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Foxes denied scraps 'are eating our pets'

3:20pm Friday 16th January 2009 in News By Richard Gurner

Foxes denied scraps 'are eating our pets' Foxes denied scraps 'are eating our pets'

Desperate urban foxes are killing family pets to survive because new bins are starving them of scraps.

Since wheelie bins were introduced in Worthing residents have noticed the animals killing chickens, rabbits and cats in their hunt for food.

Nicole Newnham, 30, joint manager at Northdale veterinary practice in Victoria Road, said she rarely got to see pets who had been injured by foxes because the foxes often ended up killing them.

However, she experienced the problem first-hand when a fox killed her three baby rabbits at her home in Park Field Road, Tarring.

Laura Brook, a conservation officer with Sussex Wildlife Trust, said fox attacks were rare.

There has been an increase in the number of foxes in urban areas since the First World War when our lifestyles started to change.

For information about deterring foxes from your garden call Sussex Wildlife Trust on 01273 494777.

Comments(22)

Jim BB says...
3:34pm Fri 16 Jan 09

We saw a fox by my friend's bin the other day - they live in the country and our friend feeds them scraps to keep them going when the weather's harsh, just as she does with the birds when the ground's too hard. It was a beautiful animal but strange to see one out and about in the daytime.

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mr punch says...
3:37pm Fri 16 Jan 09

every time you feed them scraps they will become reliant on it so you're doing them no favours. Put it this way, would you feed rats scraps? I doubt it and a fox is really just a big rat.

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Hove person says...
3:44pm Fri 16 Jan 09

They ate my rabbits long before we had wheelie bins!

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Hove person says...
3:44pm Fri 16 Jan 09

They ate my rabbits long before we had wheelie bins!

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Brigadier Monty says...
3:47pm Fri 16 Jan 09

Natural selection at work here. Foxes should be equipped with better skills for hunting rather than feeding on scraps.

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bbrh says...
3:49pm Fri 16 Jan 09

I never did agree with fox hunting but their population needs controlling much like other vermin. Foxs will always go for pets given the opportunity, wheelie bins and the like or not.

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Voice of the silent Majority says...
3:51pm Fri 16 Jan 09

Deep joy.
Finally a reason to have wheelie bins, no more cat poo everywhere i dig and plant my garden.
Is it possible to attract foxes to your location?

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Wilftop says...
3:52pm Fri 16 Jan 09

foxes will only attack a pet such as a cat when they are trapped & are trying to escape. Noramlly they give them a wide birth.

We have a few urban foxes where we are.

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The Garden Slug says...
3:54pm Fri 16 Jan 09

Send in the hounds !

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dollymixture says...
4:27pm Fri 16 Jan 09

its because its the credit brunch!. No one is throwing out any food

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Ronald says...
5:14pm Fri 16 Jan 09

Just wish they would eat the pooing dogs that infest this town!

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Osama bin there says...
5:22pm Fri 16 Jan 09

Ronald wrote:
Just wish they would eat the pooing dogs that infest this town!
And the ones on the Undercliff walk at Saldean.

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jd2007 says...
5:45pm Fri 16 Jan 09

Ronald wrote:
Just wish they would eat the pooing dogs that infest this town!
The garden slug would make a nourishing snack for a fox.

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wotmnisnttkn says...
5:58pm Fri 16 Jan 09

There has been many many films taken of foxes eating.(Try looking on the inernet). NONE have even gone NEAR to attacking pets, quite the opposite.. In fact they don't! Their tactic is grab and run.

Its an old wives tale. Get with the this century, folks.

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GreenGrocer says...
5:59pm Fri 16 Jan 09

Hope the foxes don't eat the bins too if they get wheelie hungry! kerching, another joke for the xmas cracker next yr!

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zeepee says...
7:09pm Fri 16 Jan 09

GreenGrocer wrote:
Hope the foxes don't eat the bins too if they get wheelie hungry! kerching, another joke for the xmas cracker next yr!
Ha ha!!! Nice one.
Our garden is enclosed by fencing that's 6 ft high, but foxes still get in! They dig holes round the compost bin for food scraps. How chic- vegetarian foxes!!!
Maybe we should round 'em up and take them into the city centre where rubbish is strewn across pavements? Kill 2 birds with 1 stone- oops! excuse the pun.

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hove says...
7:44pm Fri 16 Jan 09

Has anyone come across the George Street fox?
I haven't seen it lately,but during the warmer months it would wander around the area after dark looking for food.The unusual thing was it was as tame as a pet cat,and would come up to you and rub itself around your legs just like cats do.
I wonder if it was the same fox I saw trotting down the road with a Tesco's hot deli chicken bag between its teeth.I wish I'd had my camera to hand.

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feline1 says...
7:46pm Fri 16 Jan 09

If it's a choice between foxes and dogs, my vote goes to the foxes every single time.
No fox has ever snapped at MY ankles when I've been out running

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fussy galore says...
8:58pm Fri 16 Jan 09

I am going to get a pet grizzly bear. The try and write a headline that says "Foxes denied scraps are 'eating our pets'" Ha ha ha

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couldbeakiller says...
4:06am Sat 17 Jan 09

zeepee wrote:
GreenGrocer wrote: Hope the foxes don't eat the bins too if they get wheelie hungry! kerching, another joke for the xmas cracker next yr!
Ha ha!!! Nice one. Our garden is enclosed by fencing that's 6 ft high, but foxes still get in! They dig holes round the compost bin for food scraps. How chic- vegetarian foxes!!! Maybe we should round 'em up and take them into the city centre where rubbish is strewn across pavements? Kill 2 birds with 1 stone- oops! excuse the pun.
was there a pun?

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jakiB says...
10:07pm Sat 17 Jan 09

Wilftop wrote:
foxes will only attack a pet such as a cat when they are trapped & are trying to escape. Noramlly they give them a wide birth. We have a few urban foxes where we are.
Well said W - foxes usually run from encounters with pets, even cats. For those interested, try the National Fox Welfare Society for more information.
As for foxes vs cats, my vote will always be for foxes.

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davyboy says...
5:10pm Sun 18 Jan 09

they are only doing what comes naturally. leave them alone.

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