Losing a beloved pet can be absolutely heartbreaking. After going through the pain of saying goodbye, the last thing you want is for their final resting place to be disturbed. Unfortunately, clever foxes have a habit of digging up freshly buried pets. Their strong sense of smell draws them to the recent disturbance in the soil, and their nature as opportunistic eaters motivates them to dig for an easy meal.
If you’ve chosen to bury your pet at home it’s important to take measures to deter foxes. The good news is there are several highly effective techniques you can use to stop foxes digging up buried pets. With some strategic planning and proactive measures you can protect your pet’s grave and gain peace of mind.
Choose the Right Burial Spot
Your first line of defense is to choose the burial spot very carefully. Foxes are most likely to investigate areas near their dens or territories. Try to avoid woodlands, thickets, and other spots that provide good cover. Instead opt for an open area of your yard, away from any bushes or potential fox shelters.
If possible, find a location that gets plenty of human activity. Foxes tend to be warier of areas with regular disturbances. Places along the edge of your property near sidewalks or driveways are less appealing to them.
Dig Deep
Foxes are excellent diggers, so you’ll need to bury your pet deep enough to thwart their efforts Most wildlife experts recommend digging at least 3-4 feet down This makes it much more challenging for foxes to reach the remains.
Burying a few bricks or large rocks a foot or two down can also help. When foxes hit these barriers, they are less likely to continue digging.
Use a Secure Lid
Covering the grave with something heavy is crucial. Large slabs or a layer of bricks and rocks will make the spot less accessible. Try to choose lid materials that are too heavy for foxes to move. Avoid lighter materials like wooden planks that foxes could potentially shift.
For added protection, you can also place a wire mesh or chicken wire barrier over the grave before adding the heavier lid materials. This extra barrier will make it even more difficult for foxes to dig through.
Install Fencing
Installing a fence around the grave can add a very effective protective layer. Use a sturdy material like galvanized hardware cloth or welded wire fencing. Bury the lower portion at least 12 inches underground to prevent foxes from simply burrowing under.
The fencing should be at least 6 feet high. Foxes can jump quite high, so you need ample height to prevent them from leaping over. Add an inward angled overhang to the top if possible, to further deter attempts to climb over.
Use Repellents
Foxes have an incredible sense of smell, so using repellent scents around the burial spot can discourage their approach.
Spraying natural fox deterrents like predator urine, chili pepper, garlic, or vinegar around the perimeter creates an unpleasant boundary for foxes.
You can also place bags of human hair collected from brushes and combs. The foxes associate the human scent with danger.
Reapply these repellents frequently, especially after rain, to maintain their potency.
Remove Surrounding Attractions
Foxes are drawn to pet graves because they provide easy access to food. Eliminating other nearby food sources helps make the area less appealing.
Be sure to use secure, fox-proof trash cans. Never leave pet food bowls outside. Clean up any fallen fruit or bird food that could lure in hungry foxes. The less there is to scavenge, the less likely foxes will come nosing around.
Use Deterrents
There are a variety of motion-activated deterrents that can startle foxes away from the area.
Sprinklers will deliver a sudden, startling burst of water when they detect movement near the grave.
Flashing lights or noises can also scare away foxes as they approach the burial site. Just be sure the deterrents are not so loud or bright that they disturb human visitors.
Bury Deeper for Small Pets
For very small pets like cats, birds, rabbits or guinea pigs, you may need to bury as deep as 5-6 feet. Their remains are easier for foxes to fully unearth and haul away. Take extra precautions like adding wire mesh beneath the lid materials.
Small pet graves are also more vulnerable to disturbance from other wildlife like stray dogs. So make sure to take robust preventative measures.
Seek Expert Guidance
In some cases, particularly persistent foxes may not be completely deterred by DIY home remedies. Consulting with wildlife management professionals or your local animal control department can be very helpful.
They can provide advice on advanced solutions like relocation of problem foxes. They may also be able to lend you humane trapping cages to safely catch overly problematic foxes.
Monitor and Maintain Your Deterrents
Foxes are extremely intelligent and may eventually find ways to overcome your defenses. Make sure to regularly check for holes or weak spots in fencing. Refill and reapply any repellents that get washed away.
Quickly address any issues to keep your pet’s burial site securely protected. With some attentive maintenance of deterrents, you can stay one step ahead of clever foxes.
Grieving a Beloved Pet
The loss of a cherished animal companion is profoundly painful. In the midst of grieving, it can be additionally upsetting to have their grave disturbed by wildlife. By taking the right precautions, you can safeguard your pet’s burial site and gain some peace of mind.
With strategic burial spot selection, secure lid barriers, perimeter fencing, motion-activated deterrents, and repellent scents, you can effectively prevent foxes from digging. While no solution is 100% guaranteed, combining several of these techniques gives you the best chance of protecting your pet’s final resting place.
Take the time to grieve and properly memorialize your beloved companion. With some thoughtful preparation and defensive measures, you can deter foxes and allow your pet to rest undisturbed. Focus on fond memories, photos, and the unconditional love you shared. The pain will slowly get easier to bear, especially when you know their grave remains safe from harm.
Losing a pet is devastating enough without having to worry about their grave being disturbed. Foxes’ curious nature and digging instincts can motivate them to exhume buried pets. However, you can take proactive steps to protect your pet’s final resting place. Strategic burial spot selection, barriers like heavy lids and fencing, repellents, deterrents, and assistance from wildlife experts will minimize the chances of foxes accessing the grave. While defending against these intelligent and persistent creatures takes diligence and maintenance, you can gain peace of mind knowing your beloved companion remains undisturbed. Take heart in the beautiful memories, and take comfort knowing you’ve safeguarded their special burial place.
First thoughts on burial of my pet
Burial may well be your first thought. Burial gives us the opportunity to make our pet’s passing into a kind of ceremony. A ceremony doesn’t have to be religious. Nobody has to make a speech. A ceremony can help some of us deal with the death of a loved one better. Just choosing the spot, digging the hole, and then filling it in are all parts of the ceremony. Often common sense makes us think about the practicalities:-.
- If we move in the next few years, what will happen?
- Are there any places we know for sure that our new addition won’t bother them?
- Who will dig the hole?
- Should we plant a tree or bush over the grave?
- What about safety? There are foxes and stray dogs nearby, and we’ve heard that foxes dig up bodies.
Ashes can be returned in a casket or urn after a shared or private cremation. This is why so many people choose cremation. These allow ashes to be scattered along walks, or in areas of the garden. They allow those important memories of pets to be kept ‘material’ within the memorial of a permanent casket.
How To Keep Foxes Out Of Your Yard – (6 Easy Ways)
FAQ
How to keep wild animals from digging up buried pets?
How do I stop foxes digging up my pet?
Will a fox dig up a buried dog?
How to stop foxes from burrowing?
How do you keep a Fox from digging a fence?
Use narrow, steel mesh as fencing. Hardware cloth or ½” x ½” (1.25cm x 1.25cm) welded wire mesh should make up the bottom 2 feet (0.6 m) of fence, plus all buried sections. Unlike chicken wire, the fox cannot get his teeth around this mesh to tear through it. For extra protection, use two layers of mesh. Bury an L-shaped fence to prevent digging.
How do you keep foxes out of Your House?
Housing for small pets must include a secure frame, with sturdy wire (steel mesh, not chicken wire or plastic mesh) and either a secure floor or wire buried into the ground to prevent foxes digging into it – most important is that the door must contain secure locks, not simple twist catches.
Do foxes dig netting?
It seems that the most important factor to remember is that foxes will dig as well as climb, so netting should be dug into the ground or laid flat on the ground around the fence to prevent the fox from digging its way under.
How do I get rid of a Fox in my yard?
Choose a repellent. Most commercial repellents are scent-based, which confuses the fox and prevents it marking your land as its own territory. If you can’t find a fox repellent, look for one targeted at dogs. You may need to try a few repellents before you find one that works on your foxes.