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We've been getting a cat-piss like smell in parts of the house that we coudn't locate. And were pretty sure a cat wasn't getting in.
It seems the fox thats been digging up our sedum roof is also pissing/marking the intake of our MVHR ventilation system.....
Well done on a solid identification.
Since Covid there are often unidentified* smells in our house.
*Some of them may be imagined
Ooof, Fox pee stink mechanically pumped around your house - nice!. What's the plan?
What's a "MVHR ventilation system" ? I've just got windows in my house. Foxes don't piss in them 😀
Google landscaper hq in London has a similar problem with foxes burrowing into the green roof.
Mechanical Ventilation and Heat Recovery. Air is drawn in from outside, filtered and then if needed, heated from the outgoing exhaust air via a heat exchanger. The air is then ducted to various outlets around the house. It avoids heat loss via window ventilation and also filters airborne pollutants. Also ideal for spreading fox pee stink around.
If you haven't got cats, then maybe try lion manure on the roof.
Perhaps build an enclosure made of chicken wire which seems some what fitting under the circumstances.
Except fox pee. Nothing filters fox pee. It's the top trumps of stinky pee. For a stealthy animal, they ruin it for themselves by peeing such a stench.
12v battery, solar panel charger can be added, 12v car windscreen wiper squirter kit, 12v proximity sensor, Fit together
pissed the squirrels right off
Did you suspect this was the source? I’m just wondering what other reason you would have for having cctv looking at that vent?
CCTV on a roof, Looking for the phantom piddler, of course
What do you think is attracting the fox - warm air maybe?
Foxes and other burrowing animals in green roofs is a thing - see Google's HQ building. Foxes are everywhere now and are side by side with residential land so it's no surprise that they will investigate a green roof. Whilst a modern green roof is a well insulated 'warm' roof and shouldn't be leaking much heat upwards, it will still be warmer than the ground and safer, although not much hunts foxes anyway. So it might just be an attractive environment for a fox to attempt to burrow. But it won't get far, unless it has a really thick soil/growing substrate like the Google HQ. A domestic green roof will likely just get torn up a bit. OP - does it look like the fox attempted to burrow, but hit the membrane instead and gave up?
Nasty!
I just told Mrs Reeksy about this and she said our huge new eco friendly local council building has Peregrine Falcons nesting in the ventilation system so the bits of leftover prey and waste is wafting around the building.
Did you suspect this was the source? I’m just wondering what other reason you would have for having cctv looking at that vent?
we knew the fox was hanging out and digging on the roof but not deep. Assumed he’s just scrapped up a patch to lie in (definitely not trying to tunnel - have seen that in council beds)
I’m already working on it Didn’t know he was specifically marking the inlet. Guest in spare bedroom was up early and videoed him.
first try was an essential oil based repellent. Chilli garlic cintronella. Basically pepper sprayed myself. Then an unholy stench of garlic for 2 days. No impact on fox
im now tryingscoot fox repellent . First application it rained soon after. Second application this morning.

