Hello this is Ben from the Fox Repellent Expert website and welcome to  the latest episode of this podcast.

This episode is the eleventh in this series looking at what the UK’s foxes are up to during each month of the year. This time I’m diving into the month of November to explore the behaviour of the foxes in your garden and local area.

Last month, we discussed the break up of the fox families and that continues to accelerate during November. It’s a key event in the fox calendar and is one of the reasons November can feel like a busy month for fox sightings. Just to briefly recap, dispersal is when young foxes finally leave their family unit and strike out on their own, searching for a territory to call home. It’s a huge step in their journey towards independence and survival.

For many people, November is the first time they notice foxes in their garden or local area. Why? Well, these young foxes are exploring new spaces, venturing into unfamiliar territories as they figure out where they can settle. It’s a little like when teenagers leave home for university—they’re eager, maybe a bit reckless, and definitely not experts at navigating the wider world just yet!

This sudden movement often brings foxes into places they’ve never been seen before, surprising residents who might wonder why their previously quiet garden has become a fox hotspot. If you’re noticing fresh paw prints, unusual paths through your flower beds, or even scat left behind, it’s very likely you’ve had a visit from one of these adventurous dispersing foxes.

One thing I always find fascinating about dispersal is how varied it can be. Some young foxes will travel miles in search of the perfect territory, while others might settle just down the road from their birthplace. It really depends on what they find and how much competition they face along the way.

So, if you’ve suddenly seen a fox—or even a few foxes—in your garden this month, you’re witnessing an important part of their natural behaviour. It’s their way of carving out a space for themselves in the world.

What can you do? Well, now is a great time to fox-proof your garden if you haven’t already. Secure bins, block off access to sheds or potential den sites, and use deterrents to gently steer them elsewhere. These young foxes are adaptable, and with a little encouragement, they’ll move on to find a more suitable space.

Let’s move on to a sad but important topic: foxes and road accidents. November, as I mentioned earlier, is a time when dispersing foxes are on the move, and sadly, that means many of them end up in dangerous situations. A fox’s biggest predator isn’t a larger animal or even humans directly—it’s cars.

As young foxes venture into unfamiliar territories, they often encounter roads for the first time. Unlike older foxes, who’ve had time to learn how to navigate urban environments, these youngsters may not understand the dangers posed by fast-moving traffic. Unfortunately, this results in a significant number of foxes being hit by cars during this period.

Here’s a sobering fact: although foxes can live for up to 12, 13, 14 years in certain circumstances, a large proportion of UK foxes won’t even see their second birthday. While natural causes and competition play a role in this, road accidents are a major factor. It’s a harsh reminder of the challenges these animals face as they adapt to life in human-dominated landscapes.

If you’ve noticed more foxes on roadsides at this time of year, it’s not your imagination. November sees a lot of these tragic incidents as young foxes explore further afield, crossing busy roads in their search for food, mates, and territory.

What can we do to help? While it’s impossible to eliminate all risks, we can take small steps to reduce them. For example, driving with extra caution at dawn and dusk—the times when foxes are most active—can make a big difference. If you’re lucky enough to live near green spaces or wooded areas, be mindful that foxes might use these as corridors and are more likely to cross nearby roads.

And for those who want to make a broader impact, supporting local wildlife organisations can help fund efforts to raise awareness and create safer environments for all urban wildlife, including foxes.

While it’s a difficult topic, it’s important to acknowledge this aspect of their lives. It gives us a deeper understanding of the challenges foxes face and reminds us to appreciate the resilience of these fascinating animals.

Now let’s talk about the male foxes—our determined yet often impatient suitors. November marks the beginning of a new chapter for them: the search for a mate. This process is intense, competitive, and, for many male foxes, an all-consuming priority.

You’ll often find several males trailing a single female during this time, and the competition between them can be fierce. While they may be ready to mate, the timing isn’t quite right yet. Female foxes, or vixens, won’t be on heat until very late December or early January, as we discussed back in the January episode.

Even when a vixen does come into heat, there’s another challenge for the males: she can only conceive during a three-day window. That’s right—just three days out of the entire year! It’s a tiny window of opportunity, which is why the lead-up to mating season is so intense. For the males, November is all about positioning themselves as the strongest, fittest, and most persistent contender in the eyes of the vixen.

If you’re in an area with fox activity, you might start hearing their infamous barks and screams during the night. These vocalisations are part of their courtship and territorial disputes as males vie for dominance. The barking might sound unsettling, but it’s perfectly normal behaviour for this time of year.

For us humans, it’s also a reminder of the incredible biological precision of the fox’s reproductive cycle. Everything has to align just right for the next generation of cubs to come into the world. It’s a fascinating combination of nature’s timing and the fox’s tenacity.

And while November is just the beginning of this process, it’s an exciting time to observe foxes in action. You’re seeing the groundwork for the next generation being laid, with all the drama and determination that comes with it.

As November progresses, another important behaviour begins to take shape: the search for a suitable den. This process is vital for foxes, as they prepare for the challenges of winter and the breeding season ahead.

For older foxes, the search may feel familiar as many will return to den sites they’ve used in previous years, places they already know are safe and sheltered. These might include disused burrows from other animals, secluded spots beneath garden sheds, or even dense thickets in parks or woodland.

For younger foxes, however, the process is entirely new. These first-time den-seekers are learning as they go, exploring potential sites with an almost trial-and-error approach. You might notice increased digging activity in your garden, especially in areas that look particularly den-worthy, like flowerbeds, compost heaps, or spaces under decking.

Interestingly, foxes are remarkably resourceful when it comes to choosing a den. They aren’t too picky about what the space looks like, as long as it offers protection from the elements and is hidden from predators—or in urban settings, from people.

Dens serve multiple purposes. For vixens, it’s a place to give birth and raise cubs when the time comes. For male foxes, they provide a safe retreat during the colder months. The den is essentially a fox’s home base, a safe haven in an otherwise unpredictable world.

As November wears on, you might start noticing foxes behaving more boldly as they stake their claim on a good spot. This is because a suitable den is a limited resource, and competition can be stiff. If you’ve ever wondered why a fox seems particularly persistent in exploring your garden, this den-hunting instinct might be the answer.

For those of us who enjoy having foxes as visitors, this time of year offers a unique glimpse into their preparation for the colder months. But if you’d prefer they didn’t set up shop in your garden, it’s worth checking for potential den sites now and securing them. Block off gaps under sheds, cover large holes in the ground, and clear away any inviting piles of debris.

Whether they’re seasoned den-dwellers or rookies scouting out their first home, November is a busy and pivotal time for foxes as they prepare for what’s to come.

Well, that’s it for this episode of the Fox Repellent Expert podcast. I hope it’s been insightful and informative, regarding some of the fox activity in your area at this time of year. I’ll put any links mentioned in this episode in the show notes.

If you found today’s episode interesting, you can subscribe to the Fox Repellent Expert podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Please feel free to leave a review as it helps other people find the show.

Thank you very much for listening and I’ll see you next time.