How do you trap a fox with a Havahart trap?

[fushalilly]

I have a big fox problem. A while back, a fox wiped out my flock and I have seen him lurking around the area. I bought a large Havahart trap and I plan to trap him and release him FAR FAR away. What would be a good bait and where should I locate the trap?

HELP! I have never had to do this before.

 

[keystonepaul]

You can figure out the bait- fresh chicken, meat, etc etc, but to catch a fox in a "box" trap is tough- make sure you have solid base- no side to side motion at all as the fox walks in if he/she does commit. You can spread some dirt, leaf litter onto the floor of the trap and tamp it down a bit- want it to look and feel like the natural forest floor to the fox. You can pick up a bottle of fox bait, gland lure, etc at your local sporting goods shop. Good luck, Keystonepaul.

edited to add- don't forget- as little human scent as possible. I don't see this mentioned much at all- latex dish washing gloves (new) will work, plain old latex disposable gloves will work as well in a pinch. Don't bend down and kneel at the trap. What I would do is take a garden trowel and boil it, might even leave the trap for a day or two in a local stream if one was close to wash away any human scent- careful where you store it so it doesn't pick up any gas/oil/ human smell as well. Then walk with it to where your going to put it (with gloves on) crouch down, don't Kneel) trowel your area for the trap flat "bed" the cage trap solid. trowel some of the ground cover into the trap to cover the wire while being careful not to interfer with how the trap will spring. set the door back away and check it from afar. Only return to the actual trap to replenish bait or stair in pride and wonder at your trapped fox. good luck Keystonepaul

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

It would be best to kill it rather than relocate.
First of all, it's probably illegal, and secondly it's a good way to spread diseases

 

[codybird]

Feed your fox by locking the trap open for 3 or 4 nights continuing to replenish bait.

On the 5th night set the trap to catch and you should catch whatever has been eating your bait.

Works for cats.

 

[jhm47]

If you're planning to "relocate" (meaning dump your problem off on someone else), I hope you don't catch the fox. Releasing a proven and experienced chicken killer is just plain wrong!

 

[pringle]

Im just saying that not all people have chickens im pretty sure those who dont woulent notice that theres a fox or coon around.Just my thoughts though.Dont get angry at me

 

[johnwilly1962]

Relocating a fox to a less human inhabited area is a very commendable thing to do. The fox is only trying to survive the best way she/he can. Truly, humans don't have to kill everything they don't like or get along with. Kudos to you for doing the right thing and good luck finding the fox a new home.

 

[Oosik]

What you do to catch a fox with a Havahart trap is you bait it with something the fox has come to like. I chose to start depleting my area of squirrels since they were getting into my attic. I found a nice spot to place the occasional dead squirrel. Then I set up a Havahart trap. It would get sprung nightly as the fox pushed the trap around doing everything but getting inside the trap. We even saw the fox attack a squirrel that has gotten in the trap was still alive. I then figured out what you do is place a #2 coil spring trap in front and along side the box trap (now that the fox is acclimated to that trap). Snap, you'll find your fox the next morning.

 

[catfish/okie]

Quote:
I agree its much easier to catch a fox in a coilspring than a livetrap but there is a risk the coilspring will catch whatever steps in it first. A fox espicially a red one may travel up to 50 miles or more if relocated.

 

[huntinganthonyc]

hey its anthony you need to put the trap in a corner and if you have a chicken pit the chicken in a box behind the live trap