Foxes are a natural pest control as they will eat rats and mice (Image: Getty)
Foxes are a quintessential British animal that are often associated with autumn due to their bright orange fur, but they are also really useful to have in your garden at this time of year. It is common for rats and mice to start sheltering in gardens when the weather gets cooler in September, so it is important to drive them away now or risk them becoming an infestation.
No one wants to see rats scurrying around their yard and risk them coming into homes, but foxes are omnivores known to eat rodents, which will greatly help drive them away. Having a few foxes coming into the garden every night is one of the best natural methods for keeping pests away. It is really easy to attract them without having to leave out food. Dora Nightingale, the founder of the charity Fox Guardians, has shared a simple way to attract foxes is to just make them feel comfortable by leaving out a common household item.
A simple way to attract foxes is to leave out cushion for them to sleep on (Image: Getty)
In a video online, Dora said: “This is the foxes’ favourite area. It’s nothing special, really, by our standards, as it’s just a few cold cushions dotted around. What foxes like about this is that it’s comfortable because they are off the ground, and the foxes absolutely love it.”
Many people can be put off feeding foxes because it will likely attract rats and mice but you can give them a comfy and sheltered place to rest by leaving out old cushions.
Foxes, like a cat or dog, will enjoy the soft bedding material and it can help them keep warm once the weather gets a lot colder.
If you are worried about old cushions getting wet from the rain them you can leave out boxes to make a sheltered den in your garden and fill them with straw or shredded paper.
Foxes are shy animals that like having hidden areas, so it can also help to let certain plants in a corner of your garden grow wild to give them plenty of cover.
Foxes will like gardens that make them feel sheltered and comfortable (Image: Getty)
They are quite agile creatures, so you might see them balancing on fences like a cat, but it would be more convenient if you cut a small 10-centimetre hole into a fence or gate to give them access.
It should be noted that fox cubs also like chewing items like puppies do so if you are worried about them nibbling at plants it can help to leave out soft dog toys, wooden sticks or big balls for them to play with.
Finally, another great way to attract foxes is to leave out water for them as young cubs are very active and can easily become dehydrated so it will help to have a water source nearby.
Foxes will simply like feeling comfortable just like a pet would, so leaving out cushions and doing a few other simple things to make a garden more accessible is the best way to attract them.
If you want to feed foxes then they will like eggs, chicken and tinned dog food (Image: Getty)
If you do want to feed foxes, leave some food out near a gate and fence for about 30 minutes to an hour at most once it becomes dark. Do not leave food unattended overnight as you will risk attracting rodents.
Be careful not to feed foxes every day or large amounts; you can risk young foxes becoming reliant on you, and it will harm them in the long run, as they will not be able to hunt for themselves.
They absolutely love eggs, chicken, turkey and tinned pet food as it will replicate their natural diet.
You can also occasionally leave them out treats like cheese, fruit or unsalted peanuts, but do not feed them these types of food regularly, otherwise it will harm their health.
Taking the time to leave out a little food, as well as a few creature comforts, will likely encourage foxes to come into a garden every night and is a natural way to prevent rats from becoming a nuisance this autumn.
