RSPCA issues legal warning over foxes in gardens

As the UK fox mating season approaches, the RSPCA has issued guidance on how to handle foxes that take up residence in gardens, including a reminder that the animals are protected by law.

Dr Rebecca Machin, wildlife expert with the charity, said foxes are wild animals that can look cute passing through gardens, but that a family moving in might worry some homeowners. She urged people to give foxes space and avoid interfering with their dens or cubs.

"If you have a fox family visiting your garden, the best thing you can do is give them space and avoid interfering with their den or cubs," she said. "If you are concerned about a fox den, the most important thing is not to block the entrance while it is being used."

Legal protections for foxes

Foxes are protected by the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996, and if kept in captivity, by the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Dr Machin said it is illegal to cause them unnecessary suffering.

"Foxes are wild animals who are protected by law and it is illegal to cause them unnecessary suffering," she said. She added that there is no need to move foxes on if a den is discovered in a garden.

"There's no need to move the foxes on if you discover a den in your garden," she said.

If a householder is unsure whether a den is occupied, Dr Machin suggested a simple test. "If you're unsure whether a den is occupied, you can loosely cover the entrance with sticks or a small amount of loose soil and see if it becomes disturbed later," she said. "If the material is moved, the den is still being used. If it remains undisturbed for several days, this may indicate that the den is empty, so you can pack the hole more thoroughly with soil."

Foxes and their habits

Foxes can have up to three litters of cubs in their lifetime and mate once a year, usually with four or five cubs in a litter. The mating season for UK foxes runs from December to February, making the current period a good time to be aware of the rules.

Foxes may establish a den under a shed or in another sheltered area of a garden to raise their young. They are also vocal animals, making screeching or barking sounds to attract mates and deter rivals, with up to 28 vocalisations.

Dr Machin said foxes pose very little threat to dogs, cats, and children, and that the risk of disease or parasites is low.

Feeding foxes and safety advice

Dr Machin said foxes are adaptable omnivores that can usually find their own natural food, so there is no need to feed them. However, if homeowners do want to provide food, she recommended small amounts of meat-based cat or dog food, and some fruits — but not grapes or raisins, which are highly toxic to foxes.

She stressed that food should be left from a distance and that foxes should not be hand-fed.

"Foxes are natural garden visitors and the best approach is to give them space and allow them to move on naturally," she said. "They are amazing animals with rich social lives, so they are fascinating to watch, from a distance."

Perspective from the RSPCA

The guidance comes from the RSPCA, which advises that foxes are protected under the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996, making it illegal to block or interfere with an active den. The charity's expert recommends allowing foxes to remain in gardens and observing them from a distance.