Calls Of The Wild

As leaves and temperatures begin to fall, foxes start to think of mating, presenting opportunities aplenty to those charged with controlling them, says Patrick Hook.

- Patrick Hook

When autumn times of plenty have passed and the thermometer drops, foxes’ thoughts mainly turn to procreation. This is where electronic callers can deliver if predator control is on the agenda. Although Charlie will often come to the sound of an animal in distress, what really grabs its attention is a mating call.

Aside from the fact that the nature of the call is important, other factors need to be taken into consideration. The first is that the fox must be able to hear it; if it is too far away or there are other noises blocking it, you’ll be wasting your time. The sound of running water seems to be particularly bad for this. Heavy traffic or aircraft don’t help either.

Another thing to consider is the volume of a call; if a call is too loud it is likely to scare your quarry off. In a world where size matters, when it appears that there is a competitor in the vicinity who is four times the normal size and weight, is it really a surprise if your intended quarry is not overly anxious to go rushing in to stake their claim?

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