Skip to main content
Home
0
DONATE
DONATE

Main navigation

  • Support
    Support
    • How to help while you stay at home
    • Items you can donate
    • Donate
    • Events
    • Fundraise
    • Volunteer
    • Sponsor a space
    • Corporate Giving
      Corporate Giving
      • Corporate partnerships
      • 5p Carrier bags
      • Payroll giving
      • Staff fundraising
      • Trusts & foundations
    • Leave a gift in your Will
    • Gift Aid
    • Return your funds raised

    Support Us

    How to support

    Fundraise

    Volunteer

    Sponsor a Space

    Leave a Gift in your Will

    Scottish SPCA Weekly Lottery

    Donate as you Shop

     

    Events

    View All Events

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Volunteer

    Get Involved

    Youth Volunteering

    Further education placements

    Animal Fostering Programme

     

    Corporate Giving

    Corporate partnerships

    Staff fundraising

    Trusts & foundations

    Payroll giving

    5p carrier bags

    Ways to donate

  • Rehome
    Rehome
    • Rehome
    • Find a pet
    • Rehoming FAQs
    • Rehoming next steps
    • Success Stories

    REHOME

    Rehome an animal

    Meet the Animals

    Rehoming FAQs

    Rehoming Stories

    Rehoming Centres

     

    ANIMALS

    Dogs

    Cats

    Rabbits

    Small Animals

    View All

     

    Ways to donate

  • Advice
    Advice
    • Domestic
      Domestic
      • Dogs
      • Cats
      • Rabbits
      • Guinea Pigs
      • Equines
      • Snakes
      • Ferrets
    • Wildlife
      Wildlife
      • Wildlife FAQs
      • Air
      • Land
      • Water
    • Farm
      Farm
      • Cattle
      • Sheep
      • Poultry
      • Pigs
    • Bird Flu Outbreak

    General

    Injured Wildlife 

    Sick Wildlife

    Dead Animals

    Trapped Wildlife

    Lone Baby Wild Animals

    Wildlife On The Road

     

    Domestic

    View All

    Wildlife

    View All

    Birds

    Bird Flu Outbreak

    Farm

    View All

     

    Ways to donate

  • Our work
    Our work
    • Campaigns
      Campaigns
      • Dogs Die In Hot Cars
      • Temporary Refuge
      • Wildlife Wise
      • Championing Animal Welfare Law
    • Our Teams
      Our Teams
      • Inspectors
      • Animal Rescue Officers
      • Helpline
      • Special Investigations Unit
      • Education Officers
      • Animal Care
      • Vets
    • Our services
      Our services
      • Forever Care
      • Microchipping
      • Neutering
      • Licensing of animal sanctuaries
    • Aberdeenshire
    • Adventure Clubs
    • Angus, Fife & Tayside
    • Animal Guardians
    • Animal WISE for Early Years
    • Animal WISE for Primary
    • Animal WISE for Secondary
    • Animal WISE for communities
      Animal WISE for communities
      • Animals and People Together Project
      • Changing lives through nature
      • Community talks
      • Parents and Carers
    • Animal Wise
    • Ayrshire & Southwest Scotland
    • Caithness & Sutherland
    • Corporate Workshops
    • Dunbartonshire & West of Scotland
    • Edinburgh & Lothians
    • Glasgow
    • Highlands & Islands
    • Lanarkshire
    • National Wildlife Rescue Centre
    • Our partners and supporters
    • Resources

    Campaigns

    View All Campaigns

    Here For All Animals, Always

    Temporary Refuge

    Wildlife Wise

    Championing Animal Welfare Law

     

    Services

    View All Services

    Pet Aid

    Forever Care

    Microchipping

    Neutering

    Assured Puppy Breeder Scheme

    Fostering

    Education

    Animal WISE

    Animal Guardians

    Ways to donate

  • Shop

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Advice
  3. Fox Advice

 

Well-known for being wily, foxes have adapted to living in different environments and can be found all over Scotland. Whilst large populations live in rural areas, many others are more at home in our towns and cities.

The type of fox found in Scotland is the European fox which is famed for its distinctive red fur, white chest, pointy ears and bushy tail.

Although foxes can live up to around nine years in the wild, the majority will only survive a few years, mostly due to road traffic accidents. Foxes are typically active from dusk into the night when there are fewer people around, but can sometimes be spotted in the day during the mating season.

 

Where do foxes live?

Once associated with more rural habitats, foxes are now widespread across mainland Scotland. Urban foxes, first enticed into towns and cities by the lure of more reliable sources of food, have adapted well to living closer to humans.

Foxes are fiercely territorial animals. They are excellent diggers and live underground in excavated burrows called earths or dens. These can be dug using a rabbit warren as a starting point, or can be made from scratch.

It’s easy to mistake a fox earth for a badger sett. However, foxes bring food back to the den so fur or feathers around the entrance would indicate that a family of foxes lives there.

Foxes are very adaptable and can live above ground too so you may find them denning in a sheltered spot, like under your shed.

 

What do foxes eat?

Foxes are omnivorous hunters with a very diverse diet, meaning they can eat small animals they catch like rabbits, rodents, birds and frogs but will also enjoy fruit and berries.

Urban foxes will also scavenge for food, feasting on anything left behind by humans.

 

That’s wild

If foxes come across a large supply of food, they will stockpile anything they don’t eat right away to feed on later.

 

 

 

When are fox cubs born?

Foxes are social animals and the family unit usually consists of a breeding pair and their young.

Mating takes place in winter. Listen out for the loud barking or screaming noises they make as they try to attract a mate and ward off rivals. Although this can sound alarming, it’s not a cause for concern and the foxes do not need our help.

The female will give birth to a litter of around four or five cubs in spring. Fox cubs are born on the bare ground of the den.

Fox cubs are born deaf and blind. Like domestic puppies, they depend on their mother’s milk until they can start eating solid food at around four weeks old. Fox cubs are usually completely weaned by the time they are 12 weeks of age.

By autumn, the cubs should be fully self-sufficient and will leave to find their own territories.

Image
Fox
Image
Fox

 

Foxes visiting your garden

It’s fairly common for foxes living in towns and cities to venture into gardens, seeking food and shelter. Whilst it can be exciting to see a fox in your garden, wild animals can be unpredictable. Always maintain a safe distance from foxes as they can bite when they feel threatened by humans, particularly if they have cubs.

 

Can I deter foxes from my garden?

Foxes are protected from abuse and ill treatment by the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996.

This makes it an offence to cause harm to any wild mammal with intent to inflict unnecessary suffering. Penalties can include a £5000 fine or six months in prison.

If you have a persistent problem with foxes entering your garden, there is plenty of humane steps you can take before breeding season (December to February) to discourage them without causing harm.

Foxes will scavenge through litter for food so make sure your bins are secure and the lids are closed. You should also check there are no food sources in your garden as foxes will continue returning to a location if there is a ready supply.

Keep your garden clean and tidy. Foxes are at home in areas which offer great shelter, so an untidy and overgrown garden is great for that. Make sure there are no gaps under sheds and other structures to prevent foxes from making a den.

Fencing or prickly plants may also deter foxes.

Foxes are territorial animals, meaning if one leaves your garden, another fox is likely to turn up to claim it. You can try using an artificial scent-marker to deter a fox. It is against the law to use any substance to deter foxes which has not been approved for such use and the Scottish SPCA will investigate any reports of foxes being harmed in this way. Using inhumane deterrents such as broken glass or spikes on walls and fences can cause serious harm to foxes and other animals.

 

Can I feed a fox?

There's no law against feeding foxes, however, we would not recommend providing food for them because:

  • They will eventually lose the ability to hunt for themselves, an essential skill for survival in the wild.
  • Certain foods could cause harm to foxes such as chicken bones and grapes or raisins.
  • Food may attract other animals including rodents or other people’s pets.
  • Your neighbours may not wish to encourage them.

Never attempt to get too close or hand-feed foxes.

 

Can I keep a fox as a pet?

We would strongly recommend people do not attempt to domesticate foxes. They are naturally wild and it is not in the best interests of their welfare to be kept as a pet.

If you have come across a fox cub you think might have been abandoned but looks healthy, please leave the animal alone and check our advice on lone baby animals.

 

Do foxes carry diseases?

Like most mammals, foxes can carry a range of parasites and diseases, such as fleas, ticks and ringworm, which theoretically could affect humans. It’s best to avoid touching any wild animal but if you absolutely have to, wear protective gloves and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.

 

Persecution of foxes

With more houses being built in green spaces, foxes face a loss of habitat and move closer and closer to cities to find food and shelter. Sadly, urban foxes have gained a bit of a reputation as a pest species because they scavenge through waste looking for food. Also, when food is scarce, there can be instances where foxes kill and eat domestic birds like hens and ducks. However, they can also be seen as a welcome addition to gardens by wildlife lovers.

 

Snares and traps

We support an outright ban on the use of snares and we want tighter regulations around traps due to the level of suffering caused.

However, unfortunately, snares and traps can still be used legally to catch foxes. Snares must be set correctly by a trained and authorised individual. All snares must have a ‘stop’ on them to prevent them from over-tightening. A legal snare or trap will have an ID tag and must be checked every 24 hours.

It is illegal for anyone to tamper with a legally set snare or trap so we would ask the public not to attempt this. If you suspect a device is set illegally, call our helpline immediately on 03000 999 999.

 

Hunting and animal baiting

We strongly oppose the killing of any animal for ‘sport’. It is against the law to hunt a wild mammal using a dog except in limited circumstances, such as preventing the spread of disease or protecting livestock. In these limited circumstances packs are limited to two dogs and the animal must be humanely dispatched immediately by a licensed marksman to prevent suffering.

Unfortunately, illegal hunts and animal fighting still take place in Scotland. It is a barbaric practice which has no place in a civilised society.

If you know of anyone involved in animal fighting, or suspect it is happening in your area, you can report it to Police Scotland’s wildlife crime unit by calling 101.

 

Pest control

It is not illegal to use lethal methods of pest control to cull foxes for the purposes of protecting livestock and preventing damage to crops or property, but the animal must be humanely dispatched to prevent suffering.

Any damage to property or land caused by foxes is the responsibility of the landowner. Likewise, poultry owners who have problems with foxes are responsible for keeping their animals safe.

If you suspect someone is using illicit means to control the species, please contact us on 03000 999 999.

 

Other common problems

 

Road traffic accidents

Sadly, the greatest threat to foxes is humans. Many foxes are hurt or killed in road traffic collisions every year. Click here for further advice.

 

Sick or injured foxes

If you come across a fox that is immobile or unable to move normally, call our helpline on 03000 999 999.

Signs to be aware of include:

  • Twitching
  • Not reacting to noise
  • Falling over
  • Not moving away when approached by a human
  • Open wounds
  • Breathing with mouth open or panting heavily
  • Lots of flies around the fox

Foxes who are limping but otherwise look healthy do not usually need our help as it’s likely to be the result of a historic injury which has healed incorrectly.

 

‘Abandoned’ fox cubs

It is normal for a vixen to leave her young in a safe place while moving from one disturbed den to another location or when the cubs are being weaned.

March/April - leave the cubs alone and monitor them from a safe distance for at least three hours.

May onwards - Monitor for a minimum of six to 12 hours.

 

Supporting documents

Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill

Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 – Legislation on the use of snares

 

 

Loving lurcher seeks forever home after 1,300 days

David is a delightful lurcher cross who has been in our care for more than 1,300 days.

 

FOLLOW US ON
ABOUT US

 

Our Business Plan

2021 Annual Review

Gender Pay Gap Report

Our Board

Privacy Policy

Sitemap

 

CONNECT

 

Contact Us

Latest News

Careers

Press & Media Enquiries

OUR VISION FOR ANIMALS

 

For All Animals

ANIMAL HELPLINE

 

03000 999 999

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Image
Scottish SPCA

 

Image
SSPCA Registered Charity
Home

Animal helpline

03000 999 999

Report concerns FAQs

If you wish to report an injured or distressed animal, please call our animal helpline on the number shown above. 

The Scottish SPCA is now using what3words. Download the app to get the unique three word code for your location and make it easier for our team to respond to your call.

As we are only rehoming via our website right now, please don't call us if that's what you are enquiring about, so our helpline team can assist those with animals in urgent need.