Fox attack on baby.

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kirstykate

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Is it my imagination or did these attacks never happen before the ban? I do hope that they start a cull before a baby/child is killed.
 
I can't recall with certainty if they did or they didn't but it stands to reason that a ban would have an effect: fewer foxes being killed through hunting = more pressure on natural habitats = more foxes being pushed into urban living = urban foxes gradually losing their fear of humans (especially silly humans who think they're cutesy-wutesy pseudo-dogs and feed them :rolleyes: ) = more attacks of this nature.
 
All this talk of city foxes forming large packs around family groups would never happen in the countryside because cubbing disperses those family groups and spreads the foxes out...
 
One of the most stupid threads I have had the pleasure of reading on here, which just proves to me that some would do anything to get the ban overturned. I may remind people i am neither a 'fluffy' a pro or anti.

I can think of 4 attacks. The most recent, 2010,2003,2002. Nothing to do with the ban.

Most of my pro friends use the argument that hardly any foxes are caught anyway so which is it? You either make such a difference that these extremely rare albeit very distressing attacks will NEVER happen. In which case, yay go for it. Or you barely catch any foxes so how is the act of fox hunting ever to be considered cruel?

You all confuse me. If you could all speak with one reasonable voice i would listen.
 
Personally I am not sure that the Hunting Ban has affected fox numbers in cities.

However, as I said, the problem with foxes forming packs doesn't happen in the countryside due to cubbing...
 
I'm not sure whether the ban would have had any effect on urban fox populations. Most of the attacks I have heard about have been in London, so for that to stack up, the countryside would have to be so overpopulated that foxes would migrate deep into the city and set up in territory. Not to mention the behavioural adaptations required to cope with a completely different environment.

I don't know if this is typical of a foxes natural behaviour, but I'm struggling with the geography. I think it's more related to cities full to the rafters of humans that love to dispose of food carelessly and feed the pretty little foxes.

Also, if there's a central London/Birmingham/Manchester etc pack that has been stopped from hunting since the ban, allowing the fox population to spiral, it would be news to me!
 
This incident took place in a city, with an urban fox-a quite different creature to that found in the countryside. Urban fox attacks, or urban foxes in general have nothing to do with rural fox hunting. No link in the slightest can be made.
Stories like this, of course, do slightly help our case because it takes away the 'cute' image foxes have. But we must be careful that hunting people are not accused of inventing stories like this.
The antis, I see do not seem to believe that this incident took place. Which proves how mad they really are. Maybe they think foxes are cute vegetarians?
I don't doubt that it happened, but such incidences are rare.
Once again-NO link can be made between urban foxes and fox hunting!
 
Agreed, urban foxes very unlike rural foxes.

It's the townies leaving out food for foxes that makes them less timid of humans. Even my aunt feeds them despite my protestations, although she may be less keen now lol !!
 
How many incidents is this, two or so in a decade.
Trying to make out this is in some way connected to the hunting ban is for morons.
Children are at more risk from their parents than foxes.
 
Pale Rider said:
How many incidents is this, two or so in a decade.
Trying to make out this is in some way connected to the hunting ban is for morons.
Children are at more risk from their parents than foxes.
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Very true, but, when was the last one? Answer 2011, the previous 2010, before that 2003, there is a possibility these attacks are getting more frequent IN TOWNS AND CITIES, I haven't heard of an attack in the countryside, now there may be many reasons for that, most likely the abundance of food in urban areas making the need to 'hold a territory' less important and hence, foxes forming closer 'packs', other than showing that foxes are not cuddly, cute, little creatures, but do have a vicious streak, they are predators after all, I'm not sure these attacks have any relevance to any change in the act!
 
I agree with everyone else in that to attempt to link Hunting and our urban fox population, and find any correlation, is ridiculous.

I remember a television programe from 20 years ago, about the expanding fox population in Bristol, and there were those who were actually buying chicken and chips, from take-aways, and laying them down whilst foxes sat and waited.

Foxes are opportunists and quite happy to live as scroungers, and as we now seem to throw away just about as much food as we eat, so we're supporting them. Whether that's a bad thing, or not, only time will tell.

Despite the fact that urban foxes seem to be quite at ease living alongside and supported by man, I'm still a little surprised to hear that a fox entered a domestic residence, presumably wandered about until it found a baby, and then attacked it. It's a claim which surprises me.

Alec.
 
It's simple - if you have foxes that are not scared of humans, whose numbers are not controlled and who have an easy food supply (eg people leaving out food for them) you will get unhealthy packs of foxes who are not scared of humans.
 
Alec Swan said:
I agree with everyone else in that to attempt to link Hunting and our urban fox population, and find any correlation, is ridiculous.

I remember a television programe from 20 years ago, about the expanding fox population in Bristol, and there were those who were actually buying chicken and chips, from take-aways, and laying them down whilst foxes sat and waited.

Foxes are opportunists and quite happy to live as scroungers, and as we now seem to throw away just about as much food as we eat, so we're supporting them. Whether that's a bad thing, or not, only time will tell.

Despite the fact that urban foxes seem to be quite at ease living alongside and supported by man, I'm still a little surprised to hear that a fox entered a domestic residence, presumably wandered about until it found a baby, and then attacked it. It's a claim which surprises me.

Alec.
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I too find these claims a little strange.

As an aside I knew someone in Manchester who feeds foxes with canteen waste, well in excess of 20 turn up each evening. You want to hear the racket they make if she's late.
 
Ok, so there is no link between Urban foxes and the ban. But surely something needs to be done to control the population of the Urban Fox before a more serious attack occurs. I understand that this will be a difficult one.
 
Fox farming, it's the only way. I understand there's a huge market for exotic meat in the city.

Perhaps someone is doing it already without the overheads ;) Never mind horse burgers :eek:
 
kirstykate said:
Ok, so there is no link between Urban foxes and the ban. But surely something needs to be done to control the population of the Urban Fox before a more serious attack occurs. I understand that this will be a difficult one.
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Don't be rediculous dogs are more of a menace. This is just newspaper knobheads sensationalizm.
 
Pale Rider said:
Not always.

Don't you think this is a bit of an over reaction, assuming its true?
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Why is it an over reaction? Fox numbers in the cities are not being controlled, people are feeding them, How do you see the problem going away?? Maybe people are going to the press more but there is a problem which needs to be dealt with.
 
kirstykate said:
Why is it an over reaction? Fox numbers in the cities are not being controlled, people are feeding them, How do you see the problem going away?? Maybe people are going to the press more but there is a problem which needs to be dealt with.
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Waste of time and money, foxes are keeping the rats down. I don't think foxes in the cities are a problem, far more urgent things to get wound up about.
 
Kaylum said:
Agreed why idiots are feeding these animals I have no idea. If they are living on rats then they are less likely to if they are being fed by humans and encouraged into human spaces.
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An excellent point 'Kaylum', if foxes were in fact keeping themselves fed on rats in urban then no-one could possibly have any problem with that, in fact it would be encouraged, but, with the amount of easy access 'left-overs' from bins, etc, how many of these 'opportunist, scavengers' are likely to waste energy chasing rats?

As for dogs being more of a menace, shame on anyone who says this, the owners are the menace, not the dogs!
 
A fox is a fox, ie a predator. Like all predators it will take the easiest prey it can, or preferably scavenge. A new born baby is ideal prey size for a fox, similar to a lamb or piglet, and if people encourage foxes by feeding them or carelessly disposing of food near to human habitation, then they will lose their fear of people. I wouldn't leave a dog alone with a baby and I wouldn't encourage a wild predator near my house. People in cities seem to be so far removed from the natural world that they have no common sense about it.
 
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