Fox keeps digging in arena!!

[FabioandFreddy]

Just wondering if anyone else has had this problem? We have a fox come round regularly during the night and he digs a random hole in the school. Nothing massive, probably only the size of a hoof but right down to the membrane then stops. Always different places, nothing buried in it - and nothing deposited either (made OH check for that!!)

Unfortunately i know there's not a great deal we can do about it (unless someone has a bright idea?!) but is annoying when on board and suddenly spot it and have to avoid riding on that part of the school. Must start checking BEFORE onboard! He's quite brazen too, for a few nights running he turned the security light on in the middle of the night which set the dogs off and he just stood in the middle of the garden looking at them going beserk through the window!! I got up to let the dogs out and they chased him off but doesn't seem to discourage from coming back!

 

[Prince33Sp4rkle]

not very PC but mr fox would be meeting with the action end of a gun if it was my arena membrane he was trashing............................................

 

[FabioandFreddy]

He doesn't trash the membrane, he stops digging as soon as he's got to the membrane. Not ideal still but at least he's not carrying on and going through it.

We do have quite a lot of foxes near us, up the hill from us is known to the locals as 'foxes corner' so if one went would probably get another come and do the same!!!

 

[Tiddlypom]

I feel your pain! It started happening about 6 months after my new arena was installed. We never spotted the culprit but it was probably a fox, and several deep holes (down to the membrane) would appear each night, arghhh!

We have extra height kick boards as we have a 'leaning fence' design so didn't think the culprit was jumping in over them. OH custom made removable solid barriers for each gateway but the digging continued!

I eventually stapled chicken wire to the entire perimeter of the arena fence from the kick boards to the top rail, which is 4' 6" high. That finally sorted it, haven't had an unauthorised intruder for 2 years now.

 

[Prince33Sp4rkle]

how long has the arena been down? if its a recent problem in a long standing arena its more likely to be just this one fox with a bad habit.

have heard of badgers doing the same and protected or not they would get the same (can i say that, whoops, i just did.....)

dead fox or a broken horse leg, simple choice really.

 

[FabioandFreddy]

About a year now, so not that long. Although seems to be more of a recent problem.

 

[Polos Mum]

We have them leaving half eaten rabbits buried in it !! I ride then afterwards the dog come in a dig p half a rabbit and wonder off - I'm not looking forwad to he day I have to hoof pick out bits of stood on dead rabbit.

I just fill in the holes, but I use human hair in tights tied round the chicken run as they are supposed to not like the smell (sure the hairfdresse thinks I'm odd when I ask for sweepings!). I've also heard men's wee puts them off - but it might put me off too so it depends on how bad it is I suppose !

 

[Fat_Pony]

We have them leaving half eaten rabbits buried in it !! I ride then afterwards the dog come in a dig p half a rabbit and wonder off - I'm not looking forwad to he day I have to hoof pick out bits of stood on dead rabbit.

I just fill in the holes, but I use human hair in tights tied round the chicken run as they are supposed to not like the smell (sure the hairfdresse thinks I'm odd when I ask for sweepings!). I've also heard men's wee puts them off - but it might put me off too so it depends on how bad it is I suppose !

Lol, I have a naughty digging fox too - maybe I'll just get my OH to pee around the arena!

It's annoying as as have a flexiride arena so the rubber should stay on top, but the fox is mixing it all up!

 

[Sprout]

I have the same problem - foxes dig holes down to the membrane, sometimes leaving the remains of my neighbour's chickens in there - nice! Also, all the neighbour's cats like to use it as a giant litter tray too!

 

[FabioandFreddy]

I heard the old wives tale about mens pee puting them off too and have asked OH if he can take his toilet breaks around the edge of the school but he wasn't keen!!! Men eh?! Can't even do 1 simple job for you!!

 

[twiggy2]

i keep finding golf/cricket and rounders balls in the school work along with 3 slices of bread the other day and we have just empty holes too. lots of fox poo about too now so neighbour has been asked to shot the fox/foxes to end the problem

 

[Joandripple]

I feel your pain! It started happening about 6 months after my new arena was installed. We never spotted the culprit but it was probably a fox, and several deep holes (down to the membrane) would appear each night, arghhh!

We have extra height kick boards as we have a 'leaning fence' design so didn't think the culprit was jumping in over them. OH custom made removable solid barriers for each gateway but the digging continued!

I eventually stapled chicken wire to the entire perimeter of the arena fence from the kick boards to the top rail, which is 4' 6" high. That finally sorted it, haven't had an unauthorised intruder for 2 years now.

We had a similar problem but with rabbits and badgers. Our YO did as tiddlypom did, chicken wire. Sorted the prob right out!

 

[FabioandFreddy]

It also steals our dogs toys!!!! I often spot them in the farmers field adjacent to us where he's carried them off or find them in the field behind when i take the dogs for a walk. Naughty wee bleeder!

 

[onemoretime]

Green plastic mesh put all the way round should keep them out. Staple it to the top rail on the outside. Its quite expensive though that is the only problem.