European red foxes were introduced to Australia in the 1800s for recreational hunting. In the absence of natural predators and with an abundance of food and shelter, their numbers have grown steadily ever since. Foxes are now considered a significant pest across much of the country, from suburban backyards to rural farmland, and are recognised as one of Australia's most damaging introduced species.
Foxes can cause real damage to gardens and pose a serious threat to native wildlife, poultry and other small animals. Learning how to keep them off your property is not just about protecting your own backyard — it also helps take pressure off the native species and ecosystems they threaten.
This article explains what draws foxes to a property and sets out practical, humane strategies for keeping them out.
Understanding Foxes in Your Garden
Role of Foxes in the Ecosystem
Foxes are highly adaptable predators and scavengers, and they have become deeply established across the Australian landscape. Ironically, part of their success lies in helping to suppress numbers of another introduced species: rabbits. Fox density in a given area is often closely linked to the local rabbit population.
Foxes also prey on introduced rats and mice. Where prey is scarce and domestic animals are close at hand, they will readily take poultry and other small livestock, including chickens, lambs, goat kids, and even fawns.
Unfortunately, foxes are equally happy to prey on native wildlife — insects, reptiles and ground-nesting or low-flying birds are all at risk. Like most canids, foxes are not strict carnivores, and will also eat vegetation such as grains, berries and root vegetables when it's available.
When hunting proves unproductive, foxes will scavenge — raiding leftover kills, bins or other rubbish. In natural settings, this scavenging behaviour helps clear organic waste that might otherwise rot and spread disease. In residential areas, however, it simply means more foxes rummaging through your bins.
Why Might Your Property Might Attract Foxes?
Foxes are opportunistic and their needs vary depending on whether they live in an urban or rural setting. Research shows that fox densities in urban areas can be significantly higher than in the bush, even though there's typically less natural prey available — largely because foxes have learned to rely on household rubbish as a food source. Urban environments also tend to offer more hiding places and slightly warmer conditions, both of which suit foxes well.
Several features common to Australian backyards can make a property especially appealing to foxes:
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Small animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, or chickens, which foxes may see as easy prey
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Vegetable gardens, which can provide a reliable food source
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Open water, including ponds and swimming pools
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Trees, outbuildings and other secluded spots that offer good denning sites
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Overgrown gardens or long grass, which are particularly attractive to fox cubs at play — though this vegetation can also harbour ticks and mites, which foxes may carry into your garden
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Unsecured food waste, left out overnight or poorly stored
How to Get Rid of Foxes in Your Yard by Removing Attractants
Secure Food Sources
Foxes spend much of their time searching for food and poorly stored scraps give them every reason to keep visiting. Store fruit, vegetables, compost and pet food in secure, tight-lidded bins, ideally kept inside a shed or other enclosed structure. Make sure bins are also secured against being knocked over or dragged away.
Eliminate Water Sources
Open water is another common drawcard for foxes. Cover ponds, fountains and birdbaths overnight. While foxes are traditionally most active at night, urban foxes have become increasingly active during the day as well, so covering water sources whenever you're not around day or night is worthwhile. Fix leaking taps and pipes. Even small leaks can create puddles that provide foxes with a reliable water source, so repair any dripping outdoor fittings promptly.
Remove Potential Den Sites
Foxes look for secure, secluded spots to establish a den. Clear brush piles and overgrown areas around the garden's perimeter. Regularly check the edges of your property for dense vegetation that could shelter a fox and clear it as soon as it appears. Seal off potential den entrances, such as gaps and crawl spaces under sheds, decks or outbuildings, which foxes commonly favour for denning.
Best Ways to Get Rid of Foxes Using Exclusion Techniques
There are also some tools and techniques that can help get rid of foxes in your garden. These include:
Fencing
A sturdy fence with wire mesh buried at its base will stop foxes from digging underneath, while adequate height prevents them from jumping over — foxes are capable jumpers, so fence height should be matched to the size of foxes typically found in your area.
Motion-Activated Deterrents
Motion-activated devices exploit foxes' natural wariness of sudden movement, light and unfamiliar sound, encouraging them to move on quickly rather than linger in your garden. Popular options include ultrasonic repellers, sensor-triggered sprinklers and strobe lighting.
The Garden Watchman Solar Animal Repeller combines an adjustable ultrasonic frequency with a flashing LED strobe. Its passive infrared sensor detects movement out to 13 metres and triggers a short burst designed to startle foxes without harming them, with weatherproofing built for Australian conditions.
The Garden Guardian Solar-Powered Ultrasonic Repeller is a compact infrared-triggered unit that pairs ultrasonic pulses with a flashing light across a 10-metre range. It runs entirely on solar power with a rechargeable battery backup, so it continues operating through overcast weather.
The Garden Sentinel Motion-Activated Sprinkler takes a different approach by combining an infrared sensor with a sudden burst of water. Detecting movement across a 300-degree field up to 10 metres away, it startles approaching foxes with the combination of spray, noise and motion, then resets automatically for the next visitor. It covers up to 100 square metres, runs on solar-charged batteries, and can be adjusted for height and sensitivity or linked to other units via a garden hose for wider coverage.
Recap of Key Strategies for Fox Removal
Foxes play a role in controlling other introduced pests such as rabbits and rodents, but their impact on gardens, native wildlife and domestic animals means most property owners will want to discourage them from settling in.
The most effective approach combines several strategies:
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Removing easy access to food, including securing bins, compost and pet food
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Eliminating open water sources or covering them when not in use
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Clearing overgrown vegetation and sealing off potential den sites
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Installing exclusion measures such as secure fencing and motion-activated deterrents
Used together, these measures make a property far less attractive to foxes and can significantly reduce the chances of them settling in for the long term.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it legal to trap and remove foxes?
Rules around trapping and removing foxes vary between Australian states and territories. Check the specific regulations that apply in your area before undertaking any trapping.
Can I use poison to get rid of foxes?
Poison is not a suitable method of fox control. It poses a serious risk to native wildlife, pets and other non-target animals and it does nothing to stop other foxes from moving into the vacated territory.
What should I do if I find a sick or injured fox?
Report any sick or injured fox to your local wildlife authority, who can arrange for an appropriately trained person to assess and care for the animal.
