"Christina Websell" wrote in message
...

"Jake" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 20 Jun 2012 16:55:15 +0100, "Emrys Davies"
wrote:

These foxes probably sleep in rough land which is adjacent to the bowling
green and they are progressively damaging the well kept green by digging
a
few holes each night and also removing the earth from any that has been
repaired. I have no confidence in any repellant products on the market
due
to an experience I had years ago when they damaged my heather garden, but
I
am wondering if anyone has found a way to deter them. Following tips
from
other bowling greens I have acquired a large number of 2 litre pop
bottles
which I shall fill with water and hopefully that will frighten them off
as
they are apparently scared of seeing their reflection in the bottles.
Using
crushed moth balls is another suggestion, but I learn that they are now
banned.

There have been a few discussions here of late and I think the
consensus is that the only effective solution is an electric fence!
Can't speak for pop bottles but it used to be said that they were
effective against cats but I've never seen a cat scared by one ;-)

My cat sneers at pop bottles.
Electric fences are good against foxes as long as you keep them charged -
the minute the battery fails you are in trouble, as they seem to know it.

I've had a difficult relationship with foxes attacking my chickens for
some years. My preferred method if they do it, is to put a piece of lead
in their ear.
Works quite well.

We were not absolutely sure that it was foxes as opposed to carrion crows or
other birds which were causing the damage so to remove any doubt whatsoever
I visited the green at about 9.30 p.m. last night and made sure that all
holes were filled and that everything was in order. Then I sat in the
darkness of our pavillion and between 10 pm and 11.15 pm four foxes, in one
instance all at the same time, visited the green and, although the lighting
was not sufficient for me to see exactly what they were doing at the time, I
found shortly afterwards that they had removed the fillings from two holes
without there being a bird or other animal in sight. Now that we definitely
know the cause of our problem I will at first try the pop bottles and if
that fails total disturbance of their habitat must be an option and maybe
the odd visit by a Jack Russell. Should that not work I may seek the help
of our local council.