Good Fox Bait?

[falloonfarm]

A breeding pair moved into our area last week, got one before I knew it. Am keeping everyone completely locked up @ night, in an electric-fence protected zone during the day, but I know even that isn't fox-proof.

I have a live trap, but they haven't gone near it. Used live chicken (protected in wood/mesh box) & chicken parts for bait. Have only seen them when I am empty-handed.

Live in California, so anything I do my neighbors can turn me in whatever I do.

Any ideas to make the trap more appealing?

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Trapping foxes isn't easy, They have keen eyes and great noses. I don't know if they would go into a live trap or not. The best thing would be to make the trap look like a den. Cover it with branches etc so they can't see the trap just the opening. I always use a leg hold trap so you don't have to worry about them seeing it. Sardines in oil will work, fishy cat food in a pinch, the scent will bring them in closer to the trap at any rate. If they catch your scent fresh on the trap they won't go near it unless they are very hungry.

Steve

 

[panner123]

Best bait I have found for fox is a live mouse. You can buy them at any pet store, they use them for feeding snakes. Place it in a small wire cage so it can't get out, cover the trap with straw and if a fox is in the area you will catch it.

 

[aprophet]

It kina depends on what kind of fox it is greys are easy to catch in cage traps reds are not as easy the trap needs to be big minimum 12-15" wide 15-18" tall and 36-48" deep bigger is better!! I think calii is limited to cage traps with red fox snares and coil spring traps are a lot quicker they will not go into a small cage trap unless they are short on a food source

depending on what kind of fox you are trying to catch reds are fond of mice greys seem to like fruit( persimmons, blackberries grapes) as much as they do fish or muskrat parts, molasses is a good bait for fox and coon that seems to not have any appeal to companion animals

 

[falloonfarm]

Looks like it has to come down to a shotgun. The fox got past my 8 ft hurricane fence that has 2 separate strands of electric fence, past the board I slid across the lower opening to the coop & got at least one chicken. (I found her dead this morning - he couldn't get her back past the fence.) I'll have to get a chair & get comfortable @ dusk. I found out anything else I do is a misdemeanor & a fine.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

good luck

Steve