To what extent are foxes dangerous to our pets or farm animals?

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Foxes were once known to be very shy creatures, ones that would much prefer to run away from conflict with humans, than stay and fight back. These days, just like rats, foxes have essentially moved in with humans, because they know that humans always bring food. Whether it’s in the form of scraps offered in the back garden, or an unwelcome invitation from a garbage-bag-rustler in the middle of the night, they’re coming closer and closer because humans really do mean food.



With some wild critters, you don’t mind lending a helping hand. We’re sure that many of you feel this way about foxes. You’d rather help a wild animal, rather than harm it, correct? Although there are appropriate and humane approaches to all aspects of fox removal, the one thing you will always need to bear in mind is that these creatures are dangerous, and probably in more ways than you first may have thought.

An actual bite from a fox is quite rare, but you should know that rabies is a big problem with foxes across North America. If your pets have been vaccinated against rabies, this isn’t going to be too much of a problem. You probably won’t have been vaccinated against it, however, and this means that YOU are the vulnerable one. It is NOT advisable to let your kids play in the garden at the same time as a fox. It is not obvious immediately that a fox is infected with rabies in many cases, especially if the infection is a new one, and this means that your kids could get too close and potentially be bitten without any fear or caution. The animal look cute and NOT snappy, therefore they feel safe enough to get closer to it.

Foxes are cunning, and they’re worthy of that reputation. They will lure you in with their cuteness in the hope that you bring food, and when you don’t give them whatever they’re looking for, they turn. It’s like Jekyll and Hyde. Except, when this one turns, you might need to rush to the emergency room to get your child checked over for rabies.

Foxes will often come into conflict with other animals. They’ll think nothing of breaking into a chicken coop and devouring every chicken held within it. They’ll attack a small cat or dog if they think they can win the battle. They are opportunistic hunters and, to them, your small kitten in the back garden is no different to the rodent they caught this morning, in the field behind your home.

Foxes are actually much more dangerous than you thought, often carrying parasites that can easily be passed over to another animal. It is worth preventing these creatures from coming onto your property, than trying to clear up the mess the fox will leave behind once it’s done its business.

Read aboutHow to get rid of fox
For more information, you may want to click on one of these guides that I wrote:
How To Guide: Who should I hire? - What questions to ask, to look for, who NOT to hire.
How To Guide: do it yourself! - Advice on saving money by doing wildlife removal yourself.
Guide: How much does wildlife removal cost? - Analysis of wildlife control prices.
Animals in the attic - read about the common species.
Noises in the attic - how to identify critters by their sounds.