RED FOXES

The fox in Britain falls into two distinct categories - the Urban Fox and the Country or Wild Fox.  Both are nocturnal animals.

Foxes mate late January early February and the cubs are born early April they are usually weaned after five weeks. Average litter size is five.  They  don’t stay with the Vixen over four months.

The Urban Fox is a scavenger living on what it can find in dustbins and at the back of food premises.   It is doubtful if an urban fox could survive in the wild were it would have to hunt and catch live quarry for most of its food. It only needs to be controlled if it becomes a nuisance, by digging in gardens, parks, allotments, golf courses and of course tearing open refuse sacks and attacking domestic pets although the fox tends to leave cats alone.

The Wild Fox hunts for its food living off rabbits, birds, ducks (many sleep on land at night) hens, game birds and lambs. If the fox finds its way into a hen run or a game bird rearing pen the killing frenzy that takes place makes the fox hated by farmers and gamekeepers alike.