Chris: Why I pack my freezer with roadkill
AS one of Britain’s foremost wildlife experts, he knows how to help our natural world.
And Chris Packham has revealed he is currently keeping an ‘enormous quantity’ of roadkill in his freezer to feed hungry foxes.
Explaining that foxes are in ‘rapid decline’, the presenter said many are starving as they don’t have enough to eat. The Springwatch presenter said: ‘If you were to ask me the single greatest joy of my summer, it would be when the local fox cubs turn up in the garden.
‘They’re so beautiful and to watch them playing is just amazing.
‘I’ve got an enormous quantity of roadkill in a large freezer – I’m going to defrost it and feed it to them.’ Packham, 57, has previously warned against ‘demonising’ the animals and claimed foxes should be able to live harmoniously alongside humans.
The number of foxes in England has quadrupled in the past two decades. Researchers estimate around 150,000 now live in urban areas.
But the number of foxes overall is in decline, with a drop of 41 per cent since 1995 according to the Breeding Bird Survey. The number of wild rabbits – which the foxes tend to eat – has also dropped by 60 per cent.
Packham also told the Radio Times about his love of pigeons.
He explained: ‘People think they’re boring, but they’re not. You can watch the males displaying.
‘They’ve got a repertoire to catch females, which is interesting to watch – more so than playing on your phone.’