Q&A for How to Catch a Fox

First you have to keep in mind that this is a wild animal, and you should not expect it to come up to you. When dealing with wild animals, you should be quiet and move slowly. Sudden movements will scare them. Keep your distance to avoid being attacked if it seems wary. It's unlikely, but safety is important.

A fox is a wild animal and should be treated as one, however needy and weak it looks. There are laws about catching wild animals because of safety concerns. But if the fox was seen near your house, you could leave food out for it (a safe distance from the house at first, then moving it progressively closer). Foxes are very afraid of people in most cases, but you may be able to make it "a pet that lives in the wild."

If you are attacked, stand up and pull your extremities towards your chest. Look the fox in the eye and show no fear. If the fox continues, back off, do not run, into open territory. If you can, back off to your house as the fox knows that this is your territory, not theirs.

Not really, no. If you tried to disguise the scent of the rabbit, the fox would not recognize it either. There's not much you can do.

You don't -- you call your local wildlife officer to deal with it safely and humanely. You should never try to take down a rabid animal on your own unless you don't have any other possible choice, in which case a gun would probably be the safest method.

You should just leave it in the wild, this is where it belongs. In general, they cannot be domesticated and they will not be happy as pets.

Wild foxes cannot be kept as pets, it's best to observe them from afar and leave them be in the wild.

Since red foxes and all type of foxes are going extinct, release it in the desert. Even though it killed your family cat, foxes are known for killing small animals, it was just instinctual, not a deliberate thing.

You can try to call animal control to try to catch the fox when you see him around, or get a trap to catch him with.

If it's illegal to hunt and kill foxes where you live, then you should call the cops. If it's not illegal, ask him/her kindly to stop doing it, since foxes are going extinct because of people hunting them for their furs.

You would have to contact your local Animal Control for that information, every Animal Control is different. Also try to contact your local wildlife rehabber or center. They might be able to help you as well.

Make a high fence to keep the foxes away. An easier method is to take your cats and cat food inside and keep the windows shut so they cannot get in.

Call your local animal control and ask for a humane fox trap. They will trap and relocate the animal, and if she has kits, they may need to capture them too. Keep your cats inside at night until this is resolved. Foxes usually have one to four kits in a litter.

Fox claws do not contain venom, but their claws can be very dirty and muddy. If you have a claw scratch from a wild fox and it is not recovering well, it may be infected.

Set out humane traps for the foxes so they can be taken to a vet who specializes in wild canines. Tranquilize them during the trip so they do not get too accustomed to humans and won't bother you during the trip.

Easy -- remove the chickens! Foxes are prey animals and chickens are one of their favorite "fast foods". Run in, grab, run out, eat. Foxes can also dig under a fence to get at the chickens. So you either remove the chickens, or research how to make a permanent, fox-proof, raccoon-proof, predator-proof enclosure.