A Sprinkle Of This Fall Spice Will Send Foxes Running From Your Yard

Having a fox in your yard isn't ideal, even though they rarely attack people and don't want to be around your dog either. They bring some risks with them, including the risk of rabies. They can be a nuisance as well, getting into the trash can, fighting with your pets, and even damaging your yard and garden in their quest to care for their young or find a food source. Keeping them out is ideal, and the use of cinnamon from your spice cabinet may be the easiest way to do just that.

The strong scent of cinnamon, a fragrance that you may link to fall and the holidays, is a natural pest repellant and can work well against a fox. The spice does not necessarily cause any danger or illness to these critters, but they don't like it and will avoid it when they catch a whiff. Add some around the border of your home, near a fence, or in the flowerbed to encourage them to go the other direction. As adaptable creatures, foxes will learn over time that cinnamon isn't a concern to them. As such, this isn't considered a long-term solution. Still, you should keep foxes out of your yard, and for those just getting started, this is an easy way to do so.

Along with their sense of hearing, foxes also have a very strong sense of smell. They use it to find food sources, which they spend most of their day tracking down. They also rely on their ability to smell to detect potentially dangerous predators near them or their den. When they cannot use their sense of smell, foxes are at risk and unable to find anything appetizing nearby. The result is they don't stick around those types of areas.

Foxes don't like the scents of cinnamon, garlic, vinegar, and people, associating all of those aromas with threats and risk. As much as they hate the smell, placing cinnamon sticks around your yard also isn't going to hurt these animals in any way, and they're not likely to munch on it. Cinnamon also isn't toxic in typical doses to dogs, as noted by the American Kennel Club, though it can cause skin and mouth irritation. That means your pups likely aren't at risk if you sprinkle it in your backyard as a way to ward off invading foxes. However, monitor your pets closely when they're outside, as consuming too much cinnamon could lead to complications.

The hardest part of using cinnamon to repel foxes is that you'll need enough of it to create a strong border around your home since these troublesome animals can easily make their way into your yard through holes in the fence or over the top of a wood pile. The simplest way to do this is to sprinkle cinnamon on a border around your home. Use fresh cinnamon or natural cinnamon sticks, as these will carry a more pungent scent and retain the smell a bit longer, helping you to avoid having to repeatedly sprinkle the spice throughout the yard. You also can use a few handy kitchen ingredients, such as chili pepper or garlic, that act as natural deterrents to amplify your level of protection.

If there's a significant risk to small livestock in your yard or your pets have been attacked by foxes in the past, cinnamon alone may not be enough to protect them fully. Consider installing fencing that is dug into the ground and using electric fencing or barbed wire along the top. Also, remove habitats from your yard where foxes might nest, such as piles of wood or dense, overgrown vegetation. With the right precautions and a sprinkle of cinnamon, foxes are sure to steer clear of your yard for the immediate future. However, keep in mind that foxes are clever, and persistent ones won't be deterred forever. For a more long-term solution, consider turning to pest control or your local animal control agent for solutions.