Fox removal costs an average of $350. Depending on the number of foxes, the location, and whether you attempt to DIY the task, you could pay from $250 to $450.
The average fox removal cost is $350. Costs can be as low as $250 to trap one fox or as much as $900 to remove a cunning fox family that is preying on your chickens and denning under your home.
While living peacefully alongside these beautiful wild creatures has its benefits, fox removal is sometimes necessary. Learn about the factors that can affect fox removal costs and when investing in exclusion methods can be a better long-term strategy.
Professional fox removal costs vary considerably depending on a host of factors. Understanding these components helps you evaluate whether a professional wildlife removal service quote is reasonable.
Fox removal costs more when you're dealing with multiple animals. Often, professionals charge a flat fee for removing one animal and an additional fee for each extra animal. For example, you may pay $200 to $400 for a site visit, trap placement, and removal of one fox. The price for each fox trapped after that could range from $100 to $250.
While foxes don’t hunt in packs, you might need to remove a family that has set up a den on or near your property and is hassling your hens, cats, or small canines.
| Number of Foxes | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| 1 | $200–$400 |
| 2 | $300–$650 |
| 3 | $400–$900 |
| 4 | $500–$1,150 |
Some professionals charge a flat fee for trapping foxes with a guarantee to remove them within a certain number of days, while others charge a base rate for an initial set-up and then a charge for every call-out. After the initial set-up fee of $150 to $300, there may be a charge of $50 to $150 per additional visit.
If you can’t check the traps daily, the professionals are often legally obligated to do so. Be prepared for a higher bill when dealing with wily foxes that are particularly wary of the traps.
| Number of Visits | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| 1 | $150–$300 |
| 2 | $200–$450 |
| 3 | $250–$600 |
| 4 | $300–$750 |
Expect to pay a premium if a wildlife removal company has to travel far to reach your rural property or set up traps in a tricky-to-reach spot, such as a thorny, shrub-covered den under your house decking.
Urgent action is essential if you suspect a fox roaming around your property has rabies, especially if it’s acting aggressively. Wildlife control companies charge extra to visit out-of-hours or at short notice. They may charge anywhere from $100 more to double their usual rate.
Professional wildlife control companies will be familiar with state regulations on carcass disposal and can safely remove a dead fox found on your property. This service won’t cost as much as live trapping. Expect to pay from $100 to $300.
If you suspect the fox may have had rabies, you might have an obligation to report this to local county or municipal health departments. They may then collect it for examination and diagnosis.
When foxes threaten your poultry or small pets, it’s a better long-term investment to take steps to keep these nuisance predators out of your yard rather than continually removing them. Often, no sooner than you get rid of one fox will another one come along looking for an easy meal. Here are some ways to keep them out and how much prevention costs.
Leaving food out will attract animals to your home. Invest in a lockable garbage bin for your food waste to keep pests away.
Installing fox-proof fencing or upgrading your existing fencing is often the most effective way to keep these animals from entering your yard. The average cost of fence installation ranges from $1,800 to $4,600.
The average cost to install a chain-link fence is $2,380. A simple 6-foot-high chain-link fence with small (2-inch by 2-inch) openings and hardware cloth buried at the base is an effective fox-proof option.
The average cost of fence repairs is $600. Budget for this if you already have a tall fence that needs mending to make it fox-proof.
Jungle-like yards filled with clutter provide attractive hiding spots for cautious foxes and the rodents they prey on. The average cost of a yard cleanup service is $400. The contractor can remove leaf litter, damp old wood piles, and overgrown grass and shrubs.
Sealing gaps leading under decking or your home’s foundation helps prevent fox families from denning on your property. You can hire a handyperson near you to tackle these simple tasks, and the average cost to hire a handyperson is $400.
You can make big savings by removing foxes without the help of a professional. You might only spend between $50 and $100 for legal live traps and appropriate bait. However, there are many rules and risks to consider, meaning hiring a licensed wildlife control company near you is often safer.
Some things to consider:
In many states, humane live trapping of nuisance foxes is only allowed in certain months unless you have a professional license.
Relocating trapped animals is often not permitted, so you may need to call a removal expert regardless.
You could be at risk of bites or disease if you handle trapped foxes incorrectly.
Without expert knowledge on how to get rid of foxes, you might not have success. You need to know which traps to use, where to place them, how to hide them, and the best baits to use for foxes to entice them into the trap.
If you’re calling out a wildlife control specialist, it’s worth evaluating if other critters have set up a home on your property or are doing damage. You could save money if the professionals remove multiple species during the same visit. Plus, pros can quickly establish if you need to get rid of rodents under your house or offer advice for keeping rabbits out of your garden.
Other common wildlife removal costs include:
Armadillo removal costs: $175–$500
Groundhog removal costs: $150–$200
Mole removal costs: $100–$550
Rat removal costs: $175–$600
Skunk removal costs: $300–$600
Even if you don’t resort to DIY fox removal, there are savvy strategies to help you save money on the final bill.
Pick the right professional: When it comes to who to call for fox removal, select a company specializing in this service. A general pest control company might not know how to successfully and speedily trap this species.
Get multiple quotes: Don’t just go with the first licensed professional you find. Get at least three quotes from reputable contractors to compare the costs.
Buy and set up traps yourself: Some professionals will be happy to only do the removal part of the job at a reduced rate.
Prioritize preventative measures: By upping your exclusion game and picking the best fox deterrents to make your yard less attractive to these canids, you can reduce the chance of having future fox removal costs.
In many states, relocating a fox after humane trapping is illegal (except for very specific cases). Most of the time, humane euthanization of the fox is a requirement because of the risk of spreading disease, causing problems to livestock in other areas, or the injury or death of the released animal in an unfamiliar habitat. Release in the immediate vicinity is often possible if you also take steps to keep foxes away from your yard going forward.
Even if you’re a wildlife lover, there are times when fox removal costs are justified. These include if the foxes are hassling or killing small pets or poultry or if you suspect they could have rabies. However, taking measures to exclude the foxes rather than removing them is often a more effective and humane long-term strategy.
Unless foxes are a major threat or nuisance, living peacefully alongside them is often better. Reclusive foxes are rarely a risk to humans, and they can help keep rodent populations at bay and boost biodiversity in your yard. Plus, if you are a wildlife lover, there is the simple privilege and pleasure of watching a fox family interact right on your doorstep.
