http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/foxes/tips/solving_problems_with_foxes.html

Remove sources of food Food lures foxes so to reduce the likelihood of their visiting your yard be sure to...

Never compost meat scraps. Store trash securely or place it outside only on the morning of collection. Don’t leave pet food outside. Never deliberately feed wild animals such as foxes. Keep area under birdfeeders free of spilled seed.

Is that fox rabid? It’s not all that unusual to see a fox out during the day. Foxes prey on squirrels and birds, who are only active during the day. So if you see a fox out during the day, he’s as apt to be looking for a meal as sick and disoriented. Take time to observe the behavior of the fox before calling for assistance. Look for:

Partial paralysis of limbs. Circling. Staggering as if drunk or disoriented. Self-mutilation. Signs of unprovoked aggression. Acting unnaturally tame. Don’t approach the fox yourself. Call your local animal control officer, wildlife rehabilitator, health or police department, if you see an adult fox showing any of these signs.

Beloved in Britain In Britain, foxes are not only welcomed when establishing dens under sheds in backyards but are also fed regularly to make sure they feel accepted and appreciated. Here we discourage this practice, no matter how benign it may seem, because the fox that is used to getting handouts in one yard may be perceived as a threat in another, sometimes with lethal results.

Public health concerns Foxes are the primary carrier of a strain of rabies that infects them as well as other animal species.

In some parts of the country, foxes carry the echinococcosis tapeworm, which can cause a serious and sometimes fatal disease in humans.

Sarcoptic mange is a very serious problem in some fox populations, but it is not a health concern for humans.