It would be if you were to put an electrrified "guard" wire about 5foot up spaced off using insulators and another about 6 inches above the ground spaced away from the fence to stop digging.
OOh how I'd love to "educate" them
A friend has offered me a unit on loan, I'd only have to get the wire, how easy is it to do HF? I bet you lives mile away
Of to google x
[/quote]
There are two options for electric fencing.
1 An electric net -usually about 4foot high which as it's flexible can't be climbed. "Educated" foxes can jump such a net but generally don't unless they've learnt to do it. It has to be free from over hangs which a fox can easily climb and jump down into the run from so it can't run alongside a solid fence or an out building for example. It can be baited with bacon which attracts a fox which wil get an electric shock when it licks or bites it. once zapped a fox or dog will not come near. Urban foxes are more determined and less frightened by man than country foxes which are generally more wary. Nets work best in country locations where there is an alternative food supply ie wild birds and rabbits. Urban foxes are scavengers and range close to humans and are bolder when it comes to jumping fences. The advantage with nets is that they aren't permanent fixtures and can be relocated and erected quickly.
2 A rigid wire fence about 6 foot high either weld mesh, link mesh or chicken wire protected at a low level by an electrified strand or wire insulated from the fence. Stand off insulators are easily available as well as stranded stainless steel wire and are cheap to buy and easy to rig. They need to be rigged so that a fox can't dig under the fence of chew it, if it's chicken wire and can't climb it without getting zapped. The main fence will need to be electrically connected to ground (earthed with an earth stake) and the insulated guard wires will need to be energised with an electric energiser which generates a very high voltage pulse that produces a shock without being dangerous to life. This is the most secure system.
It's important to note that a shock is ONLY produced when the fox touches both the guard wire and the earthed fence (or ground) at the same time. You will note that birds can happily perch on HT overhead wires without harm as they aren't touching earth at the same time. An electric fence is ONLY effective if it is switched on and checked periodically to ensure it is working efficiently. Most cases where an electric net or fence hasn't been effective are caused by bad design, installation or mantenance.
You should also not undereestimate a foxes intelegence and persistance. Once it has overcome it's initial fear of the unknown it is more likely to come back and do it again. Locking the stable door after the horse has bolted is a very bad strategy when dealing with foxes as they learn quickly from exerience and once they have been successful they then take a lot of stopping.
Yes Hamble is too far away for me to help you I'm affraid but implementing an effective electric fence is easily within most people's scope.
HF
