Fox

Homeowner, rental or HOA

Prevent problems

Key strategies

• Access to human provided food can habituate foxes to people. Discuss this point with your neighbors if you think foxes are being accidentally or purposely fed in your area.
• Seeing a fox around homes, including during daytime, is normal. If you see a fox, you can deter it by yelling, clapping and stomping your feet. A fox that maintains a fear of humans will be less likely to cause conflicts.

Around home

• Ensure pet food, bird food and food compost are not accessible to foxes. Feed and water pets indoors when possible.
• Secure garbage and outdoor compost in animal-proof receptacles.
• Clean grills of food scraps and grease.
• Remove brush piles and thick vegetation that can provide shelter for rodents, which are the primary food source for foxes.
• Sturdy fencing at least 6 feet tall and buried several inches into the ground can help deter foxes from entering yards.
• Check your home and other structures for holes that rodents may use for access. Reducing rodent activity can reduce fox presence.
• Secure fence gates, garage doors and similar locations where foxes may venture into your property.
• Various fox deterrents, such as lights and noise makers, are available from retailers. However, their effectiveness is often brief or lacking, and alternative methods may need to be used.

Pets and livestock

• Keep small pets indoors or closely supervised, particularly during dawn and dusk.
• Foxes may be defensive if cornered. Be aware that some dogs may instinctively chase foxes. Keep dogs leashed or enclosed with at least 6 foot fencing, potentially with a roller device at the top.
• Secure poultry and other small livestock in predator-resistant enclosures, particularly at night.
• Keep livestock feed stored securely to avoid attracting rodents or foxes.

Solve a problem

Non-lethal methods

• Eliminating food attractants and reducing shelter around your home are the best ways to minimize foxes frequenting your property.
• If a fox gets into a crawlspace or similar area, use noise (loud radio, banging pots and pans) to encourage it to leave. Seal the opening once the fox departs.
• Various fox deterrents, such as motion-activated lights or sprinklers, are available from retailers. Their effectiveness may be brief, and alternative methods may be needed.
• If damage from wildlife is occurring but you are not sure what type of animal is causing it, setting up at least one trail camera at that location is a good way to identify the animal.
• A bold fox is not necessarily an aggressive fox. Seeing a fox during daytime is normal. A fox that maintains fear of humans will be less likely to cause conflicts
• If a fox follows you, do not panic. You are likely on the same path it follows through its territory. Simply move away from the path and monitor the fox.
• If a fox approaches you, make yourself as large as possible and make loud noises while waving your hands and stomping your feet.
• In the rare case a fox becomes aggressive, such as snapping, growling or snarling, throw objects that can deter it. Report aggressive behavior to the DNR RAP Line: 800-292-7800.
• Michigan DNR does not authorize or conduct live capture and release of foxes other than for permitted research.
• If you find an injured fox or a fox pup that you believe it’s mother is dead, you can contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator before removing it from the wild. Only licensed wildlife rehabilitators may possess abandoned or injured wildlife.

Lethal methods

• In areas where hunting is allowed, a fox may be lethally removed by the property owner or their designee without a hunting or trapping license if the animal is doing or about to do damage. A hunting or trapping license is required if one of those methods is used to lethally remove a fox not related to damage.
• In areas where hunting and trapping are not allowed, contact a nuisance animal control company.
• Consider contacting the Michigan Trappers & Predator Callers to check if they have anyone interested in hunting or trapping foxes, if allowed in your area.

Local government

Prevent problems

Key strategies

• Access to human provided food, such as bird food and pet food, can attract foxes and rodents they prey on. This can habituate foxes to people. Discuss this issue with constituents if you think foxes are being accidentally or purposely fed in your community.
• Seeing a fox around populated areas, including during daytime, is normal. Educate residents about hazing foxes by yelling, clapping and stomping their feet. A fox that maintains a fear of humans will be less likely to cause conflicts.

Your community

• Implement ordinances and enforcement that restrict public feeding of foxes and other wildlife.
• Encourage residents to put garbage out the morning of pickup rather than the night before.
• Consider working with waste management providers to integrate animal-proof trash receptacles.
• Install fencing at least 6 feet high where appropriate to limit fox access to residences and other sensitive areas. Installing rollers at the top of fences can help impede foxes from scaling overtop fences.
• Various fox deterrents, such as lights and noise makers, are available from retailers. However, their effectiveness is often brief or lacking, and alternative methods may need to be used.
• Implement ordinances and enforcement that prohibit feeding foxes and other wildlife that may cause problems.

Public spaces

• Provide signage reminding park users not to feed wildlife, including how it can lead to habituated foxes.
• Ensure that grills are cleaned and food waste in parks is disposed of properly.
• Removing brush piles and thick vegetation where foxes can find food and shelter in parks and other public use areas.
• Check municipal buildings for holes that rodents may use for access, thereby reducing attractive food for foxes.
• Eliminate or secure abandoned structures that may shelter foxes and rodents.
• Secure fence gates, garage doors and similar locations where foxes may venture into municipal buildings.

Pets and livestock

• Encourage residents to supervise small pets outdoors and keep dogs leashed in parks where foxes are present.
• Educate residents with poultry or small livestock about housing animals in secure, predator-resistant enclosures.
• Keep pet and livestock food secure to reduce rodent and fox access.

Solve a problem

Non-lethal methods

• A bold fox is not necessarily an aggressive fox. Seeing a fox during daytime is normal. A fox that maintains a fear of humans will be less likely to cause conflicts. Deter foxes by yelling, clapping and stomping your feet.
• Eliminating food attractants and reducing shelter around homes and businesses are the best ways to reduce attracting and habituating foxes.
• Various fox deterrents, such as motion-activated lights or sprinklers, are available from retailers. Their effectiveness may be brief, and alternative methods may be needed.
• If damage from wildlife is occurring but you are not sure what type of animal is causing it, setting up at least one trail camera at that location is a good way to identify the animal.
• In the rare case a fox becomes aggressive, such as snapping, growling or snarling, throw objects that can deter it. Report aggressive behavior to the DNR RAP Line: 800-292-7800.
• Michigan DNR does not authorize or conduct live capture and release of foxes other than for permitted research.
• If someone finds an injured fox or a fox pup that they believe it’s mother is dead, they can contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator before removing it from the wild. Only licensed wildlife rehabilitators may possess abandoned or injured wildlife.

Lethal methods

• If your jurisdiction allows hunting or trapping, a fox may be lethally removed by the property owner or their designee without a hunting or trapping license if it is doing or about to do damage. A hunting or trapping license is required when using those methods for situations not involving damage.
• If interested in implementing a hunting or trapping program in your jurisdiction, contact your local DNR Wildlife Division office for guidance.
• If your jurisdiction does not allow hunting or trapping, contact a nuisance animal control company.
• Consider contacting the Michigan Trappers & Predator Callers to check if they have anyone interested in hunting or trapping foxes, if allowed in your area.

Business or school

Prevent problems

Key strategies

• Access to human provided food, such as bird food and pet food, can attract foxes and rodents they prey on. This can habituate foxes to people. Discuss this issue with surrounding businesses and residents if you think foxes are being accidentally or purposely fed in your area.
• Seeing a fox around populated areas, including during daytime, is normal. Educate staff and students about hazing foxes by yelling, clapping and stomping their feet. A fox that maintains a fear of humans will be less likely to cause conflicts.

Grounds

• Ensure outdoor courtyards and recreation areas are clear of food sources like cafeteria waste. Secure outdoor trash in animal-proof receptacles.
• Clean grills of food scraps and grease.
• Ensure maintenance staff checks for holes that rodents may use for access, thereby reducing attractive food for foxes.
• Maintain landscaping to reduce hiding cover for rodents and foxes.
• Secure fence gates, garage doors and similar locations where foxes may venture near or into buildings.
• Various fox deterrents, such as lights and noise makers, are available from retailers. However, their effectiveness is often brief or lacking, and alternative methods may need to be used.

Pets and livestock

• If therapy or resident pets are present, ensure they are supervised outdoors, particularly during dawn and dusk when foxes are most active.
• Keep small animals leashed or within secure fencing.
• If your business or school has poultry or small livestock, ensure to house animals in secure, predator-resistant enclosures.
• Keep pet and livestock food secure to reduce rodent and fox access.

Solve a problem

Non-lethal methods

• A bold fox is not necessarily an aggressive fox. Seeing a fox during daytime is normal. A fox that maintains a fear of humans will be less likely to cause conflicts. Haze foxes by yelling, clapping and stomping your feet.
• Eliminating food attractants and reducing shelter around homes and businesses are the best ways to reduce attracting and habituating foxes.
• Various fox deterrents, such as motion-activated lights or sprinklers, are available from retailers. Their effectiveness may be brief, and alternative methods may be needed.
• If damage from wildlife is occurring but you are not sure what type of animal is causing it, setting up at least one trail camera at that location is a good way to identify the animal.
• In the rare case a fox becomes aggressive, such as snapping, growling or snarling, throw objects that can deter it. Report aggressive behavior to the DNR RAP Line: 800-292-7800.
• Michigan DNR does not authorize or conduct live capture and release of foxes other than for permitted research.
• If someone finds an injured fox or a fox pup that they believe it’s mother is dead, they can contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator before removing it from the wild. Only licensed wildlife rehabilitators may possess abandoned or injured wildlife.

Lethal methods

• If your area allows hunting or trapping, a fox may be lethally removed by the property owner or their designee without a hunting or trapping license if it is doing or about to do damage. A hunting or trapping license is required when using those methods for situations not involving damage.
• If your jurisdiction does not allow hunting or trapping, contact a nuisance animal control company.

Agriculture

Prevent problems

Key strategies

• Access to human provided food can habituate foxes to people. Discuss this point with your neighbors if you think foxes are being accidentally or purposely fed in your area.
• Seeing a fox around homes, including during daytime, is normal. Deter foxes by yelling, clapping and stomping your feet. A fox that maintains a fear of humans will be less likely to cause conflicts.

Your farm or orchard

• Secure pet food and pelleted livestock food to minimize fox access. Feed and water pets indoors when possible.
• Secure garbage and outdoor compost in animal-proof receptacles.
• Carcasses or afterbirth from livestock operations should be promptly removed. Carcasses should be composted or buried in accordance with MDARD regulations.
• Minimize rodent access to outbuildings and livestock shelters to discourage foxes from being attracted to the rodents.
• Guard animals, such as livestock guardian dogs, may help protect flocks or herds when properly managed.
• Use sturdy fencing at least 6 feet tall; adding a buried apron fence and top roller may increase effectiveness.
• Various fox deterrents, such as motion-activated lights or sprinklers, are available from retailers. Their effectiveness may be brief, and alternative methods may be needed.

Pets and livestock

• Secure poultry and small livestock in predator-resistant structures at night.
• Keep young livestock close to buildings or within secure fencing.
• Keep small pets supervised outdoors when possible, particularly during dawn and dusk when foxes are most active.

Solve a problem

Livestock depredation

• Foxes rarely prey on livestock other than poultry, rabbits, and similar sized animals. Foxes may often scavenge carcasses of livestock killed by other species or that died of other causes.
• Differentiate between coyote and fox predation using evidence such as tracks, tooth spacing on carcass, and carcass condition.
• Depredations by foxes are not eligible for indemnification payment. Only depredations by coyotes, gray wolves, and cougars are eligible.

Non-lethal methods

• Eliminating fox access to food and shelter around the farm is the best long-term strategy.
• Protection animals, such as donkeys and Great Pyrenees dogs, can be beneficial. Maximize success by ensuring protection animals are trained to stay with livestock or within the orchard, rather than trained as a pet.
• Various fox deterrents, such as motion-activated lights or sprinklers, are available from retailers. Their effectiveness may be brief, and alternative methods may be needed.
• If damage from wildlife is occurring but you are not sure what type of animal is causing it, setting up at least one trail camera at that location is a good way to identify the animal.
• Michigan DNR does not authorize or conduct live capture and release of foxes other than for permitted research.
• If you find an injured fox or a fox pup that you believe it’s mother is dead, you can contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator before removing it from the wild. Only licensed wildlife rehabilitators may possess abandoned or injured wildlife.

Lethal methods

• If your area allows hunting or trapping, a fox may be lethally removed by the property owner or their designee without a hunting or trapping license if it is doing or about to do damage. A hunting or trapping license is required when using those methods for situations not involving damage.
• If your jurisdiction does not allow hunting or trapping, contact a nuisance animal control company.

Airport

Prevent problems

Key strategies

• Access to human provided food can habituate foxes to people. Discuss this point with your neighbors if you think foxes are being accidentally or purposely fed in your area.

Around buildings

• Ensure outdoor courtyards and recreation areas are clear of food sources like cafeteria waste. Secure outdoor trash in animal-proof receptacles.
• Maintain clear areas around buildings by mowing vegetation and removing brush.
• Ensure maintenance staff checks for holes that rodents may use for access, thereby reducing attractive food for foxes.
• Secure fence gates, garage doors and similar locations where foxes may venture near or into buildings.

Airfields

• Maintain short vegetation across airfields to limit rodent populations.
• Remove debris or features like brush piles that can shelter foxes.

Solve a problem

Non-lethal methods

• Reducing food and shelter on the airfield is the most effective long-term strategy to minimize fox presene.
• Various fox deterrents, such as lights and noise makers, are available from retailers. However, their effectiveness is often brief or lacking, and alternative methods may need to be used.
• If damage from wildlife is occurring but you are not sure what type of animal is causing it, setting up at least one trail camera at that location is a good way to identify the animal.
• Michigan DNR does not authorize or conduct live capture and release of foxes other than for permitted research.
• If you find an injured fox or a fox pup that you believe it’s mother is dead, you can contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator before removing it from the wild. Only licensed wildlife rehabilitators may possess abandoned or injured wildlife.

Lethal methods

• If a fox is causing a public safety issue at an airport, a DNR Wildlife Division regional supervisor or district law enforcement supervisor or their designee removal permit without investigation.
• For fox issues other than public safety, contact USDA Wildlife Services (517-336-1928) or a nuisance animal control company.