Foxes are a pest under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994.
This means you are legally responsible for:
- preventing the spread of foxes on your property
- removing foxes from your property.
Foxes on Council land
There are limits to how foxes can be controlled in urban settings.
We use various methods to deter foxes from creating dens and breeding on Council land, including den ripping. This involves collapsing and digging over the den so it cannot be used.
How to deter foxes from your property
We don't provide any services to prevent, manage or remove foxes on your property. For help finding a licensed pest controller, visit Better Health Channel pest control page.
You can deter foxes from your property by:
- not leaving pet food in outdoor areas
- cleaning up fallen fruit from trees
- using a compost bin or covering your compost heap
- keeping chickens and guinea pigs in secure and roofed coops
- removing objects that foxes can use to climb into neighbouring properties
- restricting access underneath your house.
Fox behaviour
Red foxes have been in Melbourne since the 1930s. They have adapted to urban environments.
They prey on small mammals. A mature fox can kill up to 3000 native animals a year.
They also scavenge for carrion, fruit and food scraps.
Foxes can roam a 10 kilometre range. They use multiple dens at different times in their lives.
Foxes are timid and will flee when disturbed.
For more information on fox control, visit the Agriculture Victoria website.