Fox barrier/ gap filler

[rgbgr]

Hi,

There's a gap between our neighbour's wall and ours where foxes like to eat whatever they've found and hide from our dog. I normally wouldn't worry too much, but our dog (terrier) has spent about 2 weeks now obsessing about getting to them and is starting to dig up our garden in the process.

The hidey-hole is about 100-200mm wide, 5m long and 3m high. I need to fill it somehow as unfortunately due to its position I can't simply block off fox access.

Whatever I fill it with has to:

- be permeable so I don't cause damp issues
- not provide additional bedding material for the foxes
- not put too much stress on the wall
- be applied from a 100mm gap above
- (ideally) not replace foxes with rats or mice!

So for me that rules out foam (not permeable), fibreglass insulation (too "beddy"), hardcore (too much stress on wall and a nightmare to apply), chicken wire (too difficult to apply to fill the space).

Does anyone have any ideas of anything (humane) I could use? Thanks!

 

[scbk]

I can't really picture the space, but what about weldmesh or similar? You can get lighter gauges on a roll or heavier as a sheet, different hole sizes, and cut down to suit.

 

[rgbgr]

Thanks for the idea. It's essentially just a narrow gap between two buildings which can only be accessed (by humans) from the top via a flat roof. Unfortunately foxes can get in from the bottom where I have no hope of reaching.

If I could neatly close it off with mesh I definitely would. I could maybe scrunch up some mesh and shove it down, but I'd probably rip myself to shreds and it would be a bit of a bodge job...

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Well rather than scrunching it up can't you roll it up? Sounds like quite a good idea. Got some pics?