Fox deterrent advice in Dawlish

### The Urban Fox Reality

**Dawlish has foxes. Loads of them. They're clever, bold, and not going anywhere.**

Urban foxes thrive in city environments. Your garden is part of their territory, whether you like it or not. They dig, poo, make noise, disturb bins, and generally make their presence felt.

You can't eliminate them (legally or practically), but you can make your garden less attractive than alternatives. That's what fox deterrents are about - **persuading them to be someone else's problem**.

> 💡 **Pro tip:** The best fox deterrent is removing what attracts them. Food sources (bins, compost, fallen fruit), sheltered den sites, and easy access. Fix those and you're halfway there before buying any products.

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### Managing Expectations

| ✅ Realistic Goals | ❌ Unrealistic Hopes | |--------------------|----------------------| | Make garden less attractive to foxes | Eliminate foxes from your area | | Reduce frequency of visits | Stop all fox activity forever | | Protect specific areas (veg beds, ponds) | Create 100% fox-proof space | | Discourage toileting on lawn | Make foxes avoid your street |

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### What This Visit Covers

**🔍 Garden Assessment**

I look at: - **Access points** - where are they getting in? - **Attractants** - what's bringing them here? - **Problem areas** - what damage are they causing? - **Den sites** - are they living under your shed? - **Boundary condition** - how fox-resistant is your fencing?

**💡 What Actually Works**

| Deterrent Method | Effectiveness | Reality Check | |------------------|---------------|---------------| | **Motion-activated sprinklers** | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Work well, annoying to neighbours sometimes | | **Scent deterrents** | ⭐⭐⭐ | Need regular reapplication | | **Physical barriers** | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Expensive but effective | | **Ultrasonic devices** | ⭐⭐ | Hit and miss, mixed reviews | | **Removing attractants** | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Most important step | | **Lights/noise deterrents** | ⭐ | Foxes adapt quickly |

**🛠️ Practical Solutions**

Based on your situation, I recommend: - **Fence improvements** - what height, what mesh, where to install - **Barrier methods** - protecting specific areas like ponds or beds - **Product recommendations** - what to buy and where locally - **Den eviction** - how to discourage foxes living under sheds (humanely) - **Bin security** - stopping food access - **Lawn treatment** - dealing with fox poo

**🛒 Where to Buy**

- Local Dawlish/Devon stockists for deterrent products - Approximate costs for different approaches - What's worth the money vs what's marketing nonsense

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### Common Fox Problems & Solutions

**Digging holes in lawn?** Usually searching for grubs/worms or burying food. Improve lawn health (fewer grubs), use scent deterrents. Not entirely solvable.

**Using lawn as toilet?** Territorial marking. Clean up poo immediately (removes scent), use lawn treatment to discourage, consider scent deterrents. Persistent problem, needs ongoing management.

**Living under shed/decking?** Evict during daytime when they're out, block access, use deterrents to discourage return. Spring (when cubs are young) is tricky - may need professional wildlife advice.

**Disturbing bins?** Secure lids, use bungees, remove food waste nightly, wash bins to remove smell. Solvable with effort.

**Frightening pets/chickens?** Secure chicken coops properly (buried mesh, reinforced doors). Small pets shouldn't be left out unsupervised at dawn/dusk. Foxes see them as prey.

**Just being loud at night?** Mating/territorial behavior. There's no solution for this - it's foxes being foxes. Earplugs.

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### Pricing

| Service | Time | You'll Pay | |---------|------|------------| | Garden assessment & deterrent advice | 1 hr | **£60** |

*Includes written recommendations and local stockist information. Physical deterrent installation quoted separately if wanted.*

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### Perfect For Your Garden If...

✅ **Foxes are causing actual damage** - digging, toileting, disturbing bins

✅ **You want honest advice** - not sales pitches for expensive systems

✅ **You're trying random deterrents** - get expert assessment first

✅ **You need to protect chickens/ponds/specific areas** - targeted solutions