Identifying foxes and fox signs

Signs of a fox

The common signs are:

• Droppings, urine and scent left on lawns, paths and raised spots as territory markers.
• Digging. Small holes in lawns where foxes hunt for grubs and worms.
• Scattered bins. Bags torn open and rubbish spread across the drive.
• Dens under sheds, decking or outbuildings.

Foxes are mostly active at dusk and dawn, so you may see one in the evening or at first light. An urban fox territory covers about 25 hectares (RSPCA).

Why foxes scream

The screaming is mating, not an injured animal. Mating takes place from December to February (RSPCA), so the noise peaks in January and February.

Cubs are born in spring, and litters average four or five. Cubs emerge in March and April and are fully grown by about six months. In autumn young foxes leave and find their own territory.

Where foxes live and when you see them

Foxes are common in towns and cities as well as the countryside. An urban territory is small, about 25 hectares, so the fox you see is likely to live close by. It may be using your garden as a short cut, a feeding spot or a place to rest.

Complaints peak in winter, when the noise is loudest, and in spring and summer, when cubs are under sheds and digging is at its worst. Young foxes disperse in autumn, which is why new animals can appear in the garden at that time.

A fox seen in daylight is not necessarily ill. Foxes are mostly active at dusk and dawn, but they also move about in the day, especially when feeding cubs. Look for hair loss and itching before you assume it is mange.

Fox or something else

Several animals make similar marks.

• Cats dig in beds and leave droppings.
• Dogs dig and leave droppings, too.
• Badgers are protected. A visit from a badger should not be treated as a fox problem.

These lookalike checks are judgement rather than a test. If you are unsure, photograph the marks and the droppings and ask a professional. Do not act against a badger.

Mange and health

A fox with hair loss and itching may have sarcoptic mange, which can pass to dogs. Keep dogs away from foxes and their dens. Wear gloves when clearing droppings.

If an animal looks sick or injured, contact a wildlife rescue or the RSPCA rather than handling it.

What to do next

If the signs fit a fox, see how fox control works, what it costs and how to deter foxes yourself. Foxes are not protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, but cruelty to them is an offence, so deterrence and proofing are the way to go.