Seeing a fox strolling through your backyard can be a thrilling and memorable animal sighting. With their bushy tails and sharp ears, foxes have a certain charm that makes them fun to watch. Even though you can’t completely tame a fox, you can make your yard a place where they want to be with some careful planning. This complete guide tells you everything you need to know to bring foxes to your backyard oasis in a safe and legal way.
Why Attract Foxes to Your Yard?
Before embarking on your mission to draw foxes in, consider why you want to host these wild canids on your property. Here are some of the top reasons homeowners choose to attract foxes:
-
Having foxes around lets you enjoy nature up close. You can watch animals right outside your door. Watching their curious, cat-like behaviour can be fascinating.
-
Natural pest control: Foxes prey on rats, mice, voles, rabbits, and other animals that homeowners consider pests. A family of foxes can help control nuisance animals on your land.
-
Ambiance: The presence of wildlife fosters a sense of natural tranquility. Catching sight of a fox fosters a feeling of being connected to the wilderness.
-
Providing foxes with a place to live helps protect biodiversity and keep ecosystems healthy. As development encroaches on wild areas wildlife needs refuge.
However, there are also downsides of attracting foxes that should be carefully weighed:
-
Pets are at risk because foxes may eat small pets that are left alone, especially cats and small dogs.
-
Property damage: Foxes are excellent diggers and may destroy landscaping or undermine sheds and decks while creating dens.
-
Potential mess Foxes can get into trash, leave droppings, shed fur, or make dens under porches Be prepared to clean and seal off unwanted areas
-
Safety concerns: Foxes very rarely contract or transmit rabies, but a fox behaving erratically should be avoided and reported.
Only undertake attracting foxes if the benefits outweigh the potential problems for your unique situation. For many homeowners, the joy of wildlife sightings prevails!
Fox Behaviour and Habits
The first step in attracting foxes is understanding their habits, needs and natural behaviours. This allows you to assess if your property has the right habitat components and take steps to improve conditions.
There are 6 species of foxes in North America, with red, grey and arctic foxes being the most widespread. Foxes are omnivorous opportunistic foragers, eating rodents, fruit, insects, birds and anything else they can find. Foxes are solitary hunters and prey on animals smaller than themselves.
Foxes are crepuscular, meaning they are most active at dusk and dawn. Urban foxes may also be active during daylight. Fox families share a den, with pairs mating for life. Foxes prefer wooded areas interspersed with open meadows or fields.
Key facts about fox behaviour:
-
Nocturnal: Most active at night, especially where persecution exists. More diurnal in safe habitat.
-
Denning: Need secure dens to birth and raise kits. Also rest in dens.
-
Wary: Foxes avoid humans whenever possible. Easily frightened by close approach.
-
Playful: Fox kits love to play-fight and chase each other while adults nap.
-
Vocal: Foxes make a variety of howls, barks, yips and screams for communication.
-
Digging: Foxes dig dens in elevated, well-drained soil, under brush piles, in hollow logs, etc.
-
Roaming: Use large territories of 3 to 8 square km, especially males.
By understanding fox behaviour patterns, you can plan ways to make them feel at home.
Creating an Appealing Fox Habitat
The key to attracting wildlife to your yard is providing what they need to thrive – food, water, shelter and safe denning sites. Here are top habitat enhancements to bring in foxes:
Plant native vegetation – Tall grasses, clustered shrubs, fruit bushes and tree cavities provide cover and den sites. Oak, hazel, blackberry, raspberry and blueberry plants are fox favorites.
Leave brush piles – Neat piles of fallen branches make good fox dens. Place them in sheltered spots at the habitat edge.
Add a water source – A pond, bird bath or other fresh water source will attract foxes and their prey.
Install raised beds – Vegetable gardens and compost piles attract rodents that foxes prey upon. Locate them away from the house.
Reduce lawn areas – Replace manicured turf with natural vegetation and leaf litter that shelter small mammals.
Avoid pesticides – Chemicals reduce insects and small animals that foxes eat. Allow insect diversity.
Set out shelters – An overturned box with straw bedding or hollow log provides an extra den. Place a few around the habitat.
Keep areas wild – Let nature take its course in corners of your yard to create the layered structure foxes love.
The more you can make your property resemble a natural ecosystem, the better chance of foxes moving in. Be patient as you transform your yard into primo fox habitat.
Ethical Fox Feeding Considerations
Well-meaning homeowners often put out food like pet food, meat scraps or corn to purposefully attract wildlife. However, intentional feeding of foxes is controversial, with laws prohibiting it in many states.
Here are some risks of feeding foxes:
-
Causes foxes to congregate unnaturally, increasing disease transmission
-
Leads to bold behaviour and foxes losing fear of humans
-
Results in foxes becoming dependent on human food sources
-
Attracts other nuisance wildlife like skunks and raccoons
-
Encourages aggressive behaviour between foxes over the food resource
-
Can be dangerous if foxes ingest spoiled food and get sick
For these reasons, wildlife experts recommend against intentionally feeding foxes. Instead focus your efforts on improving the native habitat naturally to draw foxes in.
If you do choose to put out food, adhere to these ethical guidelines:
-
Only feed in winter when natural food is scarce
-
Offer tiny portions of smelly, natural foods like raw chicken or fish
-
Never feed foxes by hand, or let them take food from you
-
Stop feeding if bold fox behaviour or congregating is noted
-
Immediately remove any food foxes don’t eat right away
-
Never feed fox kits, as it may attract predators to their den
-
Avoid dog and cat foods high in fillers, which are unhealthy for foxes
-
Monitor local ordinances and cease feeding if ordered by wildlife authorities
Improving habitat to help foxes survive without dependence on humans is the ideal approach for ethical fox attraction.
Smart Fox Feeding Stations
If you want to supplement habitat improvements with occasional light feeding, some tips will help create a responsible fox feeding station:
Choose a quiet spot – Pick a secluded part of your property away from dwellings and foot traffic. This allows shy foxes to eat undisturbed.
Offer food at dusk – Foxes are most active at dawn and dusk, so set out food during crepuscular hours when foxes will find it quickly.
Elevate feeders – Platform feeders with short ramps restrict access to foxes while excluding scavengers like opossums. Or place small portions up on a deck or shed roof.
Put out tiny portions – A tablespoon of food per fox is sufficient. They don’t need large quantities.
Vary the menu – Provide a diversity of natural foods like chopped meat, fish, eggs, fruits and veggies to supplement foxes’ wild diet.
Remove uneaten food – Pick up any food not eaten after a short period of time so it doesn’t spoil or attract pests.
Keep areas clean – Sweep up food scraps and seeds dropped under feeders to avoid contamination.
Use trail cameras – Set up a trail camera aimed at feeders to monitor fox activity and feeding behaviour while avoiding disturbance.
Discontinue if problems arise – Cease feeding if issues like congregating foxes, boldness or sick foxes occur.
With some creativity, you can design a responsible feeding station to assist local foxes without detriment.
What Not to Do When Attracting Foxes
While improving habitat for foxes is generally ecologically beneficial, some practices should be avoided:
-
Don’t use fox urine or other artificial lures, which can spread disease between foxes.
-
Avoid planting non-native plants, which don’t offer benefit to wildlife. Stick with native species.
-
Don’t leave out food waste in piles that could attract vermin. Compost organically in enclosed bins.
-
Refrain from destroying fox dens and habitat for property aesthetics. Coexist with foxes.
-
Never deliberately approach, touch or try to tame foxes. They must remain wild.
-
Don’t install bright lights shining into fox habitat, as this disturbs their natural rhythms.
-
Avoid using harsh pesticides that remove fox prey like insects, snails and rodents.
-
Don’t leave out pet food that could attract foxes close to your pets. Feed pets indoors.
-
Never trap, poison, shoot or harm foxes. Peaceful coexistence is the goal.
-
Don’t overlook local bylaws. Some municipalities prohibit feeding wildlife.
The overarching goal is enhancing natural habitat to benefit the native fox population without causing harm. Keep working to gradually improve your backyard ecosystem. With time, the foxes will take notice and reward your efforts with their charming presence!
StepsMethod
- Putting out bait at night will help you see a fox more often. Foxes are most active at dusk or dawn. Get the lure ready right before it gets dark, and then put it outside for the foxes to find. You should put it somewhere well-lit so you can see any foxes coming from afar. Putting out your bait at night will also keep animals that are out during the day, like roaming pets, from getting to it first. Foxes are easiest to find in the winter, when food is scarce, but you can also find them in other times of the year. The fox is usually active during the day, but it can be shy at night. It’s most likely that you’ll see one during the day when it’s not as busy where you live. You can get foxes to come to you in the wild by putting bait near their tracks or den.
- 2 Select small portions of food 0. 5 oz (14 g) or less. Don’t eat too much so that foxes don’t start to depend on you. If you use the right bait, like a fish that smells bad, this won’t happen. Every time you try to catch a fox, use the same amount of food. Put it in a small bowl or pot that you can leave in your yard. [2] Foxes can forage for their own food. Once they get all of their food from people, they stop hunting on their own and become lazy. Foxes that are used to people may come to your yard often to look for food. As they walk around your neighborhood, they could be caught or hurt. Advertisement .
- 3 Choose meat, fish, and eggs to use as bait. It will work better as a lure if the bait smells strong. It’s easy to feed a fox a can of wet dog food or cat food that smells like fish. You can also use any kind of raw fish or meat. In the wild, foxes also like to eat eggs, fruit, seeds, and some vegetables. However, unless you’re sure the fox will find the bait, these foods might not be the best choice. Like, foxes will eat fruit like apples and blueberries if they can find it. Try providing root veggies like yams and potatoes. Most of the time, they don’t go after gardens, but if you have these plants, they might dig them up. There are many things that foxes eat, such as mushrooms, frogs, birds, and small animals. They also enjoy salted peanuts and cheese.
- 4 Place the food away from your home. Pick a spot that isn’t crowded near the edges of your garden or yard. No matter how far away you are, make sure you can see the lure well. Foxes often hide in corners when they go into new areas. To get food, they don’t mind walking along clear paths as long as there is nothing there to scare them. Any foxes that come up will be easy to see if you leave the food out in the open. Keep an eye out for any gaps that foxes might use to enter and leave closed areas. Keep an eye out for fence holes, thick hedges, porches, and buildings that have been left empty. Foxes can take food and run, so move it away from these areas. If there is food close to your house, a fox might get used to seeing you. They’ve been seen hiding under porches and even in pet doors. It could attract other animals, such as mice, too.
- 5. Put fresh water in a bowl and set it next to the bait. Get a second bowl and put it next to the one that will hold the bait. It is helpful to do this if there isn’t a pond or other fresh water source nearby. Keep this bowl filled whenever you’re watching for foxes. Take it inside and clean it out when you’re not. [3] Keep the bowl clean to stop germs from spreading. Refill it with fresh water every day.
- 6 Stand back at a distance while watching the bait. Foxes won’t go near bait if they know you’re nearby. Place yourself on your porch or on the other side of your yard, for example. Stand still and wait as far away as you can. If you see a fox coming toward you, don’t do anything that would make it aware of you. Making a lot of noise will scare a fox away from your yard. Yell, whistle, bang on something. You can also spray them with water or throw something soft, like a tennis ball, at them. You can also buy cheap water sprayers that will turn on when they sense movement. This is usually used to keep deer away, but it also keeps foxes away. If a fox is used to being fed by people, it might come up to you. Don’t worry—it isn’t dangerous. If you try to feed foxes, though, they will learn to depend on people for food.
- 7 Remove leftover food and wash the bowl every day. Anything not eaten by foxes will draw in other animals. Before you go outside to watch the fox, bring the bait inside and throw it away. To stop the spread of disease, wash the bowl with dish soap and water. [4] If you attract a fox or another animal, make sure to pick up any trash that’s on the ground. Even though they are hard to see, they can still bring people into your yard that you don’t want. Old bait mostly attracts mice and rats, but you might also see raccoons and other animals.
- 8. Every night at the same time, put out new bait. It might take a while to get a fox that doesn’t want to come into your yard. Keep putting fresh food out. They’ll wait for it and then sneak in to check it out if they know it’s there. You can get a fox to come to you if you’re patient and persistent. It also depends on them being able to find the food. Putting out food often will eventually bring a fox in if you know they are in the area. [5] Make a routine of it. Setting out food at the same time every day helps make sure that rats and other animals don’t get any leftovers.
Advertisement Method
Things You’ll Need
- Clean bowls
- Soap
- Water
- Canned pet food, meat, fish, or alternatives
- Binoculars or camera (optional)
How to attract foxes to your yard?
FAQ
What smells attract foxes?
-
Fish:Foxes are drawn to the strong aroma of fish, whether it’s fresh, canned, or even fish-flavored dog food.
-
Meat:Meat is a natural part of a fox’s diet, so the scent of raw or cooked meat is highly appealing.
-
Sweet scents:While not their primary preference, some studies suggest foxes may be attracted to sweet scents like those of sugar-coated vegetables.
-
Other food:They may also be drawn to the scent of berries, fruit, and even some vegetables.
What are foxes most attracted to?
They are drawn to food and food waste in yards, like trash, pet food, bird seed, and fallen fruit. Foxes may look for places to hide and sleep under decks, sheds, and patios, as well as in brush piles, woodpiles, and construction waste. Foxes are normally wary and unlikely to approach humans.
How do I attract a fox to my property?
Improving Your Yard to Attract More FoxesPlant thick shrubs so foxes have a place to hide. Set up a compost pile to dispose of old food. Stack wood into piles to serve as a shelter. Place bird feeders to attract birds and scatter seeds. Plant fruit trees if you have room for them in your yard.
What is the best attractant for foxes?
Cut hay, along with meat, has an intriguing sight and scent for foxes. Out away from the houses I also sprinkle some birdseed around the hay to attract other critters that naturally smell good to a fox. The hay then marks the spots where I can come back and look for tracks, scat or digging.
How do you attract foxes to your home?
You can make your property more inviting to attract foxes by planting low-growing shrubs, especially around the perimeter. This will provide some hiding places for visiting foxes to hide while checking out the environment. Lots of bush plants in the yard will also provide shelter for foxes.
What attracts foxes to your yard?
Garbage cans, compost, left-out dog or cat food, chickens, and rodents all attract foxes to your yard. Foxes are also drawn to places to hide, like under your porch or shed, and they look for water sources in your yard. Removing or limiting these attractants can keep foxes away for good.
How do you keep foxes out of your yard?
If you have an area of the yard that would be a suitable habitat for foxes in terms of natural food sources, safety, and shelter, you can encourage the animals to move into the area by setting out small portions of food that have a strong smell.
Are there foxes in your yard?
If there are foxes in your region and the conditions in your yard are right, you will soon be able to enjoy sightings of these shy animals. The most common types of foxes that you will be likely to attract are red or grey foxes which occur across the entire North American continent.
Does compost attract foxes?
One downside to composting is the possibility of attracting foxes to your yard because of the smell. After all, compost is just decomposing food. And any food source in your yard is going to attract foxes. But decomposing food isn’t the only reason foxes are attracted to compost.
What if you see a Fox in your yard?
If a fox continually runs through your yard and finds something to chew on, play with, or practice chasing, it’s likely to keep coming back. Now, if you actually spot a fox, you can read our step-by-step on what to do if you see a fox in your yard. This is a tale as old as time.