How do we outfox the fox?

Be ware of what we call fox worms.
We are much more concerned about that then rabies.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echinococcus_multilocularis

If you can´t scare the fox away by screaming and waving a broome I think the only solution - like it or not - is to ask a hunter to help you.

When I used to get the LA Times it arrived in plastic bags. I don't know if they do that anymore though.

A paper delivery type mailbox? But that would take the route person's time to be so precise.

Rise and shine before Foxy? I'm guessing they're out in night hours.

Most of the time the paper is in a plastic bag but it doesn't deter the fox, but those fox worms will keep me up at night. Yowsa

1. Wash your hands well when you have touched anything in the area where the fox moves.
2.Wash very well fruit and vegetables if you have any in your garden.
3. In case you have a sandbox for xhildren. Cover it.
5 Remove all the "you know what" from your property. Use rubbergloves.

Hunters usually have boxes where they can catch fox or other animals and move them away from areas where people live.

As of this morning: Fox. 14 Glitterbags 0

I was going to advise a 22-250 rifle, but I notice the words "neighborhood" and "neighbors", so perhaps not.

I suggest a .22 magnum rimfire. Make sure it has a full 24 inch barrel in order to minimize the sound of the gunshot. Sometimes suburb-type people freak out when they hear loud gunshots.

Practice shooting with the gun at a firing range and get good at it *before* opening fire in your neighborhood.

Also take some hunter safety courses so you know when you should and shouldn't shoot. (For instance, if you have a perfect shot at the fox, but your neighbor's house is in the line of fire behind the fox, you have to wait until you can shoot the fox from a different angle.)

Try to get a hunter safety course that will teach you any local ordinances regarding discharging a .22 mag rimfire in your neighborhood. If you can't find one that covers your local ordinances, find out the local ordinances yourself.

Well thanks, but I'm not going to shoot it because somebody's house, dog, child or yard workers would also be a possible target. It's illegal to fire a gun in this zip code, plus the chances of one of the children seeing it happen is not something I want on my conscious. Frankly, I'm an uber wimp when it comes to handling dead things. When we first moved here, a poacher shot a deer in a neighbors backyard and the neighborhood was in a frenzy. Spring of last year, someone shot a fairly large buck and it collapsed & died in my back yard. I wasn't able to even look outside until Animal Control carted it away.

When the DNR opens tomorrow I'll see if I can get someone who knows how to trap and relocate the fox. This time of year it's just adult fox running around I think, or hope. Maybe they will have a solution.

This would be my answer as well. I don't think the fox cares enough about a useless newspaper if its off of the ground a couple of feet. On the ground, the newspaper is merely a tempting toy.

Or you can have the delivery guy place the paper between your storm/screen door and the front door (if your home has that setup). I don't imagine the fox cares enough about the newspaper to go right up to your main entrance and open screen door to get it.

As for hunting cats at night? Leave the poor fox be. Don't let your cat stay outdoors at night anyways. Wildlife already have a difficult time with all of suburbia everencroaching onto their land and giving them absolutely no living space. There's no reason that wildlife and humans can coexist. Unless you have more direct evidence of rabies infection in the fox just leave the poor bloke alone.

Ethnic cleansing: trap the fox and move him 30 miles away.

The State Department of Natural Resources called me back this morning and gave me some suggestions. The wildlife specialist recommended pouring vinegar in the area where the paper is delivered, to create an unpleasant order the fox would avoid. I will also call the carrier about a sleeve for the mailbox today. Also I learned that you can't relocate fox to different areas of Maryland, because of concerns the animal could introduce or spread mange, or illness to areas previously free of those conditions. So trapping it won't work because the animal would have to be euthanized. I can't see a plus side in destroying an animal because it likes to play with the paper.

I thought this was interesting, the wildlife guy said its possible that the newspaper vandal is probably still young and gets bored. As more and more of the wooded property gets cleared and developed, the animals are getting squeezed into smaller and smaller habitats. So, I'm calling it quits regarding
the fox. He/she will be less active as winter approaches and it's interests will narrow to keeping its self fed. I'll just keep an eye out for next springs arrivals.

try leaving some dog toys where your paper gets delivered.

or a steak bone...

(don't leave a live chicken, very messy)

I know you're making a joke, but just in case anybody thinks this is a good idea, don't do it.