Urban Foxes Causing a Disturbance

17 Apr 2007

Today Diane Abbott MP launched a campaign calling on the Mayor of London and the Environmental Secretary to take humane action against gangs of foxes who are causing a menace in the cities.

Recent estimates suggest there are as many as 10,000 foxes living in London alone.

Some urban residents enjoy the presence of foxes in their gardens and regard them as impromptu pets. However, for others they cause a nuisance and are blamed for killing pets and other animals. Foxes are known to kill animals usually kept outside such as rabbits and chickens, but have recently also been linked to the deaths of pets kept indoors like cats.  

Controlling the animals in the city is a difficult task. It is illegal – and ineffectual – to shoot or poison them and many people agree this is not a humane way to deal with the problem anyway.

Ms Abbott said:

“It is vital that we take humane action against the groups of foxes living in cities. I have heard some very disturbing reports of the dismembered bodies of cats being found lying in the streets in my constituency. This is not a safe or healthy environment for children and other members of the community to be living in.”

Ends

Editor’s notes:

 

  1. For more information see:  

Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH)

www.cieh.org/knowledge/environmental_protection/pest_management ( PDF Help, size 106kb)

Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)

www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/regulat/forms/cons_man/vertpest/wm08 ; or

The Fox Project:0906 2724411 (a recorded helpline offering further advice on deterrence and control (25p per minute)

www.foxproject.org.uk/



back ⇢