Recommendations for a live capture fox trap

[squibbs 0]

Hi all,

 

Rather new to this but our local fox(es) have been paying us daytime visits and have killed half our chickens. Probably didnt help that we had our 4 week old chicks out off heat and they were cheeping away.

 

I'd be keen to do something to reduce the foxes inpact - lamping and shooting is out - no gun, no experience, snaring seems possible but again I am not experienced which leaves live trapping. There seems to be a lot of options for live capture - presumably size wise go for the biggest - but which model? I liked the look of foxtrap (underwoods) stuff until I read more about his products and have now been put off. That leaves (to my knowledge so far) mole valley, solway feeders, the trapman on ebay and fox-trap.co.uk (which looks similar)

 

I do have someone who will pop over to kill the fox if captured in case you are wondering.

 

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

 

Many thanks

[salukiwhippet 6]

Firstly, are you in a town or country setting? I ask because rural foxes are acknowledged to be very difficult to catch in cages. I haven't used them much as I prefer snaring or shooting where possible, but I have friends who have used them, cubs seem to fall for them, but the adults seem much more wary.

 

You might be better off getting your shotgun ticket if you're rural, if you're urban then a cage is your best bet. Whereabouts in the country are you?

 

James

[ellir0305 9]

ok no gun, how exactly are you planning on dispatching the fox once you have caught it

 

my bad sorry

Edited July 6, 2009 by ellir0305

[trapperman 474]

ok no gun, how exactly are you planning on dispatching the fox once you have caught it

if you read his post again he has someone who will dispatch it for him

[squibbs 0]

ok no gun, how exactly are you planning on dispatching the fox once you have caught it

if you read his post again he has someone who will dispatch it for him

Indeed!

 

I am in very rural Somerset.

 

The Mrs isnt to keen on guns, nor am I really - though I expect I am more dangerous with my chainsaw than I will be with a gun

 

The fox has dug up a chicken we didnt find and left it on the lawn which wasnt too nice for the daughter to find. I think I shall go for snares first as I am sure I know where they are running through. I've read the article on the DEFRA website about boiling the snares in washing powder and then with bark and tea bags - is this actually helpful?

 

Thanks again for your help

[ellir0305 9]

ooh you might be quite close to me finally a few somersetters emerging.

 

where you from mate? im between taunton and bridgwater

[squibbs 0]

ooh you might be quite close to me finally a few somersetters emerging.

 

where you from mate? im between taunton and bridgwater

 

Further north - near Axbridge

Edited July 6, 2009 by squibbs