Fox Cubs ?

[kelvin booth]

Alan, I have one concern as the cubs would potentially be captive within the boundary of the Otter fence.

Will the foxes be of the same sex ? Potentially there could be many genetic issues if it is a mixed sex pair, that could then interbreed with their own genetics in future years.
Just a thought.

[Tracey Lacey]

Because of the fence natural predators like Foxes have been excluded from our site – the fox cubs to be introduced are not same sex and are not related – one from London and the other from Mansfield.

Their parents were assumed to have been shot and they have been brought up from very small cubs by Peter Ambler at Spondon meadows animal sanctuary.

[kelvin booth]

Most of the rabbits I see on site in the late evening as I leave, usually dash through the Otter fence onto the motorway embankment or to the Tamworth Road hedge line. A few do go into the scrub areas of the complex.
Foxes are quite notorious for digging under the boundaries of chicken runs to reach their prey. Do you risk the integrity of the perimeter fence to Otters by having the foxes on site, if any such digging is left undiscovered ? And what will happen in times of a big flood ? Just a thought.

No problem with the cubs being introduced, just thinking of possible future consequences.

[Tracey Lacey]

Yes you are right – but doing nothing is not an option – we are overrun with rabbits so the thinking is that if the larder is where you live and the larder is full then why try and leave ? Also it is thought that they will have their own litter and as such possibly not keen to leave. We will see but nothing ventured ??

[scott gillatt]

We’re there goin to live as foxes live in sets and I have been around foxes all my life and 2 fox cubs won’t make no difference …surely a pest controller would sort the rabbit and mink problem out ..and breading foxes on there will be more problems with dog walkers and anglers …and u will see the foxes regularly….guess u got to try something

[Peter Mark Bradfield]

Would it not be better to close the lakes for a weekend and organise a cull, the amount of rabbits that could be taken over a weekend of controlled killing would be far greater than 2 foxes would do in months, I don’t know a lot about foxes but waters I’ve been on that have had foxes present have suffered a big loss of other wildlife, they will kill anything they can catch to get food, hopefully the ducks and ducklings won’t suffer as a result of being on the food chain, is poisoning the rabbits not an option ?

[kelvin booth]

As I have previously mentioned, most of the rabbits that I see go through the current Otter fence into the Tamworth Road or M1 embankment.
Has the option of fitting chicken wire to the lower part of the fence along these areas been considered to stop access of the rabbits onto the PoD complex ? This would not be a great expense, approximately £100 would cover 200 metre of fencing half a metre high, ty wrapped to the Otter Fence.
The only rabbits in the complex would then be captive and easier to control.
My thoughts are that by introducing the foxes is messing with nature and possibly creating further problems.

It sounds as though the fox introduction is a done deal, I hope it is not a decision that is regretted in the future.

[Ian Hole]

Hi Numpty. As you know we had Several Fox’s on our Main Complex at one time, Unfortunately these sadly perished on the frozen lakes. Following this we installed the Otter Fencing which prevented other Fox’s gaining entry to our waters. The idea of Chicken Wire being attached to the Otter Fence to contain the Rabbits would be the solution, however this would not be within the law due to the lakes being situated on a Flood Plain. Thank you for your comments and idea’s which are much appreciated. Regards Ian

[Tracey Lacey]

The two fox cubs – 6 months old have on Thursday 8th September been released on the Pride complex – these animal will cause no harm to you but will hopefully start to reduce the numbers of rats and rabbits on our site.

let’s hope the restore the balance of predator and vermin on our site –

[Author]

Posts