Fox advice (potential babies)

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Pec

Hatching
Feb 20, 2022
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I recently moved into a new house and over the past few days as I've been doing yard work I have spotted a red fox several times during the afternoon. There is an overgrown vegetable garden area towards the back of the property I was about to start working on and getting ready plant some stuff in, but I notice there was a big hole in the corner of it! When I investigated the hole I heard some VERY light noises (like grunting or chuffing). This could very well be the fox's den with some babies inside, but I am not sure how to confirm it. I've read that seeing foxes in broad daylight around this time of year means there is a good chance it's a mother looking for food.

I do not have chickens yet, and it's going to be a while until I can get them, but I figured this forum is a great place to ask about fox issues. I don't want to chase the mom away or destroy the den if there is a chance there are babies. The only pet I have at the moment is a cat who hangs out on the screened porch so I'm not too worried about that. My yard is slightly overgrown as I've not mowed yet, but the vegetable garden is VERY overgrown with 3 ft weeds so its pretty good cover for the fox. That area is about an acre from the house and when I walk towards the area I spot it often and it watches me for a bit before running off. I have a pile of questions about this situation as I'm not super knowledgeable about foxes except on how to keep them out of a coop.

Is there a good way to confirm if the hole is home to baby foxes? How close can I get to this hole with my yard work (like a riding mower) without spooking the mom away? How close can I get with less loud normal garden work like weeding and planting? When would be a good time to try and get a fox family to move out? When it is safe for the babies to leave, what would be the best way to deter them from coming back? I just want to let the babies grow old enough to be able to leave with the mom and then spook them off.
 
I have a bore scope that I can maneuver down a hole to see what I am dealing with. As for keeping the out of your chicken run and such an electric fence will do the job, also an apron of hardware cloth so they can't dig under. Good luck. She won't desert her kits most often she will carry them off to another den if she feels threatened before she will leave them. I hope this helps.
 
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A game cam pointed at the entrance should reveal what and how many. If foxes, the kits only stay in the den for about a month or so. They will soon venture out and abandon the den. You can then destroy it and work your garden.
It could also be a groundhog hole and the fox is just sniffing around hoping to get some little piglets for lunch.
 
We have a new fox family on our property every year, sometimes more than one family. The den you are describing definitely looks like the ones our foxes have over here. Our foxes are quite used to people and often come out during the day, with kits in tow. They are wary of people but don't spook as easily as we thought they would. I don't know how long they will use a den in a season. Ours just keep reusing the same ones year after year or they make ones similar not too far away. I'm not well versed in fox behavior so I couldn't tell you when the babies would be moved out. We seem to have a steady stream of babies for a good part of the warmer months. As far as our ducks/chickens go, we just keep them in a secure run/coop. I lost one chicken so far to a fox when it was free ranging and we weren't out there. I only free range my birds if someone from our family is going to be outside and from May until October. Not so much for the fox but more for hawks. The hawks will try to take your birds even when you are standing right there. It happened to me on more than one occasion in the fall. Hope some of this helps. I'd reach out to a wildlife website to find out info about when a fox den might be abandoned.
 
I also suggest a game cam. Easiest way to tell, and they're fun!

We have gray foxes on our property. They only seem to be out late at night. I use electric netting. 10k and our goats keep the 4-legged predators away. I've not yet had any issues with foxes (knock on wood!). They are relatively far down in my predator concern list beneath coyote, hawks, owls, and raccoons.
 
Seems like a game can is the best way to see who lives there for sure! I was able to get in touch with someone who could answer a few questions for me. The parents shouldn't be chased off from mowing or yard work, they apparently are good parents and will come back. I will just leave them a bit of cover around their den but otherwise go about my business. I should be able to monitor the age of the kits (if there is indeed some living in that hole) with a camera so I know when its safe to destroy the den. I just wish they didn't put the thing right where I wanted to grow my veggies!

And yeah, there are some BIG hawks around here and I'm sure when I have chickens and chicken feed there will be other critters showing up more often. When I do start on my coop its gonna have to have prison level security.
 
Pec said:
Seems like a game can is the best way to see who lives there for sure! I was able to get in touch with someone who could answer a few questions for me. The parents shouldn't be chased off from mowing or yard work, they apparently are good parents and will come back. I will just leave them a bit of cover around their den but otherwise go about my business. I should be able to monitor the age of the kits (if there is indeed some living in that hole) with a camera so I know when its safe to destroy the den. I just wish they didn't put the thing right where I wanted to grow my veggies!

And yeah, there are some BIG hawks around here and I'm sure when I have chickens and chicken feed there will be other critters showing up more often. When I do start on my coop its gonna have to have prison level security.
Click to expand...
You are so smart to plan ahead! I have a huge predator load here, too. But we make it work. Hawks are by far my worst predator. Heavy duty avian netting has been great!
 
Pec said:
Seems like a game can is the best way to see who lives there for sure! I was able to get in touch with someone who could answer a few questions for me. The parents shouldn't be chased off from mowing or yard work, they apparently are good parents and will come back.
Click to expand...
I do lawn care for a living. One of my clients has had a fox den a few feet from her lawn for several years. I often see the little ones in her lawn while I'm mowing. It's never bothered mom and the little ones at all.
 

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