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Foxing the Fox Part Seven: Are my House Rabbits Safe From the Fox?
“I don’t have these problems, my buns live inside!” Even house rabbits are not totally safe from urban foxes. As foxes become increasingly used to people, cars, and city living they are becoming increasingly fearless. Increasingly we hear stories of house rabbits being taken an they are by no means totally safe.
More often than not house rabbits have access to the garden, out onto lawns and patios, even if you are in the house watching or busy in the garden some foxes are bold enough to take pet rabbits. Pet rabbits are of course most at risk after dark and you should never let your house rabbits outside at night.
You must also make sure your house is fox proof. Make sure all ground floor doors and windows are closed, foxes can squeeze through a 10cm (4”) gap. Also think about any cat flaps you might have. Consider investing in one that is activated by microchip and will not let the wrong animal in.
If you use some or all of the deterrents we have looked you will be able to keep your rabbits safe and secure from even the most persistent fox.
Foxing the Fox Part Six: Electric Fences to Keep the Fox Out.
Perhaps the ultimate deterrent for those with a sever fox problem is to invest in an electric fence. There are a number of different types and options and within a large garden this can be the best answer to a fox problem
Single Wire or Bungee Style.
This is usually a single or double run of wire wrapped around the rabbit hutch or run at fox level, with a ‘tripwire’ over the roof of the hutch or run. It should be placed outside the hutch or run to avoid it being nibbled when it is switched off. You will of course need to switch this off when your rabbits are within reach of it. If a fox is nosing around it will get a nasty buzz and soon learn to stay away. Most single wire fences run from small batteries. It is advisable to invest in a good electrical tester so you can check that the fence output is good, it should not be allowed to fall below 2500 volts. Before replacing batteries check the earth rod and look for vegetation touching the wire.
Mesh Electric Fences
This type of fencing is generally used for poultry and must be kept on at all times. If you turn it off pet rabbits would quickly nibble at it and dig underneath it. This type of fencing is not suitable for small gardens with children or slow moving pets like tortoise who can’t move away fast. It is however great for large gardens and can be used to fence of large areas for your rabbits to play in. This type of fencing is usually sold in kits of 25-50 meters of fencing plus all the bits. You would also need a large car or tractor battery (or a mains kit so you don’t need to keep charging the battery). This type of fencing, though relatively expensive is no doubt effective if used in the recommended way.
Foxing the Fox Part Five: Using Prickle Strips to Fox Proof Your Garden.
Prickle strips are strips of plastic spikes that can attached to the top of fences, rabbit hutches, walls or rabbit runs to make them unpleasant for a fox to Jump onto. They are relatively expensive so may not be cost effective for longer stretches they may not be an option. They are ideal for gaps in hedges or gate tops or if you have a smaller fence around your hutch.
It is possible to protect your garden and your pet rabbits by planting thick hedges of thorny pyracanthus bushes, rambling roses or hawthorn. The effectiveness of this technique is questionable as you may well end up providing ideal cover for the foxes, an established thorny hedge that is very thick would however act as a deterrent and this may be a factor when you think about where to put your rabbit hutch.
There are some newer devices on the market that are a cross between a sprinkler and a motion detector that will spray the foxes with water as they approach. This is sure to be a hit with all action film fans and several used in combination would no doubt give foxes and everyone else something to think about.
They do however need a hose permanently attached and could quickly become a nuisance when mowing the lawn or using the garden and may end up at the back of the shed with all the other toys!
Foxing the Fox Part Four: Red Eye Lights
Bright Eye flashing lights are just like small flashing red bike lights, they come on at dusk and stay on till dawn. They are inexpensive and easy to put up on a garden fence or rabbit hutch and they do not need any batteries. The Manufactures claim that they imitate a predator and are very effective. I have not used them and wonder just how effective they would be in an urban area. I also question how popular they would be with the neighbours. This deterrent would also only be effective when it is dark.
If anyone has used these please let us know how good they are! It is important to remember that in this miniseries we are looking at all options available and it may be that you need to use a range of deterrents to keep your pet rabbits safe.
Foxing the Fox Part Three: Sonic Fox Deterrents to protect your Pets
Following on from the highly efficient dog Dazers used by council workers, postmen and cyclists there are now a number of high pitched sound devices on the market to deter foxes. The battery operated stationary device can be placed anywhere in the garden and gives out a high pitched sound irritable to foxes.
The best of these devices have motion detectors similar to security lights and will be triggered by motion. Correctly placed these will protect your rabbit in its hutch or run. The fox will very quickly learn that they trigger the device and will avoid the area, over time the garden will become a no go area but be sure to keep the batteries good as if a new fox or cub comes into the area you will still need the device.
These sonic devices are finely tuned and will not upset humans or pet rabbits. This type of deterrent may not be an option if you have pet dogs or a puppy, unless of course you want to keep them away for your bunnies also!
Beware the Deaf Fox!!
Foxing the Fox Part Two: Scent Marking to Keep Foxes out of Your Garden
Now that we have taken care of the Basic Equipment so that the fox can’t get at your rabbits we now need to look at ways we can keep them away from your rabbits. Even if your pet is safe in its Rabbit Hutch if fox is close by it will still cause problems for your rabbit. Luckily there are a number of ways you can keep foxes either out of your garden or away from your pets.
One way to protect your pet rabbit is to use the foxes own natural behaviour. In the wild foxes scent mark their territory with urine. Foxes will not generally cross into another foxes territory and will keep to their own patch. There are now a number of Scent Markers that you can buy to mark out the boundary of your garden with a fox like scent. These have proven effective if used regularly and after heavy rain.
Some people say that humane urine will do the trick, but be warned this can lead to considerable neighbourhood scandal!! If there is evidence of foxes in your garden you may want to try scent marking before you get your pet rabbit so that your territory is marked out before you add any temptation.
In part 3 we will look at sonic fox deterents.
Foxing the Fox Part One: Rabbit Hutches, Runs and other Basic Equipment.
Foxes are Bad News for Pet Rabbits! In part one of our mini Series “Foxing the Fox” we look at the basic necessities to keep outdoor rabbits Safe.
Firstly you need a good strong rabbit hutch with a firmly attached roof. Large preferably locking door bolts if not provided should be fitted. It is possible now to buy very cheap combination padlocks or suitcase locks that can be used to make sure rabbit hutch doors are locked and secure. Any Modern rabbit hutch should have strong wire mesh, this should be a weld-mesh minimum 19 Guage. Cheaper chicken wire was designed to keep chickens in, not the fox out. Ensure that the the back and sides of the hutch are sturdy and try to place the hutch close to the house if you can. If you have a persistent fox problem you might also consider shutters for the mesh doors or a cover for the hutch so that the fox can’t see the rabbits. If you do this however you must ensure there is enough ventilation of the hutch and never forget and leave the shutters on all day. In most cases this would not be necessary.
Obviously Pet rabbits should not spend all day in their rabbit hutch, so you can either dedicate your life to watching then on the lawn or invest in a large sturdy fox proof rabbit run. To Be worthwhile the run should be large enough for the rabbit to run and excercise. A good strong wire is essential and also lots of hiding places, tunnels and bolt holes so that your buns feel safe. If the run is a permanent addition to your garden consider making it large enough to walk into. Also consider placing slabs around the outside edge so that the fox can’t dig his way in.
In short large sturdy hutches and Runs with Good Door bolts and strong wire are now the minimum for keeping your pets safe. In part two we will start to look at ways of keeping foxes out of your garden altogether.
Foxing the Fox: How To Keep Your Pet Rabbit Safe!
Foxes are on the increase and especially in suburban areas. Figures suggest that although rural population’s average about one fox per square kilometre urban areas can support up to 30 adult foxes per square kilometre.
For Rabbit owners the fox is bad news. Foxes regard rabbits as a tasty snack regardless of whether there is other food available. Most at risk are rabbits running fee in the early morning or late evening, or those trapped in inadequate hutches at the bottom of the garden. Peak times of year for foxes to kill pet rabbits is early in spring when the vixen needs food for her cubs and in autumn/winter when food can be in short supply, but rabbits can be at risk at any time of year.
So how do you protect your pet rabbits from being eaten or terrified to death? Thankfully there are many things that you can do, from a simple bolt to an electric fence. There are so many things that you can do that we have split it down into a seven part series of mini articles.
- Foxing the Fox Part One: Rabbit Hutches, Runs and other Basic Equipment.
- Foxing the Fox Part Two: Scent Marking to Keep Foxes out of Your Garden
- Foxing the Fox Part Three: Sonic Fox Deterrents to protect your Pets
- Foxing the Fox Part Four: Red Eye Lights
- Foxing the Fox Part Five: Using Prickle Strips to Fox Proof Your Garden.
- Foxing the Fox Part Six: Electric Fences to Keep the Fox Out.
- Foxing the Fox Part Seven: Are my House Rabbits Safe From the Fox?
Each mini article is packed full of tips, tricks and ways to keep your pet rabbits safe.
