Many people panic when they find animal droppings in the garden. If it's fox droppings, it could be infected with fox tapeworm eggs. However, panic is not necessary. The fox tapeworm rarely poses a threat to humans.

Fox droppings are not easily distinguishable from other animal droppings

Table of Contents

Show all
  1. the essentials in brief
  2. recognize fox droppings
  3. Remove fox droppings properly
  4. Rabies from fox droppings
  5. fox tapeworm
  6. Prevent fox tapeworm
  7. drive away foxes
  8. frequently asked Questions

    9. the essentials in brief

    • Fox droppings are up to 8cm long and 2cm wide, tapering to a point.
    • Food residues such as hair, seeds or insects are often recognizable.
    • Fox droppings should be disposed of with gloves or buried deep.

    What does fox poop look like?

    Foxes leave urine and fecal tags to mark their territory. Therefore, the droppings often lie on clearly visible and elevated places such as tufts of grass or stones. They also mark territories where they have found food. The animals do not bury their droppings. Therefore, fox droppings are usually not found buried in sandboxes or soil with a loose substrate.

    Typical properties:

    • odor: stinks unpleasantly
    • color: black to gray
    • shape: sausage-shaped, pointed

    Differences to other animal feces

    Fox droppings can easily be confused with dog or cat droppings. No food residues such as seeds, pieces of bone or feathers are discernible in the faeces of these carnivores. The legacies of badgers and stone martens also look similar to fox droppings, but are usually deposited in a permanent toilet place.

    size shape special feature
    fox droppings 2 cm thick, 3 to 8 cm long tapered at the end Remains of food recognizable: kernels, hair, insects
    marten excrement 1 cm thick, 8 to 10 cm long twisted spirally intense and unpleasant smell
    badger droppings variable sausage-like and dry or mushy Feces are laid in pits

    Fox droppings vary in appearance depending on what they have eaten

    Remove fox droppings properly

    Foxes usually shy away from humans. They are discovering more and more the advantages of gardens, because here the animals find lush sources of food in garbage cans, on the bed or in the compost. Chickens in the garden also attract foxes. Even in big cities foxes are part of the daily picture. If you find fox droppings in the garden on the lawn or on the patio, you should remove it to be on the safe side.

    How to do it right:

    • Wear gloves when handling fox droppings
    • Bury fox droppings deep in the ground
    • alternatively fill in plastic bags, tie up and dispose of
    • Remove fox droppings from shoes with water
    • Clean equipment and wash hands

    You should avoid that

    Do not leave the droppings in the garden, otherwise pets or small children can come into contact with the droppings. Also, refrain from removing the fox droppings with a dust pan. The eggs are extremely tough and can stick to the scoop. In this way, they get into the bed later when gardening. Fox droppings should not be composted. The moist and warm environment favors the survivability of the eggs, which are distributed on the beds with the mature substrate.

    Fox droppings should be removed and not composted

    Rabies from fox droppings

    Fox droppings do not pose a risk of rabies infection. Simply touching the faeces, urine or blood of a rabies-infected animal does not pose a risk of contracting rabies. Humans can become infected through bites. The pathogens enter the body through skin injuries and mucous membranes.

    fox tapeworm

    Fox tapeworm disease in humans is called alveolar echinococcosis. It is an insidious disease with an incubation period of five to 15 years. While an illness was still considered a death sentence in the 1970s, many sufferers can now live with the parasite thanks to medication. In a few cases, the disease can be completely cured.

    digression

    Interesting research object

    The larvae of the fox tapeworm form, at least potentially, an immortal tissue. Once they have lodged themselves in the organism, they can no longer be destroyed. Their growth can be kept in check by medication. But when these are discontinued, the tumor-like blisters continue to grow. The adult tapeworms are equally robust. They are considered masters of regeneration, because a parasite can reproduce itself from the smallest fragments. These properties make the fox tapeworm interesting objects for research.

    Characteristics

    This parasite is only a few millimeters long and consists of five segments. Its head has suction cups with which the tapeworm can attach itself to the intestinal wall. Once the terminal segments are filled with mature eggs, these are shed and released into the environment with the feces. The eggs are extremely cold-resistant and can survive for several months.

    An intermediate host ingests the eggs. Most of them are small rodents like muskrats or mice. If the tapeworm eggs get into the intestine, larvae hatch after a short time. These pass through the intestinal wall into the bloodstream and finally into the liver, where they settle and grow. Tumor-like blisters develop that slowly destroy the liver tissue.

    The intermediate host becomes progressively weaker, making it easy prey for predators. When a dog, cat or fox eats an infected mouse, they ingest the tapeworm and the cycle completes.

    • intermediate hosts: in Germany mainly voles
    • false hosts: Human, various even-toed and odd-toed ungulates
    • main hosts: foxes, less often dogs and cats

    What is the risk of infection?

    Human infections are extremely rare. According to the Robert Koch Institute, only 26 cases were reported in 2016. Two years later there were 34 reports from Germany. It is not yet known exactly how humans become infected with the fox tapeworm. Potential risks include soiled hands, berries and raw vegetables contaminated with feces, or infected dogs.

    These factors influence infection:

    • Number of eggs ingested
    • Frequency of contact with infected foxes
    • intact immune system or existing antibodies

    Researchers suspect that the immune system is able to defend itself against the eggs to some extent. About two percent of the population has antibodies against the parasite. Only when the body's own defenses reach their limits can the larvae spread through the organism. It can be assumed that only permanent contact with infected foxes causes an illness. According to researchers, the one-off ingestion of tapeworm eggs is not yet a reliable reason for infection. Therefore, extremely few people actually become ill, even if fox tapeworm eggs have entered the organism.

    How dangerous is fox droppings?

    Fox droppings pose a threat, but not every fox carries the tapeworm. In Europe, the fox tapeworm is not widespread but island-like. The proportion of infected foxes varies considerably depending on the region. The risk areas extend across southern and southwestern Germany. In Bavaria, every third to fourth fox is infected on average.

    However, you don't have to panic because there is no recognizable connection between the number of infected foxes and reports of sick people. Even in areas with a high density of foxes and an infestation rate of 60 percent, no increase in human infections could be observed.

    Although fox tapeworm disease can cause serious organ damage, there is no need to panic too quickly. Infections are extremely rare.

    risk groups

    Those who frequently deal with dead foxes belong to the fox tapeworm risk group

    The majority of all diseases were reported from risk groups. This includes people who regularly handle dead foxes or are more often exposed to the droppings. An infection through the consumption of forest berries is increasingly doubted by scientists. The probability is vanishingly small that fruits growing close to the ground are contaminated with sufficient tapeworm eggs. Foxes tend not to specifically defecate on forest shrubs with fruit.

    Therefore, most people do not fall into the risk group. A possible risk of infection exists for pet owners. Dogs and cats can become carriers of fox tapeworm by eating infected mice. Dogs tend to roll in animal feces. The tapeworm eggs can get onto human hands via the fur.

    Increased risk of infection:

    • Hunter
    • ranger
    • farmers
    • pet owner

    Prevent fox tapeworm infection

    If you do not belong to the risk group but cannot completely rule out the risk of infection from pets, you should observe special hygiene measures. Also wash your hands after gardening and do not take dirty clothes or dirty shoes into the living area.

    Fox tapeworm eggs are extremely robust:

    • Disinfectants don't kill eggs
    • soaking in alcohol cannot prevent the risk of infection
    • Eggs survive fridge and freezer temperatures between +4 and -20 °C

    Wash, freeze or dry out

    If collected wild berries or herbs are potentially contaminated, thorough washing can reduce, but not completely eliminate, the risk of infection. Therefore, refrain from groupage that is in the vicinity of fox droppings. Food should be cooked, dried or frozen at extreme temperatures to completely rule out infection.

    This is how the eggs do not survive:

    • Freeze at -80 °C for a few days
    • Heat up to at least 60 °C for a few minutes
    • heat for a few hours at 45 °C and a relative humidity of 85 %
    • dry for a few days at 25 °C and 25 % relative humidity

    tips

    To protect your beds, you should cover them with nets.

    Deworm dogs and cats

    The fox tapeworm can lodge in the intestines of dogs. They carry the parasite in a similar way to foxes, while cats appear less suitable as hosts. Fewer tapeworms develop in their intestines, which produce smaller amounts of eggs. Nevertheless, they can be considered as a source of infection. Dogs and cats that live outdoors should therefore be wormed every two months.

    washing dogs

    Since dogs like to roll in strong-smelling animal feces, the fox tapeworm eggs can get stuck in the animal's fur. They pose a risk of infection and should be thoroughly showered after a walk.

    Drive foxes out of the garden

    Foraging brings foxes into the garden

    So that the problem of possibly infected fox droppings does not occur in your garden, there are a few things you can do to keep foxes at bay. If a fox gets too close to you, you can spray it with water. Because foxes don't like water, they quickly run away.

    How to avoid food sources:

    • don't leave any pet food out in the open
    • Cover compost heap
    • Clean grill after use
    • Store leftovers in tightly closed garbage cans

    tips

    Foxes don't like human voices. If it doesn't bother your neighbors, you can scare away late-night visitors with hissing noises, loud words and trampling noises.

    frequently asked Questions

    What does fox poop smell like?

    Fox droppings have a strong and unpleasant smell. This is comparable to the smell of feces of similar predators. With the help of an anal gland, the fox can wet its droppings with an individual secretion. Foxes often mark their territory with droppings. If necessary, they distribute individual droplets of their scent secretion in nature.

    How can I tell dog poop and fox poop apart?

    Fox droppings consist of sausages about three to eight centimeters in size, which are pointed at the end. Dog droppings vary in size by breed and can be of variable consistency. Unlike in fox droppings, there are no residues such as seeds, pieces of bone or hair in dog droppings.

    How is fox droppings different from marten droppings?

    Marten droppings can easily be confused with fox droppings because they also have an unpleasant smell. A solution is between eight and ten centimeters long and twisted and pointed at the end. Food remains are recognizable in a similar way to fox droppings.

    Martens use fixed places for their legacies. With this behavior, the animal keeps the sleeping place clean. So you will never find marten droppings in different places in the garden. Foxes, on the other hand, often deposit their excrement in different places that are exposed.

    Do I have cat droppings or fox droppings in the garden?

    Foxes like to place their droppings on raised areas. These can be stones or tufts of grass. This placement serves to mark territory. To support this, foxes provide their lotion with an individual scent. Cats bury their droppings and don't leave them lying around. They prefer to use substrates with a loose and sandy substrate such as sandboxes. Such behavior does not occur in foxes.

    Can fox tapeworm be spread through inhalation?

    It is conceivable that the inhalation of dust from dried fox excrement could result in eggs getting into the human body. After all, farmers belong to the risk group. However, the probability of the eggs surviving is reduced in a dust-dry environment. They are sensitive to dehydration and heat.

    Where do fox tapeworm eggs survive?

    The eggs require a humid microclimate. They are extremely resistant to temperature fluctuations. The eggs easily survive temperatures down to -80 degrees Celsius, which is why they cannot be killed by freezing the food in the freezer. From a temperature of 60 degrees Celsius, the eggs also die. If the humidity is at least 85 percent, 45 degrees Celsius are sufficient. However, it takes a few hours before the eggs are no longer viable.

    In the dry climate in the home, tapeworm eggs can survive for a few days. The warmer and drier the air in the room, the faster the eggs die. They can easily survive in the compost if no hot rotting takes place.

Category:

Animals in the garden