Foxes are omnivorous animals; they are as long as 150cm (just under 5ft) with the ability to climb and jump. With this information at hand, one of the questions in your mind is can foxes jump a fence?
If you own poultry or a small farm and you are worried about foxes invading your yard, then this article is for you.
The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and the gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) are the most common species of fox in urban areas.
We will discuss how high a fox can climb if a fox can climb an electric fence, how to fox proof your fence, what to do when a fox is in your yard, and several other related topics.
How High Can a Fox Jump
Many foxes can jump up to 3 feet high, and adult foxes can jump up to 6 feet or events higher. Their retractable claws help them climb and jump through long distances.
Can A Fox Jump A 6ft Fence?
Yes, some foxes can jump as high as 6ft. Adult foxes can jump as high as 6ft and even more. Their strong limbs make it possible for this to happen.
Can a Fox Jump A 4ft Fence?
Of course, a fox can jump over a fence 4ft high. It should be no trouble for them to do so as they can jump within a range of 3ft to 6ft and even more. So, when keeping your yard free from foxes, you must up your game on your fences.
Can a Fox Jump an Electric Fence?
No, they cannot jump an electric fence, an electric fence is a good solution for keeping foxes away from your yard, but an electric fence alone cannot prevent a determination. Once their paws touch the fence, they take the hint that there will not be food for them.
And when a fox touches an electric fence once, they avoid them because it has felt the effect of the fence. However, electric fences are not the safest option if you have kids or live in a very public place.
Can Foxes Run Along Fences
Yes, they can. Like cats, foxes cannot only climb a fence, but they can also walk along the fences. Here is a video of a fox walking on a fence.
How High Should a Fence Be to Keep Foxes Out
Most urban foxes can jump as high as 3ft, while others can jump as high as 6ft, and in a few cases, some foxes can climb up to the roof of a house.
So obviously, you will need a much higher fence to keep foxes away. So, we recommend a fence 9ft high; anything higher than that is building the Great Wall of China.
A fence 6ft high will keep most urban foxes away, but it will not stand in the way of a determined fox and its lunch, but a fence 9ft high is recommended to prevent all types of foxes.
How Do You Fox Proof A Fence
If you own poultry, or you don’t want a fox digging through your trash (though it’s a rare occurrence) or even digging on your lawn, then you may be considering a fox-proof fence.
Your fence should be 6ft to 9ft long; it should extend underneath the soil at a length of about 19inches to prevent a fox from digging (we’ll get to that part later).
It should overhang outwards at an angle of 45 degrees. The higher part of your fence (6ft to 9ft part) can be made of wood or a wire mesh, and the upper part overhanging outward should be made of a wire mesh or an electric fence for extra protection, but the electric fence should be kept out of children’s reach.
There are some additional precautions to take note of when erecting a fox-proof fence. If you use a wire mesh as your primary fencing material, you may want to double it to prevent a fox from pushing through it.
The holes on your mesh should not be larger than 80mm, and your mesh should have a diameter of 0.9mm, or it should have a thickness of about 0.9mm; this prevents foxes from chewing through your mesh fence.
Foxes are very good climbers making a wire mesh fence better than a timber fence, as the wire mesh poses a difficulty for these foxes.
Recommended: How To Keep Skunk Out of Your Yard
What Do You Do If There Is a Fox in Your Yard?
DO NOT PANIC! Foxes are generally harmless, and panicking may lead you to harm a fox. When a fox sees a human, it immediately runs away, so it’s best to let them be.
You can offer it food if you wish to, but leave them alone if you are not offering them food.
Foxes don’t bite, and if it happens, it is a rare case because they adapt very quickly to the human environment. To scare them off, use any device that causes loud noise, or you can yell.
There are a lot of ways to get them out of your yard peacefully. Keeping smelly clothes or cat litter near their den should disturb the fox family, placing a small amount.
Also making foxes and their kits feel uncomfortable are balloons, confetti, and muddy items. Even keeping chunks of human hair around can scare them away as they know the smell of humans; these items should be kept inside or near their den.
Then for quicker and immediate solutions, you can consider fixing a motion-activated sprinkler system on your law or using animal repellant chemicals. Loud noises also scare away foxes, take a metal utensil and hit it against your pan or pot; a motion-activated alarm is also helpful.
Getting a guard dog is also helpful; their aggressive and violent nature will scare off foxes, a better alternative to getting a guard dog is using a scarecrow.
You should consider trapping them if the other options above fail. Get a cage that is big enough to accommodate the fox and not harm it.
A cage with multiple doors will increase your chances of caging the fox. Lure the fox with bait to the area where the trap is set. If you cannot properly set up a fox cage, you should contact an expert.
If you are successful on your quest to trap a fox, we must emphasize this DO NOT in any condition put your hand inside the cage as a caged fox will not be friendly and will bite you on instinct. For this reason, it is advisable to purchase and use a cage with a handle.
Should You Be Worried If There Is a Fox in Your Yard
If you are just a regular person with nothing special, there isn’t much to worry about, but if you own poultry, you should be worried.
Foxes are omnivores; they eat little vegetation and fruit, feed mostly on insects, and then they also eat rodents and small animals, so if you own poultry near you and its fence is not fox proof then we hate to inform you that’s it will be a feast for Mr. Fox or Mrs. Vixen.
But if you are just a normal person without poultry or any pet lying outside, you only have to be worried about the holes foxes dig.
Foxes only dig holes during spring and early autumn, in other words, during the wet season. And their primary goal when digging is to find some earthworms to eat, so you may wake up one day to several holes in your yard but don’t worry, it’s nothing; the digging will stop eventually.
If you want to prevent digging, use insecticides on your lawn to kill these insects.
Foxes also create dens in porches and decks; these are mostly red and gray foxes. They usually create these dens to accommodate their kits when the weather is harsh, but they will move out with time.
You can chase them away, or you can accommodate them for a while. Their kits come out of the den 4 to 5 weeks after birth, and then 8 to 9 weeks after birth, they go out and hunt with their parents. You can assist them in moving out of your deck or porch during that period.
You may need to chase them away for people who own poultry as your birds will serve as food for them and their young ones.
Some foxes may be carriers of rabies, and it’s usually a rare occurrence, so you may need to protect yourself and the kids.
Is It Bad To Have a Fox in Your Yard?
It’s not all that bad to have a fox in your yard. As we have discussed above, foxes are nuisances to poultry owners. However, you may need to keep your kittens or puppies— or any other small animals— lying outdoors inside, as they may be the prey to foxes. If a fox bites your pet, rush them to the hospital.
One crucial piece of information to note is that before you take any action towards scaring a fox away, observe its character.
If it seems to be swaying like a drunk or if it acts like its limbs are broken, or if it is being aggressive or acting strangely tame, then you should back off and call animal control.
Remember, a fox is cunning and may bite you if in that state. It may also give you rabies which is not good for your health.
Urban foxes do not have rabies; only foxes in rural areas have rabies. Some foxes can also have Mange call animal control or a wildlife expert if you suspect such.
What Attracts a Fox to Your Yard?
There are more urban foxes than rural foxes, so getting rid of things that attract foxes is the best way to control their entry, and it only costs you a little time and no money.
Put all your refuse and waste in a container and not in a plastic bag as it can get torn. And don’t leave your trash outside for a long time. Put them outside in the morning when they are supposed to be collected.
Don’t leave food for your pet outdoors; keep both your pets and their food indoors. And if you own poultry, make sure that they are well secured, as foxes are only attracted to places with food. Keeping your surroundings clean is also a helpful tip.
The behavior of a fox is like that of a dog in several ways. In other words, foxes are very curious animals, and some items that can serve as a play toy intrigues them.
Rubber garden gloves and rubber boots can serve as a play and chew toy for them, so those items should be put aside. It would be best if you kept your pet’s toys indoors.
Any fish and blood containing compost or fertilizer should be avoided as foxes possess a sharp sense of smell and assume the smell means food. Holes in your yard can also attract foxes as they serve as a source of shelter for them.
Conclusion
Foxes can be a nuisance to poultry owners, and therefore they need to be kept out of the yard. They can jump a 4ft fence and even a 6ft fence; they can also walk and run on fences.
With all these mentioned, a highly protective fence that is underground and is about 9ft high is needed.
We also discussed what to do if you see a fox in your yard and peaceful ways to drive them away without causing any harm. We have listed out a few of their behaviors and how they act in different situations.
It is important to know what attracts a fox to your backyard so that you can take quick action and prevent its entry.
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We trust this article helped you determine if a fox can jump a fence. You may also want to check out How High Can a Raccoon Jump.
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