Fox removal

Both red and gray foxes live in north Georgia, and suburban yards suit them well. The usual call comes in spring, when a vixen picks the space under a deck, porch or shed to raise her kits. Foxes are also hard on backyard chickens.

Signs of foxes

• A hole dug under a deck, porch, shed or slab, often with a strong musky smell
• Kits playing near the den in spring
• Chickens or other small animals going missing
• A fox with patchy fur or bald skin, which is a sign of mange

How I handle it

1. Confirm what is there

   A den in spring very likely has young in it, which changes how the job is done.

2. Remove or move the family on

   Depending on the season and the situation, the foxes are trapped or encouraged to move on before the den is closed.

3. Seal the space

   Once they are out, the opening under the deck or shed is closed off with buried wire so it cannot be dug again.

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Which foxes live in north Georgia?

Georgia has two kinds of fox, the red fox and the gray fox. Georgia DNR says both are found throughout the state, in rural country and in towns alike.

The gray fox is the true native. DNR calls it the forest fox and describes it as native to the eastern forests of Georgia. The red fox, according to DNR, was brought to America by European settlers and has since spread through Georgia and most of the country.

Both have done well around people. DNR says foxes are quite common in cities, towns and subdivisions because suburbs offer plenty of food and shelter. Red foxes in particular are common in urban and suburban parts of the state.

How can I tell a red fox from a gray fox?

Color is the quickest clue, though the gray fox has some red on it, which confuses people. DNR describes the red fox as deep reddish-brown to yellowish-red, with a bushy red tail tipped in white. The Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management adds that red foxes have black legs.

The gray fox is grizzled gray with patches of reddish fur on the neck, flanks, legs and the underside of the tail. A black stripe runs down its back to the tip of the tail. If the tail ends in black rather than white, you are almost certainly looking at a gray fox.

The two are close in size. DNR puts gray foxes at 8 to 12 pounds and 34 to 40 inches long including the tail, and red foxes at 8 to 14 pounds and 36 to 45 inches.

• Red fox: reddish coat, black legs, white tip on the tail
• Gray fox: grizzled gray with reddish patches, black stripe down the back to the tail tip
• Gray fox in a tree: almost certainly a gray fox, since it is the climber

Can foxes really climb trees?

The gray fox can. DNR says its ability to climb trees is unique among foxes, and that it uses it to escape predators such as coyotes, bobcats and birds of prey. That climbing habit is part of why gray foxes are tied so closely to wooded areas.

For a homeowner, this changes how a coop or pen should be built. A fence that stops a red fox from digging may not stop a gray fox from going over the top. The Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management recommends a netting roof to stop foxes that climb.

Red foxes rely on something else. DNR says they escape predators with speed and endurance rather than climbing, which is why they became the classic quarry for fox hunting with hounds.

Why do foxes choose the space under a deck, porch or shed?

DNR says foxes do well in suburbs because of the food and shelter found there. A low deck, a shed on blocks or the void under a porch slab is exactly that kind of shelter, and it often sits beside a yard with mice and rabbits in it.

The two species den differently. The Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management says red foxes dig their own dens or take over abandoned burrows, and may den near farm buildings. Gray foxes tend to use wood piles, rock outcrops, hollow trees and brush piles.

Dens also get reused. The same source notes that a red fox den is often used again across several generations. A space that held kits once is likely to be tried again unless it is closed off properly.

When are fox kits born, and how long do they stay?

In Georgia, red foxes mate from January through February and gray foxes from January through April, according to DNR. After a gestation of about 53 days, red foxes usually have 4 to 5 young and gray foxes 2 to 7. The Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management notes that in the South, kits can arrive as early as March.

Both parents help raise the young, says DNR. Gray fox kits become independent at about 3 months old. Young red foxes stay with the family longer and disperse at about 6 months.

When the young do leave, they can go a long way. The Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management says foxes disperse from their denning areas in the fall, sometimes traveling up to 245 miles to find a territory of their own.

Should I rescue fox kits that seem to be alone?

Almost never. DNR notes that adult wildlife often leaves its young for a while to find food, and its advice for young animals is short: if you care, leave them there. Kits on their own near a den are not necessarily orphaned.

Picking them up can also put you on the wrong side of the law. DNR says it is illegal to try to care for wildlife in Georgia without a specific permit, and only permitted wildlife rehabilitators may take in injured or orphaned animals.

Foxes can carry rabies, so handling them also carries a health risk. If a kit is plainly injured, or you know for certain the parents are dead, call DNR at 1-800-366-2661 or find a permitted rehabilitator through DNR. Do not take the kits inside, feed them or move them yourself.

What do foxes eat?

DNR says a large share of a fox's diet is rabbits, rats, mice, squirrels, birds and insects. Foxes also eat carrion, along with fruit, nuts and berries. The Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management adds eggs to the list and notes that red foxes may hide extra food to eat later.

Around a house, that means the yard is often feeding the fox without anyone intending it. DNR suggests taking down bird feeders that are attracting mice and birds, since those draw foxes in turn.

Domestic birds are on the menu too. DNR specifically names chickens, guineas and ducks.

How do I keep foxes away from my chickens?

DNR says building exclusionary pens is the best solution to foxes taking poultry. In other words, the answer is a coop and run a fox cannot get into, not a fox-free neighborhood.

The Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management gives specifics. For a poultry yard without a buried foundation, use wire mesh about 3 feet tall attached to the building. Bury the bottom at least 2 inches and add a wire apron extending about 12 inches outward so a digging fox meets wire. Close up any openings at ground level and shut the coop doors every night.

For larger pens, the same source recommends 5-foot wire mesh with openings no bigger than 3 inches, buried with an apron, plus a netting roof for climbing gray foxes. An electric fence with wires at about 6, 12 and 18 inches off the ground can also deter red foxes.

• Lock birds in a closed coop every night
• Use wire mesh fastened to the coop, with a buried apron
• Cover the run if gray foxes are in the area
• Seal ground-level gaps in the coop walls and floor
• Collect eggs daily and do not leave feed out overnight

Is a fox in my yard dangerous?

Usually not. DNR says simply seeing a fox is not a cause for concern, and its advice for a fox seen in the woods or the yard is to leave it alone. Foxes hunt mostly at night, but DNR notes it is not unusual to see one in daylight.

The Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management describes foxes as most active at twilight, though they also move around during the day, especially on dark, overcast days. It adds that foraging increases in spring.

DNR does advise against feeding or approaching foxes. Foxes are naturally wary of people, and DNR says consistent hazing helps keep them that way: banging pots and pans, yelling, an air horn, or a hose or motion-activated sprinkler.

What is mange, and what does a bald fox mean?

Sarcoptic mange is a skin disease caused by a tiny mite that burrows into the skin. Georgia DNR lists mange mites among the parasites both red and gray foxes can carry.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources wildlife disease program describes the signs well. Hair thins and falls out, the skin thickens and wrinkles, and scabs and crusts form. Red foxes are hit the hardest, often with a foul-smelling crust around the head that spreads over the body and legs in severe cases. Badly affected animals become thin and weak.

The same source says the disease is often fatal to red foxes and can be especially hard on young foxes in summer. Damage around the eyes, ears and mouth can affect sight, hearing and eating.

Can mange spread to my dog or to me?

It can. Michigan DNR says the mites spread by direct contact and through shared nests and burrows. It also says sarcoptic mange mites are less host-specific than once believed, so a dog that has contact with a mangy wild canid can pick them up.

People are not immune either. The same source says sarcoptic mites are known to pass from animals to people, so anyone handling a mangy animal should wear gloves and wash promptly afterward.

Keep dogs away from a fox with mange and from any den it uses. If your dog starts scratching hard or losing hair after contact, see your veterinarian. Treatment for the fox itself has to be handled by a veterinarian or a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, so please do not try to medicate it with food.

How common is rabies in foxes, and what are the signs?

The Georgia Department of Public Health says rabies in Georgia occurs mostly in wild mammals such as skunks, raccoons, coyotes, foxes and bats. DNR notes that both red and gray foxes can carry it.

DNR lists the common signs as poor coordination, lethargy, paralysis and aggression. DPH warns that it is a misconception that rabid animals are easy to spot because they drool or foam at the mouth. Any wild or stray animal acting abnormally should be treated as possibly rabid.

Rabies spreads mainly through saliva, usually from a bite. DPH says the incubation period is typically one to three months. Once symptoms begin, death usually follows within days, which is why prompt care after an exposure matters so much.

What should I do if a fox bites or scratches a person or pet?

For a person, DPH advises cleaning the wound right away with soap and water and calling a doctor as soon as possible. The doctor can consult the Georgia Poison Center to decide whether rabies shots are needed. DPH notes that rabies can be prevented in people when medical care is sought soon after exposure.

Have the details ready. DPH says the doctor will want to know the type of animal, whether the attack was provoked, where on the body the exposure happened, and whether the animal can be tested.

For a pet, call your veterinarian. DPH recommends that owned dogs and cats be vaccinated against rabies regularly, and a current vaccination record makes the next steps much simpler. The Georgia Poison Center takes rabies questions around the clock at 1-800-282-5846.

Are foxes protected in Georgia?

Foxes are both game animals and furbearers in Georgia, according to DNR, so taking them is regulated. The furbearer trapping season runs from December 1 through February 28.

Outside the season, the route depends on what is happening. DNR says that if foxes are causing property damage outside hunting or trapping season, you can get a nuisance wildlife control permit from DNR. You can also hire one of the Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators listed on DNR's website.

Trapping has its own rules. Georgia requires a trapping license, a trap check at least once every 24 hours, and written permission to trap on someone else's land. Live foxes have separate rules: they can be taken only in open season by a commercial trapping license holder, and sold only to licensed fox preserves or breeders. If shooting is being considered, DNR also says to check local ordinances on discharging firearms.

Why not just block the hole while the fox is out?

It is the most common shortcut, and in spring it is the riskiest one. If kits are inside, blocking the entrance seals them in with no adult to feed them. DNR notes that both parents help raise the young, so a blocked den cuts the kits off from both of them.

Even outside kit season, a quick patch rarely holds. A loose board or a few bricks do not stop a determined digger, and the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management notes that red fox dens are often reused for generations. A space that has been dug once tends to be dug again.

That is why I confirm the space is empty before I close anything, and why the closure goes below ground level instead of sitting on top of it.

How do I close off a deck or shed so foxes cannot den there again?

The Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management advises securing decks and outbuildings with crawl spaces so foxes cannot dig dens beneath them. DNR gives the same advice for crawl spaces. The key is the timing. The space has to be empty before it is sealed, or you trap animals inside.

When I close off a deck or shed, I run sturdy galvanized wire around the open sides and fasten it to the framing. At the bottom, I bury the wire and bend it outward along the ground so a fox digging at the edge runs into wire instead of soil. That outward apron is the same principle the Internet Center recommends for poultry yards.

I also look for the less obvious entries: a gap under a stair stringer, a loose skirting panel, a low spot where a drainage swale passes under the deck. Window wells and similar pits near the house are worth covering too. The Internet Center specifically recommends wire mesh over them.

Do repellents, lights or noise keep foxes away?

Not for long. The Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management says propane cannons, radios and recordings may cut activity briefly, but foxes tend to adapt. Flashing lights may give short-term protection in a small area like a poultry pen.

Store-bought predator urine gets asked about often. The same source says coyote or dog urine may repel foxes for a while, but its long-term effect is doubtful.

Some people consider fumigating a den. The Internet Center notes that gas cartridges should not be used under wooden structures because of the fire risk, and that state pesticide rules need to be checked first. Under a deck or shed, exclusion is the safer and more lasting answer.

How do foxes share a neighborhood with coyotes and with each other?

Often they do, but not as friends. DNR names coyotes, along with bobcats and birds of prey, among the predators of both foxes. Gray foxes escape by climbing, and red foxes by outrunning them.

Foxes also divide up space among themselves. DNR says gray foxes are quite territorial and spend most of their lives in a home range of about one square mile. Red fox home ranges often overlap and vary in size with the number of foxes and the amount of food.

It also means a fox problem and a coyote problem can turn up on the same property. The fixes overlap in places, like securing food and pets, but a coop or fence built for one is not always enough for the other.

What happens when you call me about a fox den?

First I confirm what is using the space and whether there are kits. Tracks, fresh digging, the smell and a trail camera usually tell me what I need to know. A spring den is handled very differently from a single adult fox using a shed in the fall.

When young are present, I plan the work around them so they are not sealed in or left behind. Depending on the situation, the family is trapped under Georgia's rules or moved on. I check every trap at least once a day.

Once the space is confirmed empty, I close it with buried wire as described above and walk you through anything else on the property that is drawing foxes in, from the bird feeder to the chicken coop.

What affects the cost of fox removal?

I price each job after seeing it. The biggest variable is the season. A den with kits in it takes more care and more visits than a single fox.

The size of the structure matters next. Closing off a small shed is a different job from wrapping a long, low deck with several steps and a sloped yard. The ground matters as well, since rock, roots and slopes make burying wire slower.

If foxes are also after poultry, coop and run upgrades can be part of the plan. I lay out the options so you can choose what makes sense for your property.

Common questions

Where I do this work

Fox Removal across Bartow County, Cobb County, Cherokee County, Paulding County, Floyd County and Fulton County, Georgia.