Sorry it's been a while...2.5 years to be precise. We moved house and there are not many foxes in our new house back garden. Our last garden was almost a fox run before I completely fenced it off. I did the same in our new house but I miss the trapping! Unbelievably the fox count was up to 63 and I was disappointed that I didn't make the complete chess board!
But while I was doing some work on the adjoining property fence last Summer I noticed my neighbour had put some rocks and stones in some old pond pots next to his fence at ground level. I asked what they were for and he told me, to stop the foxes digging under the fence and entering his garden. That registered....valuable information which I am just putting to use this week.
My new house has a much bigger back garden and it is more private and secluded so well away from prying eyes.





The adjoining perimeter fence backs onto a school sports field that is only made of wood paneling however I erected 656 twin wire fencing inside that fence and also there is another wire fence 3 feet inside that one so there is a maintenance space all around the inner fence which makes a man made fox run!




anyway I can operate the trap for the next 2 weeks as the school is on the mid term break.....I would not want to have hundreds of kids seeing a trapped fox if I slept it out some morning. There was a lot of problems the last time I slept it out at my last address.



Depending on the success rate I might keep going as it is great being able to trap from the comfort of your own home ps I seal the hole in the day time so no one is any wiser.

Good luck get after them.
That snare cable looks plenty stout for fox?

Osky

You're a right sneaky bugger aint ya?
Hammer them pesky fox,and tan the good ones for hats.

Aye ways just talking about you to some UK friends! Glad to see your still kicking !

Bet that cable would hold one of Savells pigs

I'd like some detail on the snare; looks like you could hold an elephant with that wire.

I noticed that also that the snare looks a lot meatier than the previous ones I was using....the same supplier but obviously the design of the snare has changed over the last 2.5 years. The gauge of the wire is maybe 25% larger and I would think that is overkill for foxes as none of my 63 previous catches ever escaped from the older design snares. I would think the increased gauge thickness would comfortably hold coyotes, wolves, cougers etc but we don't have any of those in the UK...My best guess is they are being manufactured and imported from abroad (China?) and the manufacturer has increased the gauge size for other species.
I attached a pic taken of the old gauge size (I had 1 left) and the new gauge size. Old gauge size on the top, new on the bottom of the photo.



by the way I had a non target catch this am (a large pet Tom cat ...released unharmed after about 5 minutes...the snares have anti choke stops) so it was good practice using the catch pole and wire cutters after a 2.5 year gap. Also good to know the new design snare works and that any trap commotion is instantly heard from the bedrooms. (and a reminder to only trap when the school is closed!)

Blessings to you And much Success !

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year !

Congratulations on the successful release of the tom cat with as many fox roaming your area I'm surprised it's made it very long outside unless it's brought inside at night .

I'd suggest a 1/16" diameter cable snare instead but use up what you have first .

I hope you reach your goal of 64 !

Allan