Why Do Foxes Dig Holes

If you’ve ever spotted a series of mysterious holes in your garden or yard, you might have wondered about the culprit. One common suspect is the clever red fox, and understanding why do foxes dig holes is key to managing your outdoor space. As a gardener, I’ve seen my fair share of their handiwork and learned that their digging isn’t just random mischief—it’s a core part of their survival.

Foxes are intelligent, adaptable creatures. They’ve thrived in both countryside and urban areas. Their digging habits, while sometimes frustrating, are fascinating when you look at the reasons behind them. Knowing this can help you protect your prized plants and maybe even appreciate these agile animals a bit more.

Foxes dig for several crucial reasons. It’s not just one thing. Each hole serves a specific purpose in their daily lives. From finding food to raising young, digging is an essential skill for a fox. Let’s look at the main motivations behind those garden excavations.

1. Creating Dens for Shelter and Family

The most significant digging project a fox undertakes is creating a den. This isn’t a simple hole; it’s a complex underground home.

Raising Kits: The primary use for a main den, or earth, is to provide a safe nursery for their young, called kits. Vixens (female foxes) need a secure, weather-proof place to give birth and raise their babies for the first few months.
Protection: Dens offer shelter from extreme weather—be it heavy rain, cold winds, or hot sun. They also provide a hiding place from larger predators or human disturbance.
Resting Spot: Foxes don’t always sleep in their main den. They often have multiple, smaller dug-out resting spots around their territory for daytime naps.

A typical den might have several entrances and tunnels leading to a larger chamber. They often expand old rabbit burrows or use natural crevices, but they are perfectly capable of digging one from scratch.

2. The Hunt for Food

Foxes are opportunistic omnivores. A lot of their digging is directly related to their next meal. This is often the type of hole that appears overnight in your lawn or flower beds.

Going for Grubs: One of there favorite snacks is chafer grubs and leatherjackets, which live just under the turf. Foxes can hear them moving and will dig small, shallow holes to extract them.
Unearthing Earthworms: Especially after rain, worms come to the surface. Foxes will lightly scratch and dig to pull them from the soil.
Catching Small Mammals: They will dig to try and reach voles, mice, or even rabbits in their burrows, although this is less common in gardens.

These feeding holes are usually conical and scattered, unlike the larger, more structured den entrances.

3. Caching Leftover Food

Foxes are planners. When they have more food than they can eat, they save it for later. This behavior is called caching.

They dig a small hole, often in a quiet corner of a garden or under a hedge.
They place the leftover food—a piece of meat, a bird, or even some fruit—inside.
They carefully cover it up with soil, leaves, or debris to hide it from scavengers like other foxes or birds.

They have remarkable memories and will return later when food is scarce. You might find these small, neat holes if a fox has been using your garden as a pantry.

4. Marking Their Territory

Digging can also be a communication tool. Foxes have scent glands in their paws. When they dig, they leave behind their unique scent.

This combined with urine marking, helps them establish their territory and communicate with other foxes in the area. A few strategic scrapes can send a clear message: “This area is taken.”

How to Tell a Fox Hole from Other Animal Holes

Not every hole is a fox hole. Here’s a quick guide to identification:

Fox Holes: Often medium-sized (about 6-8 inches across). For dens, you might see a pile of excavated soil at the entrance and a strong, musky smell. Feeding holes are smaller and more scattered.
Badger Holes (Sett Entrances): Much wider (over 10 inches) and taller than they are wide. The excavated soil is massive and often forms a large, fan-shaped mound.
Rabbit Burrows: Smaller entrances (4-6 inches) and usually in groups. The grass around the entrance is often closely cropped.
Mole Digging: Creates raised ridges or molehills (volcano-shaped piles of soil), not open holes.

What to Do If a Fox is Digging in Your Garden

As a gardener, your goal isn’t to harm the fox but to protect your space. Deterrence is more effective and humane than confrontation.

Protecting Specific Areas

Use Physical Barriers: Lay chicken wire or mesh just under the surface of new lawns or flower beds. Plants can grow through, but foxes don’t like the feel on their paws.
Install Fencing: Bury the bottom of fences at least 12 inches deep and angle the base outward to discourage digging under.
Protect Vegetable Patches: Use sturdy, raised beds or cover ground-level crops with cloches or netting.

Effective Fox Deterrents

Remove Attractions: Secure your rubbish bins. Don’t leave out pet food or fallen fruit. Clear overgrown areas that could provide cover.
Use Scent Repellents: Commercial fox repellents can work. Some gardeners have success with male human urine (diluted and applied around borders) or citrus peels scattered around.
Try Motion-Activated Devices: Sprinklers or lights that turn on with movement can startle foxes and condition them to avoid your garden.
Make the Soil Less Appealing: Treating your lawn for chafer grubs removes a major food source, so the fox has no reason to dig there.

Remember, persistence is key. Foxes are smart and may test your defenses, so consistency with these methods is crucial for them to work.

When to Leave Fox Holes Alone

There is one very important exception. If you suspect a hole is an active den with kits inside, it’s best to leave it be until the family has moved on.

Disturbing an active den can cause stress and lead the vixen to move her kits, which is risky for them. Fox kits typically start emerging from the den in late spring and begin to disperse by early autumn. If you can tolerate it, allowing them to stay for the season is the kindest option. After they’ve clearly abandoned it, you can safely fill the den in.

Living Alongside Garden Foxes

Foxes are a natural part of the ecosystem. They help control populations of rodents and insects. While their digging can be a nusance, a few simple steps can minimize conflict.

By understanding why they dig, you can target your efforts effectively. You can protect your garden while respecting their role in the local environment. A little knowledge goes a long way in finding that balance.

FAQ: Fox Digging Habits

What time of year do foxes dig the most?
You’ll see peak digging in late winter/early spring (preparing dens for kits) and autumn (young foxes dispersing and creating new territories). Food-related digging happens year-round.

How deep will a fox dig?
A den can be 6-10 feet deep with tunnels extending up to 15 feet. Food caching and grub-hunting holes are much shallower, often just a few inches deep.

Are fox holes dangerous?
The holes themselves aren’t typically dangerous, but they can be a tripping hazard. The main concern is potential damage to plant roots, lawn integrity, or irrigation systems.

Will a fox dig under my house?
It’s possible, especially if there’s a gap in the foundations or under a deck/shed that looks like a good den site. Sealing off any potential access points is a good preventative measure.

Can I fill in a fox hole?
Yes, but only if you are certain it’s not an active den. Fill it with soil and tamp it down firmly. You may need to add a layer of stones or mesh underneath to deter re-digging.

By taking a thoughtful approach, you can keep your garden thriving and coexist with the wildlife that shares our spaces. A few adjustments can make all the difference for both your plants and the local foxes.