Local fox taking a liking to Polytunnel Plastic

[Banana]

Everytime I've been down to the plot in the last month, I find a new hole in the side of the polytunnel. Counting 5 now
It seems the local fox has taken a liking to eating the plastic. Other plot holders are having similar problems and have started surrounding the base of their Polytunnels with Chicken wire.

Does anyone have any humane suggestions as to how I discourage the Fox?

[lottie dolly]

funny you say that,i never heard of it befor yesterday,was out for walk with OH,and got chatting to a plot holder on another lottie,i remarked what a great size the tunnel was,and we wre told of what the foxes do,they climb up 1 side and down the other,generally run all over them,the tunels with a straighter sides fare better apparently,than the ones that start to arch from the bottom,so if chichen wire is put at the bottom it might be actually giving it a leg up the tunnel walls,with the chance of it falling through,thus ripping it,have you seen the thread about male wee,and foxes not liking it,have a look and see what you think,i wonder how many peps have had damage to their tunnls,and thought it vandals on 2 legs,

[Banana]

There are footprints all over the top of the Tunnel. I originally thought it was a cat, but you might be right.
There's also evidence that its been inside. Just a few pots knocked over, but no damage.

[lottie dolly]

has it been able to walk into the tunel,or do you think it might have fallen through it,they don't get called sly for nothing,lol.

[Banana]

No, the holes are round only the bottom, about a foot off the floor. It hasnt fallen through the roof yet.
It can easily climb through the holes at the moment. It seems to be bringing all its friends and having a party

[lottie dolly]

my DH says with a grin,might be because its warmer in there,but jokeing apart,you need to stop them befor you have it loaded with plants ,have you had a look at the thread i was telling you about,the male wee,also have you tried any netting,as in debrie net,lace curtains,or any of the pea,beans net,the idea i have is,just maybe they not like to get their paws caught up in it,also on another thread on here,i read about foxes are breeding round a bout now,so more of them to come,have a look under pots,wood plastic ext,and see if any slugs,it may be them that they are scavenging,these are only ideas,and things to eliminate,further that this i just do not know,
by the way please notice that the forum is going of line about 4pm today,until tommorrow,see top of main page.

[Purplebint]

We've had foxes digging into any freshly dug earth and have been trying the male wee approach.

There's a post in my blog (link in sig) showing the damage they were causing, and their snowy footsteps.

The urine is working well so far Hubby has 2 x 2 litre bottles upstairs in the loo which he fills up, and an extra couple of pop bottle tops that he's drilled holes in that he uses for sprinkling.

If it's not been wet and the urine doesn't need redoing, we've been adding it to the compost

[ann-the-nan]

Local fox taking a liking to Polytunnel Plastic.

Man Pee, definitely. Apparently, the fox doesn't like the male hormones. Makes him think he's on someone else's territory. If you can find where he comes onto your land, put some there. This info comes to me from someone who grew up on a farm. It was his job at night to perform all round the hen houses. Sez they never lost a hen.

[sharonr]

On River Cottage Hugh FW put human hair into ladies tights and tied it to a fence to stop the fox`s going for his livestock.

[Alice]

Sounds like strange behaviour , banana, but foxes are quite playful animals. They might be climbing over the polytunnels, and scratching holes in them, just for fun.
In my last garden foxes were regular visitors and they brought childrens toys from neighbouring gardens with them.

[-pat m]

Hair in tights, plenty of wee I do the lot to keep the foxes away, Radio on all day (talk radio human voices?) - out of all the things I do this makes the most sense to me hearing voices may keep them away?

[swampy]

I normally end up with tennis balls,golf balls and odd shoes!

[Banana]

I have got heavily knawed childrens toys on the plot.
Never thought anything of it until now.

I have seen the fox...It's very big and seems to be out and about at all times of the day, not just at dusk. Its pretty fearless and often just sits there watching me.