They are beautiful creatures. However, if they take a liking to your garden, or in this case, flower bed, they are a problem.
Our daughter’s house is near a greenbelt where foxes have their den. Every spring, it is a thrill to watch them with their young. However, they have taken a liking to our daughter’s flower bed and destroyed it.
My husband and I helped weed and plant additional perennials in a triangular bed in her front yard this year.
Then we covered the bed in black mulch. The center of the bed had lovely ornamental grasses and around it, new plants from the garden center and some from my garden. The bed looked great.
A few days later, when I visited, the new perennials were pulled out of the soil. The mulch was disturbed and the soil below it dug up. We had no idea what had happened. I repaired the damage to the bed and composted the destroyed plants.
On my next visit, the grass was beaten down. Something was using it as bedding. The plant was tall around the edges but the center had been trampled so as to make a nest.
Could it be the foxes?
All of the mulch was in the trench around the bed and the soil was dug up again.
This happened when the June bugs were emerging. When we dug into the soil, maturing June bugs were easy to find. We discovered that foxes like to snack on them. It was a losing battle cleaning up this popular bed and breakfast location. They will even dig and eat worms.
Every night our daughter hears the pair of foxes at the B & B, which now is full of weeds. A few plants continue to bloom in spite of the nightly guests. The ornamental grass is flattened and the red soil exposed around it.
Next year, a new section of lawn will replace the garden bed. Will the foxy tenants destroy a section of lawn? I’ll keep you posted.
30 comments:
I had no idea that foxes would do that. I thought their dens were in caves like bears. Or maybe you're right that it's just their local B&B. They sure are pretty, though. :-)
Oh, those little buggers!
One year at the old house we had the hatching of 17 year cicadas. Day and night the noise and mess was incredible for people, but fox heaven. Our local den showed up with aunts, uncles, cousins far removed and grand parents, and gorged in the yard. Little fellows jumped for them and ran for them, as if there were not enough in the yard. There were little tussles and naps in the yard. We people did not exist. It was quite an experience, for all of us.
What about some kind of spray or moth balls that might deter them?
Sometimes there is a price to pay. I say, enjoy the foxes. Easy for me t.o say though. 🙂
Oh my, I didn't know they could be such a nuisance. June bugs don't seem to be here in any great numbers that I know of. I have seen 2 in my entire life in Alberta.
How interesting those foxy foxes are. I laughed when you mentioned the area as a B&B. :) That stinks that they dig up all the work you all do.
Everybody has to eat :) We just try to live and let live here, but it makes for a drab yard at times.
Oh, goodness. From my viewpoint, this is most unexpected and unwanted.
In this case it's best to just let them be. I wonder if there are plants that might emit a scent they don't care for in the future.
Sigh. I have a weak spot for foxes. And gardens. And mourn that they cannot co-exist.
That is so interesting. I have no experience or knowledge of foxes in or near my yard.
It will be interesting to see Marie, they might still try and dig up the beetles in the lawn.. pesky critters, but cute too ☺
Oh, the little devils … but they sure are cute !
Those naughty foxes! It is hard to beat nature! Andrea
They are rascals but pretty ones! They get away with a lot, Jan.
Indeed, Debra.
It sounds like a cicada version of a B & B, Joanne.
We researched a lot. Not much works to deter them. Rather than risk poisoning them, we surrendered, Tabor.
We’ll see how they respond to the grass next year AC.
We didn’t see June bugs in Newfoundland either Jenn. There are lots of them here however.
We surrendered Bill. The B & B is open for business.
We let them have at it Jenny.
You never know what wild animals will do Mage.
We surrendered, William, rather than risk poisoning them.
I love the foxes too EC. We gave up on the gardn bed.
Beautiful animals, Barbara, but not compatible with garden plants.
It will be interesting to see what happens next spring.
It is indeed Andrea.
They are little devils indeed Ginnie.
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