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People and wildlife can coexist. Most dangerous encounters occur because people fail to leave wildlife alone. Red fox are not pets, and they should not be approached, fed, harassed, captured, or domesticated.

Remove Attractants

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Garbage: Garbage that is not securely stored provides an easy meal for these scavengers. Store all garbage in wildlife-proof containers.

Fruit trees: Clean-up any fallen fruit to avoid luring red fox or other wildlife to your yard.

Composting: Use an enclosed composting system, and avoid placing meat or fruit scraps onto your mulch or compost pile.

Pets: Red fox will occasionally prey on small pets. Don't allow your pets to roam. Make sure your yard is properly fenced, and when possible, keep your pets indoors. Avoid feeding your pets outdoors and keep your pets on leashes leash when walking them.

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Many nuisance red fox problems can be addressed by installing an exclusionary fence. These fences should be at least six feet high with an extra foot of fencing buried underground to prevent digging. Use small woven wire mesh and have a 12-inch wide overhanging edge or a roof to prevent climbing. Electric fencing is another exclusionary fencing option.

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Visual deterrents: The installation of bright strobe lights can be helpful. However, red fox are highly adaptable and may not be deterred for long by this technique.

Noise deterrents: Red fox can be scared with loud noises, including shouting or banging pots and pans. However, foxes that are habituated to living in an urban environment can adapt to human-related noises.

Repellants: Some companies manufacture repellents for deterring foxes. Ammonia is a non-commercial repellant. Using repellants is most successful in small isolated areas.

Traps and Snares: In most cases, the use of snares and other trapping devices is not legal in Colorado. In many places, live traps are legal and can be useful in urban areas. Individuals wishing to use live traps should be aware of local and state laws. Wildlife regulations prohibit the trapping and relocation of red foxes.

Shooting: Shooting nuisance red fox is an effective control method on private land in rural areas. Landowners wishing to shoot red fox need to be aware of local and state laws. The hunting of red fox on public land requires a Colorado small game or furbearers license.

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Feeding wildlife may be well intended, but it is harmful to the animal and can be dangerous for humans. In many parts of Colorado the intentional feeding of red fox is also illegal and should be reported.

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If a red fox acts aggressively, it may be an indication that it is sick or injured. Red fox can carry a number of diseases; however, healthy foxes pose virtually no human health risk. The best way to prevent exposure to any wildlife diseases is to avoid approaching and handling wild animals. Pets should also be kept away from wildlife and should be vaccinated against rabies. Any red fox that is appears to be sick or that is acting strangely or aggressively should be reported to the nearest Division of Wildlife office and the local animal control agency.

Rabies: Rabies is a virus that attacks the central nervous system of mammals. The virus is shed in the saliva of an infected animal and is transmitted mainly through bites. Red fox with rabies may lose their natural wariness of people and become extremely aggressive, display lack of muscle coordination, and/or show signs of paralysis. Although rabies has been detected in Colorado, cases are relatively rare.

Mange: Sarcoptic mange is an infestation of the skin by mites, which causes hair loss and severe irritation of the skin. Serious cases can cause blindness, hearing loss, difficulty eating, and sometimes even death to the fox. Mange is found in Colorado.

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Colorado Division of Wildlife regional offices and service centers, area offices, and recorded help lines.

 

Next: Red Fox At A Glance