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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: Plot35 on April 08, 2008, 20:25:07

Title: Keeping Mr Fox Away
Post by: Plot35 on April 08, 2008, 20:25:07
I would like some advice please to do with a Fox.

I have prepared my Runner Bean bed by digging a trench filled it with newspaper and scrapes (that usually get composted) and than backed filled with the soil.

The problem I have is that there is many footprints in this bed made I am confident they were made by the fox. If he is walking over them now, when I come to put the beans in they will be crushed.

I need deter this fox now so by the time my beans go in he will not bother them.

I'm sure he can smell the food peelings ect I never had this last year but this year the fox has taken a liking to my plot this is not the first time I have already lost around ten broad beans by him digging them up or walking all over.

At this rate I will need one giant gage for the whole plot.

Any advice ideas?

Thank you

Denise
Title: Re: Keeping Mr Fox Away
Post by: davyw1 on April 08, 2008, 20:36:39
The Fox is a scavenger and if you have put food scraps in the trench then the chances are it will dig then up.
Title: Re: Keeping Mr Fox Away
Post by: manicscousers on April 08, 2008, 20:38:32
hiya, denise, welcome to the site,
I'm sure Hugh F W uses human hair to keep foxes away, don't know how you'd do it, anyone any more ideas?
Title: Re: Keeping Mr Fox Away
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on April 08, 2008, 20:55:05
Pee on it. Lion poo would probably work. But if it hasn't been digging already, don't panic. It'll be a while yet before you come to plant the beans out.
Title: Re: Keeping Mr Fox Away
Post by: aromatic on April 08, 2008, 21:31:42
 ;D Robert is absolutely correct.... human urine is a great source to deter Mr Fox....  I know from personal experience that it works... ( don't ask!!)

Also this may give you a few ideas that could help you out.....
www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Home-and-Garden/Question244266.html

If you have a source of electricity at your allotment, maybe you could rig up a security light to put the old Renard off his antics... or one of those infra red thingies that spray water??? may not be very practical for you, but just a thought.... maybe cheaper though to just collect your pee!!!

(sorry if anyone is eating as they read this!!)

(http://www.animated-gifs.eu/mammals-foxes-1/0002.gif)  (http://www.animated-gifs.eu/mammals-foxes-1/0003.gif)
Title: Re: Keeping Mr Fox Away
Post by: Plot35 on April 08, 2008, 23:22:52
Thank you.

This fox comes on the plot even when i am on it he is not Bothered about us.

I shout I chasse just to make him too scared to come on the plot but that's does not work.

Husband's pee will have to do. Now I must go and tell him!
Title: Re: Keeping Mr Fox Away
Post by: bionear2 on April 08, 2008, 23:32:30
Had the same problem in a newly dug bed at home. Bought some very cheap white pepper and scattered it around. Seemed to work, did not dig there again.
I get footprints and small digs on the lottie too, but no real damage so far. If it escalates it will be shotguns at midnight!
Title: Re: Keeping Mr Fox Away
Post by: chlodonnay2 on April 09, 2008, 10:01:21
We have a fox who seems to live next to your plot. I like him and didn't realise he would be a nuisance? He seems very tame so I don't think shooing him away would work.
Title: Re: Keeping Mr Fox Away
Post by: Deb P on April 09, 2008, 11:17:56
I get a lot of foxes on my lottie, usually they just scrap around at particular points and don't do much damage.....last Sunday I found a particularly heavy footed fox had walked over one of my fleece covered potato beds, and ripped holes where he had trod...this was double thickness fleece! ::)
Title: Re: Keeping Mr Fox Away
Post by: Lacelotte on April 09, 2008, 11:23:40
Foxes wont go where they smell humans so get yourself down to your local hairdressers/barbers and ask for a bag of the hair off the floor. They will probably look at you very strangely and refuse to cut your hair in the future but once you have the bag of hair, fill old tights with it and pin them up around the perimeter fence. thats not to say you need to fill the tights fully, just little fist sized balls should do the job.

Hope that helps