Rabbits & Foxes
Identification, and life cycles
🦊 Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are widespread in Britain, found in both urban and rural areas. They are mainly active through the night searching for food and generally live in family groups. Foxes will eat a variety of food including insects, earthworms, small mammals and birds, and scraps left out by people. They can be found all year round and their breeding season is March to May, during which time the female may give birth to four to seven cubs.
🐰 Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) are also widespread throughout Britain and mainly found in more rural areas although not exclusively. They live in large groups in underground burrow systems called warrens. Rabbits will eat a range of vegetation including grasses, crops, weeds, bulbs and bark. Found all year round their breeding season is from January/February through to October, during which time the females can produce litters of between three to seven kittens each month.
When are they a problem?
🦊 Foxes and rabbits can both be a problem to sports surfaces all year round and each causes similar damage mainly by scratching and digging the surface which reduces grass cover and creates holes.
🐰 This burrowing is not only unsightly but is often deep enough to cause a danger to those using the surface, creating holes big enough for someone to trip or lose their footing in, resulting in injury. The holes will also have a detrimental effect on playability, causing a ball to bounce unevenly or deviate from its expected path.
🦊 Foxes and rabbits also create issues due to their droppings which are a health/hygiene issue and a slip risk, as well as the damage they cause by chewing through netting.
What can we do to prevent/reduce their impact?
👉 It is difficult to stop foxes and rabbits accessing sports pitches, but measures can be taken to make it more difficult and less attractive.
👉 Installing mesh fencing around the site or a mesh barrier around the pitch is an option that will make it harder for the animals to gain access. Foxes will often dig in the same spot so once a repair has been made, cover the area with a cut out of mesh wire or plastic and pin it down.
👉 Foxes and rabbits tend to scratch and dig at bare areas so maintaining a good level of grass cover will help too.
👉 Netting should be removed or lifted when not in use to avoid the animals causing damage by chewing it and avoid encouraging the animals by making sure bins on site are emptied regularly and food is not left lying around.
How can we deal with Rabbits/Foxes?
📌 Click here for the most up to date guidance on dealing with foxes
📌 And click here for some guidance on rabbits
How best to repair affected areas?
👉Repairing damaged areas, whilst irritating, is straightforward and there are a couple of options depending on the time of year.
👉Spring, summer or early autumn: Fill the holes with soil that matches what is already on site, compact, sprinkle some seed over the top and apply another thin layer of soil. Use a soft brush or lute to ensure the area is level and if possible, cover with a piece of germination sheet to encourage growth or some mesh to discourage the fox/rabbit from returning to the same spot. Irrigate the area and continue to do so regularly unless rain is forecast.
👉All year round but particularly late autumn or winter: Using a half-moon or a spade, cut down into the turf around the hole making sure to go at least as deep as the hole itself and lift out the damaged area. Replace this with a piece of turf taken from an area that is maintained but not in play, filling that area with the damaged turf and soil if necessary. Check the repaired area is level with the surroundings and tread over it to compact it down. Irrigate the area and continue to do so regularly unless rain is forecast.
