Urban
Foxes
Foxes are very active at this time
of year and the noises they make do often become a nuisance to some
of Newham's residents. The problems caused by foxes at this time of
year are seasonal. At this time of year fox cubs will often dig in
gardens and play with garden items as a form of learning before
moving into their own territory. During late July 'till mid October
the cubs will start moving independently, they are also making more
noises than during the rest of the year.
If foxes are removed from an area by trapping they
cannot be released in another area, as this is an illegal action
under the terms of wildlife legislation (Wildlife and countryside
Act and Protection of Mammals Act). Boroughs that have had a
trapping and destruction policy have not seen the number of foxes
reduced, each dead fox was seen to cost one local Council £1500.00
per fox. Studies show that the destruction of foxes achieves
nothing. The use of poisons and any trap other than a cage trap is
illegal.
Foxes seem to regulate their own population by means of a ranking
among the vixens and the lower ranking females do not become
fertile during the breeding season. Even if it was possible to
remove foxes, the territory they had marked would fall vacant and
it is not be long before another fox moves in to it. A study has
shown that if a car kills a fox is killed on the road, another fox
fills its territory within a two-week period.
Foxes are creatures of habit and have routines and regular routes.
The use of deterrents is a way to break these routes and routines.
If a territory is unsuitable, they are less likely to stay and the
territory will not suit another fox either.
Gardens often have a certain attraction for foxes such as the use
of fish, bone meal or blood fertilisers within flowerbeds. What
foxes are doing is using their sense of smell to hunt for prey.
Other attractions are often ponds for drinking during the summer
months, heavy undergrowth, food left out for birds, sheds, soft
soil and often dead buried pets. It has been found that even small
changes can make a fox re-route. However, one should remember that
foxes often get the blame for damage caused by squirrels and
cats.