I personally think that we are past the age of old-time leghold traps. Fox are like puppies. All of us love dogs, right? A leghold trap is merely an inhumane thing to do, and there is no way to justify otherwise. It's not tough to trap a nuisance fox in a cage trap and relocate it. I know that's not a perfect way to go for many reasons, but it is far better than a leg grip, I believe.
The fox is an elusive, beautiful animal found in several regions around the world. Very similar to a puppy in appearance, the fox boasts a heavy coat and weighs anywhere from eight to twenty five pounds. Many varieties of foxes live around world, but the most usual troublemakers are the red fox and the gray fox. Most individuals don't have problems with foxes unless raising cows, food-quality rabbits, or other smaller mammals. Foxes are opportunistic, so a warm chicken house may also have a welcome sign out front.
>Identifying a fox as the offender for missing fowl isn't always straightforward. Birds killed by the fox are often carted off and eaten in the den, and if not, the remains are usually buried. Foxes will eat carcasses, preventing the initial cause of death from being shown. No matter whether you find that a fox running off with your poultry, holes in your fencing will be enough of a sign to know you have a stealthy predator on your hands.
Wire fencing, so long as it's buried underground, can be of help to exclude foxes from entering a farm. The wire mesh should be made from a heavy gauge metal. Electric fencing, if positioned at proper level, can also be a useful deterrent. Elimination of any animal carcass waste from industrial processing should be carried out immediately to remove enticing aromas.
Noise harassment is generally ineffective against foxes. Radios, sound firearms, ultrasonic devices, and static emitters can work for a couple of days, but the fox will get resistant to the effects. Fancy lighting, such as strobe lighting is also an extremely temporary way of deterring a fox. Like all creatures, after a pattern is discerned from the repellent method, that creature's fear of the item will vanish.
You can try to catch a fox yourself, though caution is usually highlighted in this region. If you want to trap a fox, pick a live-trap or a body-gripping trap which will quickly kill the fox rather than maim it. The next step is to find a suitable location for the trap to be set. Foxes which are nuisances generally live near human dwellings. Plots of debris, old hay bales, or dense regions of brush are often perfect locations for a den. A trap can be put near a carcass or baited to lure the fox inside. Be careful to hide the trap as far as possible. Grass, leaves, branches, and such will help to make the trap look less out of place. Wear gloves or odor cover to avoid leaving a scent mark behind. Since foxes are fast learners, don't put your lure within the trap immediately. Place bait beyond the trap and permit the fox to take it. The following day, put the bait closer or within the trap, but not enough to place the pressure bar. When you're sure the fox has returned several times and taken the bait, you're ready to set the bait with the goal to capture the fox.
As soon as you've caught the fox, you can release it from your premises in a suitable area. Some animals, like foxes, don't always respond well to movement. If relocation is not an alternative, a wildlife specialist can be called to humanely euthanize the animal.
