establish their dens near your home, especially if your neighbour is intentionally attracting them by feeding them.
Foxes and their cubs may appear cute and harmless, but they can be quite the opposite and are becoming more common in urban areas as they search for food.
Potential issues with neighbours feeding foxes
- Foxes are scavengers and will rummage through your bins if given the opportunity, leading to a messy situation that may attract other pests, such as rats.
- In addition to making a mess with bins, they also like to mark their territory with their scent and droppings (made even worse if your dog decides to roll in it).
- Foxes can pose a danger to small garden animals like chickens and rabbits and can cause distress if they attack and harm a family pet.
- Additionally, foxes may emit loud, eerie cries during mating season, which can be unsettling and wake you up in the middle of the night.
Understandably, the general consensus is that foxes are not welcome in the garden, but there are the odd few people that like to feed foxes, so they keep coming back.
If you are having an issue with your neighbour feeding foxes, here are some FAQs that might help.
FAQs about neighbours feeding foxes
Are foxes legally classed as vermin?
Foxes are not legally classified as vermin in most countries, including the United Kingdom. They are considered a species of wildlife and are protected by law. Hunting or killing foxes without a license is illegal and can result in fines or imprisonment.
As Foxes have not been classified a vermin by Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA), your local council doesn’t have a legal obligation to deal with urban foxes.
Is it illegal to feed foxes in the UK?
Feeding foxes is not illegal in the UK, but you want to ensure that you are not upsetting your neighbours by doing so. Feeding foxes is discouraged by wildlife authorities as it can lead to foxes becoming too accustomed to humans.
Be warned that the foxes will most likely return and may set up a home near your property if they can get regular food and water.
It is not advisable to attempt taming a fox or hand-feeding them, as they may become aggressive. Feeding foxes is also discouraged as it can lead to dependence and attract other animals like mice and rats to your garden due to food remnants.
Why do people feed foxes?
People feed foxes for various reasons, including: observing them up close, out of a love of wildlife or to provide them with food when natural sources are scarce, but it can result in conflicts with neighbours and is discouraged by wildlife authorities.
Sometimes people feed foxes out of a misguided belief that foxes are in need of human assistance.
Can you be prosecuted for feeding foxes?
You can’t be prosecuted for feeding foxes but hunting or killing foxes without a license is illegal and can result in fines or imprisonment. If you are ordered by the council or court to stop feeding foxes (as it is creating a nuisance), if you breach the order, you could face prosecution.
Can I stop my neighbour feeding foxes?
It is not illegal for your neighbours to feed foxes, but their actions could impact your property/garden.
If the foxes are causing an issue, you should try the following:
- Your first point of call should be to talk to your neighbour. Explain the problems you are experiencing and ask your neighbours to stop feeding the foxes. You could follow up with sending a letter. I have a sample letter that you can use and adapt to send to your neighbour.
- You should gather evidence, such as pictures of damage to your garden, so you can show your neighbour.
- You should then do everything you can to deter the foxes from your garden (in more detail below).
- As the council does not have an legal obligation to assist with foxes, it is unlikely they can help. However, if your neighbour is leaving out food for the foxes, that is causing a rat problem, then your council could get involved, as rats are classified as vermin.
- If the problem persists and your neighbour will not communicate with you, then you could consider mediation to see if a solution can be found.
- If you have done everything possible to deter the foxes with no success, then you can seek professional help from pest control as a last resort. If you have no option other than to contact pest control you can get free quotes on Bark.com but there are strict rules and regulations, so ensure to instruct a professional.
What attracts foxes to your garden?
Foxes are attracted by food, particularly strong smelling foods. Open bins are particularly tempting to foxes and you may find the contents of your bin spread across your lawn if they do manage to get their paws on it. If there is food readily available, then it is likely that fox will return.
Foxes are also looking for quiet areas where they can make a den and so if there are sheds were they can burrow, you might end up with foxes in your garden.
Just like all other animals, foxes need a water source and so they may be attracted to your garden, if they have easy access to water.
You may also see foxes in your garden if you have pets such as chickens and rabbits, as they are potential prey for foxes.
If you are interested in watching the foxes to see what is attracting them to your garden, then you could set up a wildlife camera, such as the GardePro A3S Wildlife Camera.
How to deter foxes?
If you are having issues with unwanted foxes in your garden, there are several steps you can take to deter foxes.
- Foxes can be quite sensitive to smells. Foxes don’t like the smell of garlic and chilli and so you can infuse water with garlic and chilli, blend and then spray it around the garden.
- Foxes are scared by loud noises, so you can try shouting when you see a fox in your garden.
- Ensure that there is no rubbish or food around your garden.
- Make sure that your bins have secure lids. You could consider getting a wheelie bin lock.
- Use your garden regularly, as foxes will be less likely to move in if there is more noise and movement.
- Secure your garden and ensure you have a solid fence, without any gaps. Foxes can squeeze through small gaps, so fill in any gaps as and when you find them.
- Pick up any fallen fruit from trees and feed birds on a bird table, as foxes will eat both.
- Maintain your garden, as foxes like overgrown gardens where they can live undisturbed.
- Pick up toys and shoes from the garden, as these can be entertaining for fox cubs.
- Build sheds and greenhouses on a concrete base, so that the foxes can’t burrow underneath.
- Make sure that chickens and other pets have a secure area.
- If you are still having issues, then you can try a commercial deterrent, such as ‘Get Off My Garden‘ spray or an electronic device such as ‘FoxWatch Ultimate Deterrent‘.
- Try animal deterrent solar lights, that can scare foxes away at night.
It is important to remain consistent with the above to make your garden uninviting to foxes. You also need to remain patient as results will not be instant but the foxes will get the message eventually.
It should be noted that it is illegal to kill a fox in your garden and you can face up to 6 months imprisonment and/or a £5,000 fine per animal, if you are convicted.
Can the council do anything about neighbours feeding foxes?
The Council have no legal obligation to deal with foxes, as they are not classified as vermin by DEFRA. If you have done everything possible to deter the foxes from your garden with no success, then you could contact pest control as a last resort.
Even though pest control may help for a short period of time, most of the time new foxes will return, so it would be worth focussing on deterring the foxes from your garden.
Can the council stop you feeding foxes?
The council will not stop you feeding foxes, as it not illegal. However, if feeding the foxes is creating a health and safety issue such as a rat infestation (because food is left out), then they may order you to stop leaving food out.
What are foxes afraid of?
Foxes are scared of loud noises, sudden movements (such as throwing a ball), water hose/water guns. Foxes are generally scared of humans and will usually run away if you come into close contact.
Dogs and foxes don’t come into regular contact but if a dog was in a garden, it is unlikely that the fox would stick around.
Do solar lights deter foxes?
Solar lights are a good way to deter foxes, as they like to feel safe and a sudden burst of bright light is usually enough to scare them off.
Solar Predator Control Lights have good reviews on Amazon.
You can also try spraying the foxes with water but you will need to be patient as you will have to wait for the fox to enter your garden.
Can you call the RSPCA for foxes?
The RSPCA will not remove/relocate foxes from your garden but you can contact them if you find an injured fox.
Helpful Contacts
If you have further questions regarding foxes, you can contact the following organisations:
National Fox Welfare Society 135 Higham Road Rushden Northants NN10 6DS Tel: 01933 411996 www.nfws.org.uk
The Fox Project The Southborough Centre Draper Street Southborough Kent TN4 0PG Head Office: 01892 545468
In an ideal world, foxes and humans would live in harmony but in reality that is not always possible. If your neighbour is feeding foxes, the key is to talk to your neighbour first to voice your concerns and concentrate on trying to deter the foxes from your garden, by following the steps above.
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