Foxes
Controlling urban foxes is difficult, expensive, and rarely successful. Shooting is obviously not acceptable in urban areas, nor is snaring, and so only live trapping is left and the fox’s reputation for cunning is well earned. Even if you are successful in catching just one fox of a family group, the second will be even harder. Even before you are able to catch the entire family group, a new family group will have moved in.
As such, we do not provide a service to remove foxes. If you decide that the presence of foxes in your garden is genuinely unacceptable, then there are ways of discouraging them, although none are fool-proof.
The most likely reason for a fox to enter your garden is in the search for food, so removal of the food source will reduce the attractiveness of your garden to the fox. Actions you can take to help make your garden less attractive to foxes include:
- Keeping all domestic refuse in closed wheelie bins or closed containers
- Only put your refuse out on the morning of collection.
- Do not leave food out for other animals, e.g. cats, dogs, rabbits etc. and be extremely careful where you put food to feed birds. This should be in approved containers.
To help prevent foxes using your garden, you can also try a suitable proprietary animal repellent. A range of products are available from garden centres, hardware and D-I-Y stores but please note only approved products can be used and they must be used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. The retailer should be able to provide you with the correct advice on the most suitable product to use. The use of non-approved products, such as creosote and diesel oil, is not permitted by law. The use of these types of non-approved products can be very dangerous to other pets such as cats and dogs. All chemicals must be used safely and in accordance with the manufacturers recommendations.
For further advice on foxes in Dundee please contact our Pest Control team on 01382 436288 or via email at pest.control@dundeecity.gov.uk
Grey Squirrels
In their natural habitat grey squirrels build nests or dreys in the forks of trees or in hollow trunks. In urban areas they will enter roof spaces by climbing walls or jumping from nearby trees. In suburban gardens much of their diet comes from food put out for birds or deliberately put out for squirrels. If they get into property they can cause serious damage. They chew woodwork and ceilings, strip the insulation from electrical wiring, tear up fibreglass insulation to form nests and sometimes drown in cold water tanks. The noise they make, particularly at night, scratching and running about can be very disturbing.
They also cause environmental damage, stripping bark off trees, causing young trees to die, eat strawberries, apples and plums and can destroy many garden plants with their activities.
Grey squirrels are also the biggest threat to Scotland’s native red squirrels. Grey squirrels were introduced from North America to the UK in the late 19th and early 20th century, bringing with them diseases, such as squirrelpox, which have had a devastating effect on the red squirrel population in the UK.
Because of the above, grey squirrels are considered a pest and are an invasive species with no formal protection, with laws makin it an offence to release a grey squirrel into the wild.
Should you have concerns about the presence of grey squirrels at your property, you can contact our Pest Control team to arrange a visit by one of our Officers to determine the best course of treatment. A price will be discussed at that time.
Removal Of Dead Animals
Our Pest Control team can uplift deceased animals from your property for disposal with a charge of £55 inc. VAT being set for this service in the 2026/27 financial year.
Dead Birds
Do not touch or pick up any dead or visibly sick birds that you find. Wild birds can carry several diseases that are infectious to people.
In Great Britain, if you find:
- a single dead bird of prey, swan, goose, duck or gull
- or five or more dead wild birds of any species at the same time
you should report them on GOV.UK's 'Report dead wild birds' page. Alternatively, you should phone the GB phone helpline: 03459 33 55 77.
Dead / Injured Animals
Animals that are injured should be reported to the SSPCA on 03000 999 999.
For the removal of a deceased animal on the road network, footpath or from public areas such as parks, please report this online to the Council’s Rapid Response Team or via telephone on 01382 433710. We will scan dogs and cats for micro-chips and use the information provided to contact the owner if possible.
For the removal of a deceased animal on the trunk road network, please contact:
- AMEY (Kingsway, East Dock Street, Greendykes Road): report it on the Amey website or by calling 0800 083 0084.
- BEAR Scotland (A92 Dundee to Arbroath Road): report it on the BEAR Scotland website or by calling 0800 028 1414.
Contact Us
Email: pest.control@dundeecity.gov.uk
Tel: 01382 436288