Any advice on getting rid of foxes?

[DieselnHooters]

Keep the cats inside. If not a fox, a coyote, or raptor of some sort will grab them up.

I feel your pain. At least wife understands if they go outside they are part of the circle of life.

Given the familial and political box you are in, gotta shoot the fox...traps would also catch the cats. Maybe have the cat lovers shoot the fox?

There are plenty of videos of cats standing their ground when facing a fox also some showing cats messing up or even killing barn owls but the safest bet like you said is keeping the cats inside and let the foxes be.

 

[Moxie 15]

When I got my Great Pyrenees livestock guard dog my predator problems reduced considerably. Got a new problem though, he likes visiting the neighbors more than they like him visiting.

 

[dodge man]

You can catch and release, you just dont know how. Catch them with a 223 and release them in a hole. I like your idea of trying to get them to move out. I personally would have to have a major problem with them before I killed them.

 

[MossRoad]

I cannot catch and release here....

Yes you can. You just can't relocate. So set a live trap, catch it, make it watch you do your best Carl from Caddyshack impersonation, fill in it's burrow, and let it go. I've had great success with this method for ground hogs. I dig out the burrow to form a long ramp in the trench. Then I set the live trap in the trench, and put some boards weighted with patio blocks around any gaps. There's no way in or out except through the trap, and you don't have to guess which bait to use. I've never had one return once I treat it to a show.

 

[MossRoad]

I cannot catch and release here. In NY they fall under the definition of "Damaging Wildlife" because of the part that reads "kills or threatens your livestock or pets". Because of this I am allowed to kill them if I must.

For anyone interested in NY laws on taking wildlife: Remove or

In order to do catch and release I wold have to hire someone that is licensed to do so.

Like I said, I'd rather just give them a reason to go elsewhere on their own. If that doesn't work then I'm left with spending a lot of time laying in the bushes.

Honestly, I'd prefer to leave them be and if they get a cat, well that's the breaks, but my family does not agree with that notion.

You know, even the crazy cat lover sites say it's rare that a fox will kill a healthy house cat. Like any dog, they'll chase them because they run. But if they catch it, they'll soon let it go VS getting scratched to heck. Kittens and old, slow, sick cats, sure. But a healthy house cat? I'd not be concerned. Coyotes, I'd be a bit more concerned. But since we don't let our cats outside, we don't have that problem.

 

[Thall303]

I use a .22 Hornet.

 

[jaxs]

Some say shoot,some say trap and I say
"Ring-ding-ding-ding-dingeringeding!
Gering-ding-ding-ding-dingeringeding!"
What does the fox say?

 

[Jstpssng]

But with my luck I'd probably just catch the damn cats.

Then you put your coat over the cat's head, release the cat and let it go. Believe me, he will tell you if he gets into the trap.
The only downside is that the fox will also know that he's in the trap...

Catching a fox or coyote isn't as easy as just setting a trap. If anything appears unnatural they will avoid it. They have excellent noses and can smell the steel, so you first have to boil it then dip it in wax to hide the smell.

 

[oosik]

I have the full spectrum of cagey carnivores around here. Coyotes, cougars, hawks, owl - you know the list. I have a small Cocker Spaniel also. He is NEVER allow out by himself and is completely aware of the dangers with coyotes. I've given up on barn cats. The darn cats just will not stay in their secure enclosure at night. Out beyond the influence of my yard light and - zap - an owl has them.

Actually, I've found that encouraging the coyotes is just about as good as having barn cats. I leave the coyotes alone and occasionally provide tidbits of food. They come thru the yard at night and have really done a job on the mice and chipmunks.

 

[hube2]

You know, even the crazy cat lover sites say it's rare that a fox will kill a healthy house cat. Like any dog, they'll chase them because they run. But if they catch it, they'll soon let it go VS getting scratched to heck. Kittens and old, slow, sick cats, sure. But a healthy house cat? I'd not be concerned. Coyotes, I'd be a bit more concerned. But since we don't let our cats outside, we don't have that problem.

It could very well be the case that it was just chasing it for the reason stated. I did not see the event. I just know that I was barraged with the story of how the fox was chasing the cat in the back yard and how I needed to do something about it.

While I know that they will go after small pets and small children when desperate for food they generally prefer easier prey that will not fight back. We've had foxes in the past here and never had an issue.

I've known they were somewhere near the back of my property since early this spring.