I am often asked about the use of Fox Repellents in an urban environment to repel nuisance urban foxes.
Urban foxes particularly in London are born into an environment where there are a vast amounts of different noises, sounds, senses, smells, flashing lights etc.
The fox cub's become immediately accustom to their new surrounding and will presume that all is 'normal' which includes the above.
This will mainly be down to the flashing lights, different noises and smells will pose NO physical threat to them or their group.
Repellents are quickly ignored by cautious foxes realising they are not harmful.
I was called to a house in Chigwell a few years ago where he owner had purchased a motion sensor water squirter to scare the foxes away that were persistently digging up his prize lawn.
The crafty urban foxes realised (in the middle of a hot summer) that the random squirts if water would cause no physical harms and deliberately triggered the motion sensor to imit cold water to cool off.
If you do decide to use a chemical repellent usually obtained over the net or garden centre; make sure you READ THE LABEL before mixing and applying.
It should also be noted that most chemical fox repellent's aim is to mimic other foxes; so that the nuisance foxes are lead to believe that a new fox is on the block and they should move off.
Beware.....................................
The problem with this is that the current resident foxes will think that another fox is trying to 'muscle-in' on their area and therefore activity may be increased making the use of a repellent that mimics other foxes counter-productive.
Due to the fact that urban foxes live in such close proximity to one another; territorial behaviour is not so common as opposed to their 'country-cousins'.
Only UK repellents are allowed to be used. Diesel, engine oil, chilli powder, garlic powder etc are NOT approved repellents and could cause serious harm and suffering to foxes and other domestic pets and wildlife.
If at all in doubt, seek professional help or give me a call.