Furthermore, the urban fox's need for shelter frequently translates into property damage as they create "earths" or dens. They are prodigious diggers, often choosing the dry, undisturbed space beneath garden sheds, decking, or neglected outbuildings to give birth to their annual litter of cubs in the early spring. The resulting excavations can undermine structures, and the scent-marking behaviour—defecating in prominent spots to establish territory—is a significant cause of complaint. These activities are natural biological imperatives for the fox, but within the confines of a highly managed human space like a garden, they are deemed destructive and unacceptable by homeowners who have little tolerance for the intrusion.
