We have had a skulk of foxes (yes, apparently that is one of the acceptable collective nouns!) settled in the gardens for some years now. They mostly just got on with doing foxy things – like killing pigeons (seagulls if they were really quick), strewing litter around, making an extraordinary mess of digging up the grass… but we all rubbed along together pretty well. In fact ‘skulk’ is a perfect description – they kept around the edges and had some respect for the humans.
Not so this summer. They became bold and, eventually, rather intimidating. Their confidence was astounding – they no longer backed away from people in their path but brushed past them. They started to invade our picnics. My daughter (and others) refused to take her newborn baby into the gardens at all. And finally, one of the younger foxes nipped the hand of an eight year who was sitting on a bench swinging his arm under the seat. Most likely playful rather than aggressive, but still.
The garden committee (I’m on it) held a meeting and we set about investigating. It turned out that the main difference from previous years was that humans had been interfering. A couple of people had taken to feeding the foxes fresh meat, every day – and getting up close, making a fuss of them at the same time. No doubt well meaning – but no wonder the foxes strode confidently into our picnics! Much discussion ensued. The view of the committee (which I share) was that it is a mistake to treat wild animals as pets. They need to source their own livelihood – and, longer term, the available food supply will control their numbers to a manageable level.
Both neighbours agreed to stop the feeding. But the problem was that, whatever we thought about it, the foxes had already become dependent on these nightly offerings so they had to be weaned quite gradually. Even more important, I thought, was that the neighbours agreed not to hang out with their fox mates any more but just to put the reduced rations on the grass in the usual place then leave.
The fox I mentioned recently who came over to see what I was doing with the bulbs did NOT come that close. He skulked around a bit then vanished into the bushes, just like old times. So perhaps the plan has worked. On the other hand, he did look a bit thin….I hope we have done the right thing. What do you think?
SpinningStreak 