Quarry species: the red fox
Vulpes vulpes
You have to have a grudging respect for this fine predator, says Charles Smith-Jones
There is probably no other animal that arouses such mixed emotions as the red fox. Reviled by some and loved by others, even its detractors usually have a sneaking respect and nobody can deny that this animal possesses a special ability to survive against the odds. The fox is usually depicted in stories and fables as sly and cunning, while in Japanese and other mythologies they have magical abilities and can assume human form, often that of a beautiful woman. Reynard the Fox of European folklore has been depicted since the 12th century as a wily cheat and trickster.
If the brown rat is the most successful and adaptable member of the rodent family, that honour must surely belong to the fox among the carnivores. Across the northern hemisphere, apart from some islands and the very north of Siberia, there are few places where you won’t encounter one. They are adept at exploiting most habitats, with territories ranging from 40 square kilometres on open moorland to a few hundred square metres in cities. They have the ability to thrive in some unexpected places.
The urban fox is a relatively recent phenomenon, colonising our cities from the 1930s onwards. Taking full advantage of the conditions in residential areas and the ready availability of human waste to scavenge (a fox will eat anything that a human will), they tend to grow larger than their rural counterparts. They can also be much bolder, sunning themselves in full view during the day and visiting gardens for food that is deliberately left out to attract them. Not everyone welcomes their presence and many are trapped, however, those removed are quickly replaced.
A recent study estimated that the fox population in many of our cities may exceed one animal for every 300 human residents, Bournemouth having the most at 23 animals for every square kilometre, followed by London and Brighton with 18 and 16 respectively.
Large foxes
There seems to be a consensus that foxes in Britain, already large in comparison with many of those found elsewhere, are getting bigger. Although 7kg might be the weight of a large specimen, one dog fox shot by an Aberdeenshire farmer in 2012 weighed a whopping 17.2kg, the size of a young roe deer, and is the largest on record. Just why foxes seem to be increasing in size is unknown but some observers have speculated that it might simply be down to better feeding, especially in urban areas.
It is seldom that a red fox will make a good pet although selective breeding in Russia has produced a melanistic strain, known as silver foxes, which are more easily domesticated. Otherwise, hand-reared cubs may be friendly initially but soon develop a natural fear of man as they grow older and increasingly come to trust only their handler. In addition, they are liable to be destructive and difficult to house train, on top of which the smell of
“There seems to be a consensus that foxes in Britain, already large, are getting bigger”
fox urine is especially pungent. Trying to keep one is unlikely to go down well with the rest of your household and is not recommended.
Prolific predator
Foxes can be prolific predators and have a reputation as surplus killers, taking advantage of an enclosed chicken coop or release pen to destroy far more than they are able to eat. Controlling numbers can be essential but experienced vermin shooters will tell you that foxes seldom give you a second chance. They learn quickly, and while shooting a bolted animal is one thing, coming to terms with one on its own ground is something else entirely. An exceptional sense of smell, coupled with keen eyesight, means that a fox is a wary and talented adversary although its acute hearing may tempt it within range of a capable caller. Many a lamper has learned the hard way that a fox shot at and missed will seldom stand under the light for a second time. Whatever you feel about the red fox, this canny canine has learned to live alongside man despite having the hands of so many turned against it. It is a talented survivor which, love it or hate it, you do have to respect.