Foxy, Foxy (ii)
Tuesday, May 29th, 2012 11:44 amIt seems that we are going to have to take measures.
I have mentioned before that the local fox population is expanding – the dog and vixen pair (I think it’s just one pair, though recently we have seen a much larger, much darker male fox hanging about) have bred a new litter under![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
jfs’s garden shed. In itself, I have no problem with that. I don’t mind the foxes wandering through the garden on their way elsewhere. To be honest, provided they don’t do too much digging, I don’t mind them hanging about in the garden, particularly the bottom.
But they are getting bolder; they clearly have no fear of humans and the cubs, or at least one of them, are or is getting quite adventurous.
A couple of weeks ago, there was evidence that an animal had been in the conservatory; stuff knocked over and such, but no damage. We weren’t and aren’t 100% certain that it was a fox, but the cats have been investigating since we moved in and don’t demean themselves by interacting with their environment. They like to wander in, check up on their investment and leave.
The weekend before last I noticed the male fox at the top of the steps by the patio. He saw me and sauntered off unhurriedly. A few days later, I shooed off one of the cubs as it was taking an interest in the irrigation.
On Saturday, after we had finished watching Eurovision and were suiting in the living room chatting, one of the cubs, possibly the same one, came wandering into the living room and stood under the coffee table by the conservatory door. He soon left when people advanced on him. Yesterday, however, Furtle was home early and left the conservatory door open to let some fresh air in. She was upstairs in the study, when some sound alerted he to the fact that a fox cub was in the bedroom, presumably having investigated the living room and bathroom first. She chased it downstairs where it hid under the sofa before being shooed out into the garden and out.
Now I have no desire whatsoever to injure or otherwise hurt these animals and as I say, provided they keep their distance from the house, I don’t mind them being in the garden, but I do NOT want them wandering around the house.
We have Friday off, so I am considering arranging delivery of one of those ultrasonic devices that emits a high pitched shriek (above the range of human hearing) whenever an animal gets too close. This, if it works, would seem to be the best way of making them uncomfortable without actually hurting them. Sadly, it may work on the cats, too, though if it’s outside the conservatory, they will still be able to use their alternative route across the roof. The other possibility is some sort of latticed screen that we can put in the open door that will let the air in, but stop animals.
Does anyone out there in LJ land have any experience of dealing with these sorts of thing? I want them out of the house, but I want to do it humanely.
I have mentioned before that the local fox population is expanding – the dog and vixen pair (I think it’s just one pair, though recently we have seen a much larger, much darker male fox hanging about) have bred a new litter under
jfs’s garden shed. In itself, I have no problem with that. I don’t mind the foxes wandering through the garden on their way elsewhere. To be honest, provided they don’t do too much digging, I don’t mind them hanging about in the garden, particularly the bottom.But they are getting bolder; they clearly have no fear of humans and the cubs, or at least one of them, are or is getting quite adventurous.
A couple of weeks ago, there was evidence that an animal had been in the conservatory; stuff knocked over and such, but no damage. We weren’t and aren’t 100% certain that it was a fox, but the cats have been investigating since we moved in and don’t demean themselves by interacting with their environment. They like to wander in, check up on their investment and leave.
The weekend before last I noticed the male fox at the top of the steps by the patio. He saw me and sauntered off unhurriedly. A few days later, I shooed off one of the cubs as it was taking an interest in the irrigation.
On Saturday, after we had finished watching Eurovision and were suiting in the living room chatting, one of the cubs, possibly the same one, came wandering into the living room and stood under the coffee table by the conservatory door. He soon left when people advanced on him. Yesterday, however, Furtle was home early and left the conservatory door open to let some fresh air in. She was upstairs in the study, when some sound alerted he to the fact that a fox cub was in the bedroom, presumably having investigated the living room and bathroom first. She chased it downstairs where it hid under the sofa before being shooed out into the garden and out.
Now I have no desire whatsoever to injure or otherwise hurt these animals and as I say, provided they keep their distance from the house, I don’t mind them being in the garden, but I do NOT want them wandering around the house.
We have Friday off, so I am considering arranging delivery of one of those ultrasonic devices that emits a high pitched shriek (above the range of human hearing) whenever an animal gets too close. This, if it works, would seem to be the best way of making them uncomfortable without actually hurting them. Sadly, it may work on the cats, too, though if it’s outside the conservatory, they will still be able to use their alternative route across the roof. The other possibility is some sort of latticed screen that we can put in the open door that will let the air in, but stop animals.
Does anyone out there in LJ land have any experience of dealing with these sorts of thing? I want them out of the house, but I want to do it humanely.