Fox Trapping, Fox Removal and Fox Control in Georgia

Like all canines, fox are predators by nature. They hunt and kill smaller animals for food. But they're also opportunistic feeders who will eat carrion, grasses, grains, fruits, and other foods.

As its natural habitat continues to shrink, the fox has also adapted quite well to rummaging through human garbage, which probably provides the bulk of their diet in and around urban areas like Atlanta, Columbus, Duluth, Marietta, Roswell, and other rapidly-expanding Georgia communities.

Fox Species of Georgia

Two species of fox are commonly found in Georgia: The red fox and the gray fox.

The red fox is about the size of a small- to medium-sized dog (adults range from 8 to 15 pounds) and inhabits both forests and farmland. They're primarily nocturnal and are most active during dawn and dusk. Due to a shrinking natural habitat, the red fox has adapted to living in close proximity to humans. They are not often seen, however, because of their nocturnal habits.

The gray fox is a bit smaller than the red fox; adults range from 7 to 12 pounds, on average. The gray fox tends to be somewhat more aggressive than the red fox. Gray foxes are also more wary of people and are less likely to live in close proximity to humans unless they are forced to. Given a choice in the matter, the gray fox tends to prefer a more isolated, rugged terrain than the red fox.

Foxes as Nuisance Wildlife

Healthy foxes in the wild are an important part of the natural ecosystem. Because of diminishing habitat and increasing numbers, however, foxes living in or close to human communities sometimes create a nuisance or health hazard to people, domestic pets, and livestock.

Foxes are vulnerable to and can transmit a number of serious zoonotic diseases including rabies, mange, canine distemper, parvo enteritis, roundworms, and other endoparasites. They also may be involved in the transmission of arboviral diseases vectored by fleas, ticks, and other external parasites that commonly infest wild animals.

Wild foxes also occasionally attack and kill livestock, especially chickens, ducks, game birds, and their eggs. Less commonly, they may attack young lambs, rabbits, and other small domestic animals and pets — especially if they are left unprotected at night. Even more rarely, foxes may damage food or feed crops; but what little damage they do to crops probably is more than offset by their helping to control smaller animals and insects that are more destructive.

Fox Trapping, Removal, Exclusion and Control

In many cases, it's not really necessary to trap fox. Proper sanitation to remove attractants and the construction of secure fences, coops, and pens to exclude foxes and protect livestock are usually sufficient to solve most fox problems. Rid-A-Critter provides expert fox exclusion services throughout all of Northern and Central GA.

In some cases, fox trapping or fox removal may also be necessary, especially where fox populations are especially high, natural food sources scarce, and fox under increased pressure to find food. Fox trapping and removal is also needed when a fox is suspected of being rabid or otherwise ill. In addition, foxes who have become a little too comfortable around people also should be trapped and removed because they may attack when unintentionally threatened by humans (especially small children, who may try to pet them).

Here are a few pictures of foxes and fox control (More to come: Stay tuned!)