Foxes in Colorado Springs: What to Do When They Move In

Red foxes are the more commonly encountered species in urban and suburban Colorado Springs. They are adaptable, intelligent, and opportunistic -- traits that make them successful in residential areas but also harder to deter once they have established a routine on your property.

Foxes are primarily nocturnal but are regularly seen at dawn and dusk, and occasionally during the day. They are solitary hunters outside of breeding season, which runs from January through March. During this period foxes become more vocal -- the screaming or barking sounds people sometimes report at night are typically foxes communicating during mating season.

Denning season follows shortly after, with kits born in spring. A fox that has chosen your property for a den will be particularly defensive and persistent during this period. Kits remain with the mother for several months before dispersing, so a spring denning situation can mean foxes on your property through late summer if not addressed.

Foxes can carry rabies, mange, and canine distemper. A fox that appears disoriented, is losing fur in patches, or shows no fear of people is likely sick and should be treated as an urgent situation.

Foxes are classified as a furbearer species in Colorado, and trapping them requires a license. That rules out DIY trapping for most homeowners. That said, there are legitimate steps you can take to reduce conflict and make your property less attractive to foxes before a professional removal is warranted.

What you can try:

• Secure food sources. Do not leave pet food outside. Use wildlife-resistant trash cans. If you have poultry, a fully enclosed coop with hardware cloth -- including a floor or buried apron -- is essential. Chicken wire alone will not stop a fox.
• Exclude denning areas. If a fox has not yet denned but you have open voids under decks or sheds, seal them off with hardware cloth before spring. Foxes look for existing cavities before digging their own.
• Harassment and deterrents. Motion-activated lights, sprinklers, and noise devices can discourage foxes from frequenting specific areas. These work best before a den is established. Once a fox is denning with kits, harassment tactics are significantly less effective and may cause the mother to move kits to a harder-to-find location rather than leave the property entirely.
• Scent deterrents. Products containing predator urine are sold as fox deterrents with mixed results. They require frequent reapplication and are generally not reliable as a standalone solution.

Where DIY falls short: If there is an active den with kits present, your options narrow considerably. You cannot legally trap the adults without a license, and disturbing an active den without properly addressing the whole family group usually results in the vixen moving kits rather than leaving. A professional approach handles the whole situation at once.

Whether you have a fox denning under your deck, losing poultry to nightly raids, or dealing with a sick animal on your property, K2 Kritter Solutions handles it correctly the first time. We have been working with Colorado Springs homeowners and businesses since 2010 and know how to resolve fox problems without making them worse.

Call us at (719) 358-1856 or fill out our contact form to schedule an inspection. We will assess the extent of the infestation and give you a clear, honest plan for getting it under control.