Portchester residents report fox gangs damaging cars and brakes, prompting traps and deterrents

A Hampshire village has been described as terrorised by gangs of foxes that gnaw on brake wires and climb over parked cars, forcing drivers to set improvised traps in a bid to deter the animals. Portchester residents say damage to vehicles has become costly and frequent, with a local garage reporting eight or nine similar cases in recent times.

The trouble is centered on the historic village near Portchester Castle and a Roman fort, where residents say the foxes — and occasionally dogs — appear to be obsessed with vehicles. One motorist said he discovered his brake wires mauled while driving to work, leaving him unable to brake properly and prompting an urgent trip to a local mechanic. “I was so lucky I could stop using the handbrake, especially at that time of the day,” Terry Stroud, a 48-year-old window cleaner who lives in Portchester, said. He estimated repairs at nearly £350 to fix the fault, refill brake fluid and fit a new sensor, and he lost a day of work in the process.

Portchester Autos, the local garage, has confirmed they’ve seen multiple similar cases. Jack Burton, a mechanic at the shop, said there have been eight or nine recent incidents in the quaint village. He described residents’ countermeasures, which include laying “fox traps” under cars as a safety precaution. The devices are essentially prickly mats mounted on frames designed to push under a vehicle’s tires and deter the animals from resting beneath. Burton noted that forgetting to deploy the traps for even one night can result in further damage, including repeated sensor problems.

The attacks extend beyond wiring. Annmarie Stallard, 33, who runs a small business in the area, reported that her anti-lock braking system (ABS) cables were attacked twice in September of last year, costing hundreds of pounds each time. She has since installed spiked mats and armored shielding around her Hyundai IX35 to prevent a recurrence. “I rely on my car for commuting to my shop 20 miles away as well as collecting business goods,” Stallard said, illustrating the practical disruption from the fox activity. In her case, the ABS light has come back on, suggesting further protection may be needed.

Another resident described damage to the bonnet and windscreen after foxes followed and climbed onto the vehicle. Several households have reported scratched paintwork, torn undercarriages and other nuisance damage. One neighbour said the scale of the problem has grown over the past few years, making it difficult to keep cars usable for daily tasks.

Residents have speculated on the drivers and feeders of the foxes. Some blame a small minority of “fox nutters” who feed the animals, inadvertently encouraging their aggressive scavenging. The village has also seen dog toys go missing, fences damaged, and even outdoor furniture left chewed or stained by animal waste, prompting some to rethink garden layouts and security measures.

Industry commentary has attempted to explain why brake cables might be attractive to foxes. The AA has previously suggested the taste or texture of coatings on cables could lure animals to gnaw on them. Foxagon, a company that advises on fox deterrence, has noted that some car manufacturers use animal fats or soy-based insulators in cable casings, which could be more appealing to foxes. The firm has advised owners to cover brake wires with metal cable protectors and has itself fielded calls about fox-related damage to its own service vehicles. While deterrence products exist, residents say the problem persists and costs continue to mount as damaged components require replacement or extensive repair.

The situation in Portchester highlights a broader tension between urban-adjacent wildlife and everyday mobility. For residents, the immediate concern is not only the financial cost of repairs but also the potential safety risk posed by reduced braking capability. One driver described nearly encountering a school‑age group when his vehicle failed to respond in traffic, underscoring the real-world stakes of the issue.

In the meantime, residents are urging local authorities and wildlife officials to address the situation with targeted deterrence measures and public awareness. While the exact causes and long-term trends behind the fox activity remain under investigation, the Portchester case illustrates how wildlife can disrupt daily life and infrastructure in even compact, historic communities.