Anti-fox device - Help needed!!

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tompakenham
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Anti-fox device - Help needed!!

Post by tompakenham »

Before I even start, please forgive me if this is totally the wrong place for a request like this...anyway, here goes...

I have a fox problem. That is, they come and do their business in my garden a lot. And I mean a LOT. It's a problem because I have kids and because I would like to eat the herbs/veg that they are crapping around.

I have tried a bunch of deterrent measures, but none of them work, so I am turning to a DIY one that I had an idea for. Simply put, it is a movement sensor-triggered automatic battery powered BB gun. Fox breaks movement sensor beam, gun fires a few pellets, stings fox, scares fox, fox runs away, fox never comes back.

The problem is that although I can use a soldering iron I am not all that clever at electronics. Actually, I am not clever at all. So I am looking for someone who is either interested in building this thing and I will pay for the materials; or interested in making a small amount of money, in which case I will pay a fee and for the materials.

The timing on the movement sensor needs to be very quick, so that the BB gun just fires a quick burst and then stops - (a) so as not to wake up the whole street with its rat-a-tat-tat and (b) so as not to run out of pellets in one activation. Apart from this it all seems pretty straightforward.

I actually have 2 automatic, battery powered BB guns, which I have gutted so that two wires are sticking out and when a current is put through them, the electric motor turns and they let rip. So that part of it is already done. It's more the movement sensor selection and wiring (including cut-off) and power supply selection and wiring. I am sure to most of the people reading this board, it's going to be a piece of cake...

If you're interested, reply to this and I guess we'll find out some way of making it happen. I am based in London, but would of course send materials etc to anywhere in the UK; and pay postage for returns too.

Many thanks,
Tom
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Externet
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Re: Anti-fox device - Help needed!!

Post by Externet »

Hi Tom.
This is the correct place to post your request, but I will not collaborate with an unnatended automatic pellet gun outdoors.
If cannot find an alligator to guard your garden; it would be better to trade the electric pellet guns with electric pepper spray, or maze, or capsazin, or whatever is called.
That will be much better remembered by a fox than a tingling pellet.

Miguel
- Abolish the deciBel ! -
tompakenham
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Re: Anti-fox device - Help needed!!

Post by tompakenham »

Thanks Miguel, that's fair enough!

I am not really fussed about the means of scaring them off, so pepper spray would be fine. Will you assist me with an unattended pepper spray?
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Externet
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Re: Anti-fox device - Help needed!!

Post by Externet »

OK.
First we need the pepper spray canister. Choose one with a trigger that can be actuated by a solenoid pressing the button or lever, or whatever has.

Then, I woud use a passive infrared sensor (occupancy sensor) and feed it with a motorcycle battery.
I have a couple like these $3 units in my garden:

http://ledmart.en.alibaba.com/product/3 ... _Lamp.html
That you should be able to find at gadget stores.
We can continue with the modifications step by step when you get the parts, instead of tackling the construction of everything as you say you lack electronics skills.
So far, your plan of a battery and a motion sensor is respected. Hope your kids be maze resistant, but they will not lose an eye with the pellet gun.

A different gun: http://www.mace.com/mace-pepper-spray-g ... spray.html

:!: ----->http://www.ubackoff.com/item_26/Pepper- ... ilable.htm :sad:

Well, just matter of finding it. It exists, no need to reinvent the wheel; pick yours :
http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/26369 ... Spray.html
http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/63737 ... _door.html
http://www.alibaba.com/product-free/108 ... Alarm.html
http://www.alibaba.com/product-free/230 ... ystem.html
Found it !----> http://burglarbomb.com/AB-2000.aspx
Miguel :grin:
- Abolish the deciBel ! -
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Janitor Tzap
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Re: Anti-fox device - Help needed!!

Post by Janitor Tzap »

Miguel,

Pepper spray might not be a good idea with little kids around that could get a face full of maze.

Instead, substitute the pepper spray for a Compressed Air Horn.
That should work just as well at scaring off the foxes.


Signed: Janitor Tzap
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Externet
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Re: Anti-fox device - Help needed!!

Post by Externet »

Absolutely agreed, am aware of it.

The need is for getting rid of the fox permanently, A trap could endarger kids too. But hoping that the moment the tear gas is released, be because of the fox, not kids. The fox would not be around if kids are present in the yard.
And after that, the system could be dismantled as hopefully, the fox learned the lesson. Good judgement and decisions from Tom are mandatory to avoid mishaps.

Miguel
- Abolish the deciBel ! -
tompakenham
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Re: Anti-fox device - Help needed!!

Post by tompakenham »

So, I should have made clear that the trap would only be deployed at night and put away in the daytime; by me. The foxes only come at night. The garden is entirely private and enclosed, so nobody apart from me and the foxes will come into contact with the device. This is why I thought a BB gun would be ok in the first place.

Thanks for all this help - I will crack on with gathering the pieces / buying direct from alibaba.
gerty
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Re: Anti-fox device - Help needed!!

Post by gerty »

Here you go. http://www.harborfreight.com/driveway-a ... 69590.html
It's a self contained ,battery powered motion detector with a beeper alarm. and it's less than $20. A friend just put one in his store to alert him of a customer while he's in the back room. No BB gun, no pepper spray, and the kids can play with it by trying to sneak up on it :grin:
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haklesup
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Re: Anti-fox device - Help needed!!

Post by haklesup »

if you have one fox, you probably have more than one fox. A live catch "Humane" trap is most effective but you need a good spot far away to release the animal into later and it could take a while. So I guess you don't want a dog either. A better fence is probably going to be the only effective way to keep them out of the garden.
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dacflyer
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Re: Anti-fox device - Help needed!!

Post by dacflyer »

perhaps this is a better option. i have used this before and it worked great..

not so great if you have a dog that likes water tho..lol
http://www.amazon.com/Contech-CRO101-Sc ... B000071NUS


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5D3GKlTkpY
they are sold all over the net. and some farm/feed supplies carry them also.

the range is adjustable, and the spray pattern is also adjustable. as well as the orbit spray pattern.
unit operates off of a 9 volt battery.
Bear
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Re: Anti-fox device - Help needed!!

Post by Bear »

Tom...You might want to check to see what kind of fox it is and whether it is state or federally protected wild life. If it is you can wind up paying a fairly stiff fine for hurting or harassing it, and as far as moving it to another area, if I remember correctly you can only move it 1/4 mile from the capture point. When my brother-in-law used to move the racoons, they used to beat him home. The pellet, under some circumstances could penetrate or pierce the skin and create a bad infection and worse it could put an eye out. Lots of luck with coming up with a non-dangerous humane solution.

Dennis
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jollyrgr
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Re: Anti-fox device - Help needed!!

Post by jollyrgr »

I was going to suggest the water sprinkler motion detector that dacflyer pointed out.

If you want to go the "firearm" route I would suggest a paint ball gun. It might bruise the fox but likely it won't severely injure or kill.
No trees were harmed in the creation of this message. But billions of electrons, photons, and electromagnetic waves were terribly inconvenienced!
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jwax
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Re: Anti-fox device - Help needed!!

Post by jwax »

tompakenham- Help us out here- As Dennis pointed out, you may have yourself a protected, endangered piece of wildlife there that, according to our California poster, has rights too!
Don't you guys still have "fox hunts" in merry old England?
John
P.S. I like the water spray idea too.
WA2RBA
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dacflyer
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Re: Anti-fox device - Help needed!!

Post by dacflyer »

the scarecrow sprayer is very safe and effective, and it is a self contained unit. just install the 9V
battery. and a water hose.
they will learn after 1 time in most cases.
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