Index
Urban Foxes
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The Foxe's Year
Help and Advice
Further Reading
Urban Foxes
Foxes have inhabited the City of Glasgow for at least fifty years, although there have been anecdotal suggestions that they became commoner and spread into the city centre during the 1960s and 1970s. They are now seen frequently in suburban gardens, parks, cemeteries and other open spaces throughout the city.
Many people are delighted to see a fox, but some regard them as a nuisance, especially if they occupy a den under a building or undertake certain activities too close for comfort. Complaints include fouling, digging up of lawns or flower beds, and causing a disturbance by barking (‘shrieking’ might be a more appropriate term) at night.
A common fear is that foxes will attack domestic pets, children or even adult humans. It is unknown for foxes to attack humans, this fear being founded on unverifiable and sensationalist media reports. Although a few foxes can become relatively quite tame, the average fox is very timid and will flee from any person who approaches it. It is important that no attempt is made to encourage foxes to become tame, which could lead to problems for foxes and people alike.
The fox is no match for many a domestic cat, and it is very rare for a fox to harm a cat. Neither will they confront a dog. Most authenticated reports of foxes killing cats involved kittens under six months old. A fox will kill an unattended pet rabbit or smaller pet, and can break into a poorly secured hutch.
It is important to remember that the Red Fox, to give it its proper name, is a natural member of our wildlife community, and should be appreciated as the only surviving species of wild dog in the United Kingdom. In fact the Red Fox, scientific name Vulpes vulpes, is not a true dog but does belong to the same family – ‘Canidae’ (dogs and foxes).
Index
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Why have foxes become so common in towns?
Q2. Will they attack me?
Q3. Are foxes protected by law?
Q4. Aren’t foxes ‘vermin’?
Q5. Do foxes carry diseases?
Q6. Will they attack my pets?
Q7. Why do they dig in my garden?
Q8. How can I get rid of foxes?
A1. Foxes are highly adaptable animals and are found in a wide range of habitats, from seashore to mountain top. The fox is primarily a carnivore, but also eats a variety of invertebrates and fruits. They can find plenty of food in towns where there are small mammals, including rats, for them to prey upon. They are also highly effective scavengers, and in town waste food can be plentiful. Late at night, the occasional fox can be seen scouring the city centre for discarded fish suppers and other fast foods! Increasingly, some people are deliberately putting out food to attract foxes into their gardens.
FAQs
A2. No. However if trapped or cornered, and handled, they may bite.
FAQs
A3. Foxes are not afforded protection from humane control measures. However the law does prevent the use of poisons or illegal traps or snares to control foxes, and it is illegal to shoot them in urban areas including parks.
FAQs
A4. This is a very subjective term. Scientific research has shown the fox’s reputation as an agricultural pest to be undeserved; they very rarely kill lambs, despite many an anecdote to the contrary. They will occasionally take hens or domestic ducks from a farmyard, but such losses can be largely avoided by securing the birds safely at night. In urban areas foxes pose few problems other than being an occasional nuisance; in fact it could be argued that they perform a useful scavenging role by clearing up discarded take-aways at night, as well as keeping rodent numbers under control.
FAQs
A5. As with pet dogs, foxes can carry Toxocara canis, a parasitic roundworm which can be passed to humans. However infection is extremely rare and only affects around two people per million in the UK each year. All known infections have been transmitted from dogs, and in fact there is no recorded instance of foxes spreading any disease to humans. Fox faeces may contain bacteria which could cause sickness in humans, so as with dog faeces they should not be handled. Rabies is currently unknown in British foxes.
FAQs
A6. Foxes never attack dogs, and very rarely cats. However they will kill for food smaller animals such as rabbits, and steps should be taken to ensure the security of hutches or cages. On the plus side, foxes do control mice and rats which are not desirable in or around domestic situations.
FAQs
A7. Foxes naturally eat invertebrates such as worms and insect larvae, which they dig out of the soil. They also dig holes in which to hide larger food items such as small mammals or birds, returning to retrieve them later. In larger gardens foxes may excavate dens, or earths, in which the vixen raises her family. These typically have one entrance hole up to 30cm in diameter, and active occupation is indicated by a strong musky odour.
FAQs
A8. First of all, consider whether they are genuinely causing a nuisance. If they are, there are a number of measures which can be taken to deter foxes without harming them. These include:
- Fencing, which requires to be a strong weld-mesh wire dug in to at least 60cm and to a height of at least 2 metres.
- The use of chemical repellents, which can be obtained at garden centres, DIY stores and ironmongers. Spray these liberally (always following the label instructions) around your boundary or at places where you know the fox is gaining entry, or at spots of known activity such as digging or resting.
- Do not put out food for them. If you feed the birds in your garden, use feeders and bird tables, and if you do put food out on the ground, do so in the morning, never in the evening.
- Enjoy your garden! Human activity is the best deterrent.
If you discover an active fox den in your garden, it would be cruel to block up the entrance or take measures to evict the cubs. Cubs are born in March and abandon the den completely by August or September, so it is best to wait until September and then fill the entrance lightly with sand, if necessary repeating this daily until any remaining animals are persuaded to abandon the den. This procedure can be applied any time between September and February. It is also possible to exclude the foxes from their den, or an entrance way to beneath a building, by the use of a ‘one-way’ cat flap.
Index
The Fox’s Year
January
The mating season, when territories are well established and vocal activity at night starts to decline.
February
The vixen seeks out a den (or earth), which she may be actively excavating.
March
The cubs are born, and the vixen stays underground while her mate hunts and brings in food.
April
The cubs start to appear outside the den.
May
The cubs are now eating some solid food brought in by both parents.
June
The cubs are weaned from their mother’s milk and stay above ground most of the time.
July
The parents begin to provide less food to encourage the cubs to start fending for themselves.
August
The cubs begin to forage and become less dependent on their parents.
September
Cubs are now fully grown. Natural food is plentiful and they start to forage on their own.
October
Families begin to break up and young animals start to disperse.
November
Adults fight with young animals, causing further dispersion.
December
Foxes are highly territorial and nocturnal vocalisation reaches its peak.
Index
Help and Advice
Advice on dealing with nuisance foxes in Glasgow can be obtained from:
Conservation Officers
Tel: 0141-287 3753.
As foxes are not known to pose any significant threat to public health, it is not Council policy to control them in any way, so please do not contact the Council’s Pest Control Officers.
Practical assistance in removing or rescuing foxes from buildings or other enclosed situations can be obtained free from:
Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue Trust
Tel. 01505 502415
but please bear in mind that they are a charity and rely upon public donations.
Index
Further reading
Harris and Baker (2001).
Urban Foxes (new edition)
Whittet Books ISBN 1 873580 51 7
IPG/20 Feb 2005