Mr Fox

@cath 55 wrote:

I think encouraging foxes leads to all sorts of probs an excerpt from the net below, dont get me wrong i think they can look very cute etc i just dont think encouraging them into gardens is a good idea to be honest especially if there are pets around the neighbourhood too …..

http://professorchickenspredators.webs.com/fox.htm

The fox will catch and kill chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, quail, lambs, piglets, guinea pigs (cavies), rabbits, pigeons and even cats. When they get into a coop full of poultry, they will not just kill one, but get into a killing frenzy as the frightened birds flap around. It is not uncommon for one fox to wipe out 100 chickens in a night. They pose a disease risk to your animals as they can carry mange and rabies, and red foxes can get mange. They will also tear open plastic rubbish sacks and create a large mess – they really are vermin.

Good post cath….. its peculiar how if an animal looks cute we think it couldn’t possibly pose a threat…. I know Im going off thread a bit but its the same with badgers who are carriers of bovine tuberculosis… this spreads easily to cattle, horses dogs cats and humans. There really needs to be a badger cull in Yorkshire but the mere mention of it has animal rights people up in arms. TB is a dreadful disease it had just about been eradicated but the increase in the badger numbers has also seen a surge in TB…. we need to get our priorities right on this one

I have a friend who is a member of some sort of urban fox club in London. He gets called at all sorts of hours, catches them and takes them to some kind of harbour in Surrey – for nothing too!

I hate the chasse here in France, who shoot the deer/wild boar – it is necessary to cull them – apparently they actually know before they go out which one’s they can shoot and which one’s they can’t! – however, I love veal, and wild boar casserole, so I am a hypocrite! :? :(

@panda12 wrote:

Funny how humans think the answer to alleged threats posed by animals is just to slaughter them. :roll:

That does not solve any perceived problems. Look for a solution such as vaccination and better agricultural practices.

If there was a way of doing that panda I would be for it 100% …..problem is all the plans that have been put forward just dont stack up as a working alternative… as well as being very expensive.

The rest, which was put on a bonfire, doesn’t half make a popping sound – do you @ Panda? (Not on a bonfire, just anyway!) hehehehehe