One distraught mum pleaded with Mumsnet: ‘I’ve just moved into a new house and she has a problem with foxes pooing in the garden at night; [the] the smell has gone rancid.
“We have purchased a high powered light that emits a high pitched sound, but it doesn’t seem to work as a deterrent. Any experience on the optimal way to stop this?”
Leaving droppings isn’t the only problem when foxes mark their territory on your land.
Foxes are noisy, like to dig up flower beds, and can break into trash cans, leaving a mess around your home.
One Mumsnet writer could relate to the unpleasantness of a fox leaving its droppings in the garden.
“Our local foxes decided to use our front door as a marking point for the area. The smell was unreal,” commented the commenter.
“So you have to remove the poo, clean with the strongest cleaner possible. We used Jeyes Fluid Outdoor Cleaner.
“You get tea bag type things that you soak and they give off a smell that foxes don’t like. The problem is that they’re only a fraction less unpleasant than actual fox poo.”
The commenter added: “The best thing we found was lemon peel – lemons, oranges, grapefruit. Just the peel.
“Leave it where they usually go and places nearby. Act right away and (fingers and toes crossed) never had a problem since. Still, do a good cleaning first.”
Combat Pest Control noted that foxes have a “very strong sense of smell,” which is why they stay away from smells they don’t like.
In addition to lemon peel, one scent repellent recommended by Combat Pest Control is a mixture of chili powder and garlic.
The mixture helps repel foxes when spread around the garden, especially in areas where they have left their mark in the past.
