Adam's Fox Box: "Fox War Off"

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A newspaper article. From "The Colchester Yellow Advertiser", September 1994.

Threat of public outcry over trapping and shooting prevents the council taking a tough line

"FOX WAR OFF"

Colchester councillors have stopped short of declaring war on the borough's growing urban fox population because of public outcry at the prospect of foxes being trapped or shot.

Instead, councillors have opted for a low-key policy in response to an equal number of complaints about foxes raiding bins, attacking pets and digging earths in gardens.

The new policy adopted after an hour-long debate by Tuesday's borough public protection committee will see animal-lovers being asked to stop doing things to encourage foxes in urban areas of the borough.

Residents are to be asked:

not to feed foxes
not to leave untidy areas in their gardens, where foxes could dig earths
not to leave rubbish sacks outside overnight, where they can be ripped open by foxes
to report all incidents involving foxes to the council so it can build up a clearer picture of the size of the problem.

A report to the committee outlines options used to control urban foxes worldwide.

These ranged from Australian plans to introduce a special virus to the fox population, to gassing, shooting and snaring and even the possible future use of a special contraceptive pill to restrict breeding.

Realistically, however, officials say the main options available in Colchester would be trapping, snaring, shooting or the use of terriers - all highly controversial mathods.

"This is such a controversial issue. Public opinion seems to be so very-evenly divided that it was hard for us to make a firm recommendation," said head of environmental and community services Chris Lofts.

"In the end, members decided the best public option would be a policy which strives do discourage the fox population increase without physically harming them."