Foxes are becoming increasingly bold and more common in British gardens, but a simple kitchen product most people have could act as a humane deterrent. According to research, the red fox was the most sighted wild animal in the UK last year, alongside rabbits. Over the past 25 years, foxes have moved into 91% of UK urban areas that were previously predicted to support few or no foxes. For homeowners and renters with gardens, these statistics may come as no surprise.
Fox Population and Behaviour
According to British wildlife organisations such as the Woodland Trust and the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, the adult spring population of foxes stands at roughly 240,000, boosted every April and May by the birth of around 425,000 cubs. Experts have noted that foxes are demonstrating increasing boldness in urban areas as they become more comfortable around humans.
Natural Deterrents Using Kitchen Ingredients
One effective method to keep foxes out of gardens without harming them involves using simple kitchen ingredients. Gardens can be a constant source of food that attracts foxes, especially if you use food to attract birds. Eric Michels, head of products for bird feeder experts Vivara and CJ Wildlife, suggests using spices as a repellent.
Foxes have an exceptionally strong sense of smell. Using natural deterrents ensures you do not upset birds and insects that visit your garden. According to Eric, spraying spices in areas you want foxes to avoid can help repel them. Speaking to Woman & Home, he said: "If you're still seeing evidence of unwanted visitors at night, then you can humanely deter foxes by sprinkling certain spices around the perimeter of your outdoor living space. Spices such as cayenne pepper, peppermint and garlic, as the smell will put them off. You can also infuse the spices in boiling water, and then spritz around the garden as an additional repellent."
Other Preventative Measures
There are other obvious moves people can make to keep foxes away. These include clearing away food supplies, covering vegetable plots, not leaving rubbish exposed, and keeping on top of garden maintenance. Oliver Hill, founder of plant tracker app GardenList, agrees that foxes dislike spicy smells. He said: "Some of the most effective smells that can keep foxes away include garlic and chilli. Spraying a mixture of garlic, chilli pepper and water around the perimeter of the garden can deter foxes." It is apparently the capsaicin compound found in chilli that foxes particularly dislike.
