The London Wildlife Trust estimates there are over 10,000 foxes living in London, and they are certainly easy to spot. But are they becoming tamer? Nox decided to find out…
If you’ve spent any time living in London or any big city, you will no doubt have seen or heard a fox or two. Maybe it’s the rustle of the bins, or the screeching sound of mating that can wake you in the middle of the night. They seem to have to have integrated themselves into human life. Maybe Fantastic Mr Fox is becoming true after all.
Image credit: Anna Walker
The National History Museum reports that meat only makes up around half of an urban foxes’ diet, whilst the other half is our waste from our houses. Foxes have developed a very strong stomach, so they are no longer affected by rubbish. This could be one of the many reasons why we are seeing more of our ginger friends.
We spoke to The Fox Project’s founder Trevor Williams to find out more information. The Fox Project is a charity which focuses on wildlife rescue, advice on how to deter a fox humanely and is also an information bureau on foxes. When the charity was set up thirty years ago, there were no existing resources for science-based information on foxes and fox behaviour. “With the advent of urban foxes, I felt people ought to know what foxes were, and what they could expect of them,” says Trevor.
“We are simply seeing more foxes because they understand humans and don’t see any reason to be invisible. They are simply more visible,” says Trevor, who explains why fox sightings are becoming more common.
It’s easy to assume that foxes are becoming tamer and more friendly because fewer of them seem to run away when you walk towards them. However, this isn’t strictly true.
Trevor explains “Less hands are turned against them than in the days when rural myth was all the information we had.” As people see them as less of a threat, they’re not so intent on doing them harm.
In British schools we have always been taught that animals like foxes, owls and badgers are nocturnal and only prefer the nights. However, humans are partially liable as to why foxes primarily appear on our streets at dusk.
“Having a nocturnal preference is simply a reaction to human activity,” says Trevor. “It’s quieter and easier to get around under the cover of darkness.”
Friendly foxes is a topic often up for debate on London Facebook pages, with robust debates on whether you should entice foxy friends into your garden.
“It is useful to encourage [foxes into your garden] if you are in an area where rats and rodents are abundant, as there is no better predator when it comes to those species,” says Trevor. “However, it is best to be discouraged if you want a pristine garden.
But if you are keen to encourage foxes into your garden, think about enticing them in with open bases of sheds, thick banks, ponds, heavy areas of undergrowth or wild areas,” advises Trevor.
We now know that just because we are seeing more foxes it doesn’t actually mean they are becoming tamer. It is mostly because foxes are getting used to having us around, unphased and unthreatened . It is kind of cute when you think about it like that. Foxes are simply adopting a new way of living in our busy and hectic London Boroughs.
*Read the next issue of Nox to find out more about hedgehogs and how you can help out our spikey friends.