Gardeners told: 'Stop foxes from denning under garden sheds'

17:06:20 9th June 2010

Now may be the time for gardeners to protect their garden sheds after a survey from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) showed that the number of foxes seen in domestic gardens is increasing.

Foxes can den underneath garden sheds or houses but consumers can prevent them from doing this by blocking or filling up any holes that may have appeared, ensuring an animal is not using it first.

The RSPB has just launched a new survey entitled Make Your Nature Count, which asks people to spend an hour in their garden to see what birds and mammals appear.

Results from the 2008 survey showed that a quarter of all UK gardens are home to the species. They do not pose a significant threat to humans – attacks are rare – but they can be noisy.

Jim Barrington, animal welfare consultant, told the Times: "Foxes are very welcome in gardens. They are delightful animals and do not generally cause the damage they are blamed for. Digging up lawns is a common one."

He advised people who wanted to discourage foxes from their backyards to cut back tress and shrubs, remove shady corners and fill up gaps beneath buildings.