Foxes: Coexisting with Wildlife
Foxes are primarily active at night, mate for life and live in almost every corner of San Diego County. They are very beneficial to have in our community because they help control the population of mice, rats, gophers, moles and other small rodents. A fox is unlikely to harm an adult cat, dog or human.
If there’s a fox in your yard
Foxes are common throughout San Diego County and will probably just move on.
- Keep pet food inside, secure all trash cans and do your best to remove odors, remove any fruit that has fallen from trees, clean up bird feeders and clear brush piles from property.
- If the fox is living in a wood pile or under the house or shed in the spring, they probably have babies (kits). Please wait until the kits are gone in about three months. The family will relocate, most often before fall, then the den can be closed off without trapping animals inside. They often return to the same den every year.
When does a fox need to come to the Project Wildlife Care Center?
If you find baby foxes and think they may be orphaned
Babies are most successful when raised by their wild parents, and we always assume the parents are alive and caring for their babies — unless proven otherwise. Never take an animal from the wild because you think they will be safer or more successful in captivity!
Many animals, including foxes, have multiple den or nest sites in case the original location is disrupted or damaged, so we need to give the parents time to find and move the babies. All young foxes are left alone for periods of time while their parents look for food or because the parents want to avoid attracting other animals to the nest. The absence of a parent does not automatically mean they are an orphan.
If you can confirm that the babies have been orphaned (because you found the mom deceased), then we recommend immediately bringing them to Project Wildlife for evaluation and potential rehabilitation. If we find no treatment is required and it is determined the animals are old enough to thrive on their own, we may ask you to return the animals to where you found them.
If an adult fox has been injured or is sick
Foxes can carry rabies, so caution should be used if handling. If you've found an injured or sick adult fox, we recommend that you call Project Wildlife at (619) 299-7012 for further assistance.