Catch of the Week: Fox
June 11, 2018
Although foxes are known for being sly and sneaky, our wildlife control experts recently outsmarted a fox found in Norwalk. This scavenger was found trying to burrow under a homeowners’ barn, but before the fox could cause too much damage, our exterminators were able to capture it. The fox was then released to a nearby wildlife area.
What You Need to Know About Foxes in Iowa
Foxes are becoming more common in urban areas as cities are expanding. They can be found trying to get into homeowners’ trash bins or burrowing under houses or porches for shelter. However, the struggle continues outside the city - foxes are a threat to Iowa farmers when they invade their property and eat crops, chickens, eggs, rabbits and other resources.
Although there are over 20 different fox species, only two different species are found in Iowa: the red fox and the gray fox. The red fox is one of the most commonly found and is widely spread throughout the United States. Something unique about the gray fox, is that since it prefers to live in timbered areas, many of these critters have adapted to climbing up trees to escape their predators. You can distinguish the differences between the red and gray foxes, not only in their color, but in their size. The gray fox is slightly larger than most red foxes.
What Do Fox Eat?
The diet of a fox varies depending on its surroundings, but typically includes:
- small game
- eggs
- fish
- frogs
- worms & insects
- vegetables
- grass
- berries & fruit
- garbage
It’s important to know what these scavengers eat because some of the most effective ways to keep them away is to take away their food source and their shelter. Homeowners should secure trash bins, pick up any fallen fruit in the yard, keep a fence around vegetable gardens and make sure they don’t leave pet food outside for critters to snatch. Foxes can burrow under houses, trees and other structures, but they will also make a home out of wood or brush piles, so be sure to keep your yard tidy to avoid scavenger pests.
Trapping A Fox
Preferred Pest wildlife control experts always use humane trapping methods and check any traps daily to take care of the animals as soon as possible. When trapping pests, it’s usually best to use meat, fish, sweet vegetables or fruit to attract the animal - our exterminators prefer to use cantaloupe. Once they’re captured, the foxes are relocated to a safe wildlife reserve.
Once the fox is removed from the property, it’s important to seal off the den with a wired fence or sturdy mesh to prevent future issues. For the most effective results, dig into the ground about a foot so the pest cannot easily dig under the barrier, then curve the end of the mesh away from the entrance of the burrow so they do not push through it.
Des Moines Pest Removal Experts
If you have questions or need help trapping a fox or another pest around your property, contact our wildlife exterminators at Preferred Pest Control. We’ve humanely trapped many different types of pests and have a special wildlife removal and relocation process. Call today for more information at (515) 415-5550 or schedule an appointment online.
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