Foxes being treated as 'free pets' in cities
Fenris
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/4937712/Foxes-being-treated-
as-free-pets-in-cities.html
Foxes being treated as 'free pets' in cities
A growing number of city dwellers, who do not have time to keep a cat or
dog, are treating urban foxes as pets by feeding them jam sandwiches and
even letting them into the house.
By Louise Gray, Environment Correspondent
Last Updated: 4:59PM GMT 04 Mar 2009
The Daily Telegraph Urban Fox Count has recorded hundreds of foxes
around the county, many of which are treated very well with food left
out regularly every night.
Some households welcome back the same fox every year, feed the vixen
during the breeding season and watch the cubs emerge. Others have even
named the foxes to which some claim the animals respond.
One fox in Chislehurst, south east London, will scratch at the French
doors every night asking for supper and "Lola" in south London taps on
the window to be let into the house.
The increasing number of foxes with mange mean some households are
giving foxes medicine, often administered in jam or honey sandwiches
which are loved by foxes but will not be eaten by cats, or giving the
animals dog food to improve health.
Animal welfare groups said it was an opportunity for stressed-out busy
city dwellers to enjoy a nature but warned foxes are wild animals that
should be treated with respect not "mini-dogs".
Calie Woozley, of the RSPCA, said busy commuters are feeding animals to
reconnect with nature.
"It is a lovely way to have a connection between humans and animals
while keeping a respectful distance from each other," she said.
Kevin O'Hara, of the Wildlife Trusts, said television programmes like
the BBC's Springwatch have encouraged people to take an interest in
wildlife in the back garden by feeding animals.
"It is an increasing situation where people strive to connect with
something wild. There are many reasons for this. It is a way to connect
with nature for people who do not have many opportunities to get out
into the countryside in this crowded island. Television programmes have
bought wildlife into the front room and anthopormorphised nature and
people want that for themselves."
Readers have reported foxes coming in through cat flaps, sneaking into
kitchens to steal scraps or old shoes and even curling up in the cat
basket.
But Elaine Pendlebury, a vet with PDSA, warned against getting too close
to foxes or giving the animals inappropriate food like sweets or
chocolate that are difficult for the animals to digest and could cause
dental problems.
"It is nice to see people taking an interest in wildlife but you have to
remember they are wild animals and have to be treated with respect," she
said. "The are not mini-dogs, they are wildlife."
The Urban Fox Count relies on readers of The Daily Telegraph sending in
information about where they have seen foxes. To take part, send details
to ukf...@telegraph.co.uk Include your name, the full postcode and
detail of exactly where the fox was seen and a picture if possible.
Please try to limit entries to 25 words.
To learn more, go to www.telegraph.co.uk/ukfoxes
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/4862873/Urban-Fox-Count-The-Daily-
Telegraph-launches-study-to-count-urban-foxes.html
Urban Fox Count: The Daily Telegraph launches study to count urban foxes
The first urban fox count in nearly 15 years has been launched by the
Telegraph in an attempt to find out just how many of the animals are
living in the country's towns and cities
By Louise Gray, Environment Correspondent
Last Updated: 2:55PM GMT 04 Mar 2009
The number of foxes being drawn to urban living is thought to have
increased significantly in the last two decades but no study has been
undertaken to assess the population since 1995.
Now The Daily Telegraph and Telegraph.co.uk are to carry out The Urban
Fox Count, with the help of readers, to draw a map of the country
showing the number of animals living in built-up areas.
The data will be fed to biologists at the mammal research unit at
Bristol University, where they are carrying out the longest running
study into foxes in the UK, as part of their ongoing work.
The count will also examine how foxes are becoming bolder, as an
increasing number of homeowners are reporting finding animals intruding
into their homes and are no longer deterred by humans.
As part of The Daily Telegraph's count, the Wildlife Trusts will also be
looking at the information in order to gauge the public's engagement
with the nocturnal creatures and interaction with other animals.
Foxes were first noticed in towns and cities in the 1940s and have been
on the increase since, attracted by a plentiful supply of food from bins
and litter on the streets.
But life for an urban fox is short, with an average lifespan of 18
months, because disease, usually mange, among numbers spreads more
quickly in the towns and cities.
Colin Booty, RSPCA senior wildlife scientist, said welfare groups
receive more and more reports of foxes living in towns and cities but he
said there was little up-to-date information and welcomed the
opportunity to build a picture of where foxes are living.
"Fox density in urban areas is related to housing type," he said. "Semis
with large gardens are perfect for foxes but Victorian terraces and
modern developments are not so favourable."
The mammal research unit at Bristol University currently has a number of
ongoing projects looking into the behaviour of foxes in the UK.
Ellie Whittaker, a researcher at the Bristol University mammal unit,
said: "It is always good to have even a vague census of foxes. Where are
they most abundant? Where are they being seen? Where are they not being
seen? Where they used to be seen? The animals move around a lot
geographically and in a lot of cities the population of foxes is
absolutely exploding.
"It is always interesting to know a real picture. There are not a lot of
studies going on at the moment so the only way to find out more is to
ask the public."
Miss Whittaker, who is currently researching the social behaviour of the
animals, said it would be particularly interesting to see how brave the
animals were becoming.
"Foxes are definitely becoming desensitised to people," she added.
There are thought to be 10,000 foxes in London and the animals have been
spotted in the choir stalls at St Paul's cathedral and outside No 10
Downing Street. They are also increasingly brave in other cities with
one fox coming onto the pitch at Parkhead in Glasgow during the Old Firm
game between Celtic and Rangers.
Dr Jonathan Reynolds, at the Game and Conservancy Wildlife Trust, said
no research has been done into fox numbers since the hunting ban. He
said The Daily Telegraph survey would show a snapshot in the same way as
the RSPB's Great Garden Bird Watch shows a picture of bird life.
"Foxes have been on the increase in urban areas since the 1940s when
they first started colonising towns and cities but we have also had a
number of set backs in the population because of the mange and other
diseases. At the moment it is difficult to say what the overall picture
is."
The Wildlife Trust encouraged people to take part in The Urban Fox Count
and be inspired by wildlife in the UK.
A spokesman said: "The Wildlife Trusts welcome the opportunity for
everyone to find out more about wildlife. There is a wealth of wildlife
on our doorstep and we believe it's great for people of all ages to be
aware, show an interest and share their experiences too. "
To take part in the survey please send details of your sightings of
foxes to ukf...@telegraph.co.uk . Please include your name, the full
postcode of the location where you see the fox or foxes, your photograph
of the animals, if you have one, and a maximum of 25 words of
commentary.
--
Fenris
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