Adelaide has a large population of European red foxes living in the city and suburbs, attracted by the easy access to food and water.

The animals, a major feral predator, have been spotted wreaking havoc in backyards and at our beaches, golf courses, public gardens, and even in Rundle Mall.

Foxes prey on household pets, particularly chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs, carry unwanted diseases that can be transferred to humans and domestic pets, and destroy backyards by digging underground dens and marking their territory with urine.

Green Adelaide's Regional Coordinator Biosecurity and Species Management Shannon Robertson said foxes often ventured out in search of a mate during their breeding season, which ran from July to October.

“People tend to report more sightings of foxes from July to October, aligning with their breeding season, but also around May and June as juveniles from the previous year are reaching maturity and venturing further to find their own territory,” Ms Robertson said.

“It can be challenging to determine an exact picture of fox numbers, and an increase in sightings could be aligning with more people being aware of reporting foxes, or specific control initiatives.”

Here are five ways to deter foxes entering your property:

Limit access to your yard: As simple as it sounds, close your gates, especially at night. Foxes also dislike surprises, and so setting up sprinklers or sensor lights can help scare them away.

Secure household pets: To protect your animals, such as chickens, rabbits, and guinea pigs, secure them with a pen or coop made with a material where foxes can’t dig under or jump over.

Keep your yard clean: Remove or block access to shelters, including backyard sheds, under piles of building materials and drainpipes to discourage foxes taking shelter in your yard.

Leave no food out in the open: Make sure to always secure rubbish pins, consider feeding your pets inside and clean up fruit fallen from trees.

Do not feed a fox: Associating humans with food will only encourage them to become less wary of people.

Foxes are cautious by nature and so catching or trapping them is often difficult. However, if you are continuously having issues with foxes in your yard, it is recommended to get in contact with a local licensed pest controller.

Learn more about foxes at Green Adelaide or learn how to make a report to help with monitoring their movements in your area through Feral Scan.