Help! We have a problem with foxes being released

[taff]

Does anyone have experience of people releasing foxes on there land?
We have shot 45 foxes on an 80acre block of land in 3month some with metal implants and amputated legs. We have to control the number of foxes in that area because we lamb there is it legal for them to be released how do we stop it? It seems such a waste of everyone's time them and us

 

[Sid]

What's scrap value on metal implants?

 

[tepapa]

"Rescue" foxes are released in the forestry near near me. Between the game keeper and local farmers they don't last more than a week or two. Sad really

 

[milkloss]

I wonder what the people that give their money to these charities would think of that. It's a con run by the charities to keep the money flowing.

 

[Munkul]

the people who donate to such charities have clearly never seen urban foxes that are pretty much everywhere. I reckon there are more urban foxes than rural now.

 

[deleted user 837354]

Does anyone have experience of people releasing foxes on there land?
We have shot 45 foxes on an 80acre block of land in 3month some with metal implants and amputated legs. We have to control the number of foxes in that area because we lamb there is it legal for them to be released how do we stop it? It seems such a waste of everyone's time them and us

I would post the fact on social media and tell whoever is doing it they are wasting their time because foxes like this have no chance against your legions of pest controllers and they can't hunt for toffee either.

 

[milkloss]

A few years back someone local kept shooting them and piling the bodies up in the side of the road and they still kept coming. Shows how much the charities really care huh?

 

[Farmer Roy]

Put this out today

1080 is used a lot here for foxes as well

 

[Farmer Fin]

It’s actually pretty cruel. These are urban foxes that don’t know how to hunt in the countryside. I have a mate in the SE that gets a lot of released foxes. Says you easily know as they are not scared of vehicles and thin as a rake.

 

[deleted user 837354]

It’s actually pretty cruel. These are urban foxes that don’t know how to hunt in the countryside. I have a mate in the SE that gets a lot of released foxes. Says you easily know as they are not scared of vehicles and thin as a rake.

It is very bad isn't it.

I wonder if putting up several signs might be the answer.

 

[Dry Rot]

This is an interesting one. I had problems with foxes coming from MOD land taking lambs many years ago. The commanding officer was anti hunting and refused to allow access for control. At that time, I was very friendly with one of the top people in what is now Scottish Natural Heritage. He was a former gamekeeper/stalker, a very nice man and very practical with it. He consulted their own lawyers and came back with the advice that it is against Common Law not to control pest species to the extent that they cause damage to a neighbour's property. This was relayed to the MOD who still did nothing.

At that time, I was a member of the Scottish NFU, so I went to them for help. I got an interesting reply! I was told by the area secretary that the SNFU is there to help "proper farmers", not hobby farmers in no uncertain terms!!! I am sure the fact that I am English and relatively new to the area had nothing to do with it! I do have a small place but my family have been in farming since the year dot and I have both a degree and a diploma in rural land management, so perhaps a hobbyist, but what has that got to do with it anyway?!!! Anyway, nothing was done about the fox problem until the commanding officer (who was civilian) of the MOD land was sacked for theft and his replacement invited me in to control foxes. But by that time I had given up the sheep, so did not bother!

So it looks like you could raise a civil action for damages for your losses and expenses. The trouble is, some of these "rescues" have deep pockets and this would be a high progfile case. I am also pretty sure it is a criminal offence to release pest species, but would need to do further research on that. Meantime, it would be a good idea to collect all the evidence you can and inform the chief constable, by recorded delivery letter addressed to him personally, of the criminal action, asking for an incident number. I would also mention that the Press and your MP would probably be interested as it will surely be a matter of public concern. A charity, on the other hand, has a duty to behave in a responsible way.

 

[deleted user 837354]

Put up signs on the verges. Keep em cheap in cases someone destroys them.

 

[kill]

We’ve had them released around here for years. A local idiot works for the rspca and he’s suspected to be dropping them off on the way home.
Normally when shot the male foxes have been castrated freshly before release and the foxes use to tattoos in their ears but they really aggravate the local chicken farmers as make a beeline straight for fresh chicken after emptying a few rubbish bins.

 

[CornishTone]

Friend of mine was an assistant game keeper on a shoot and caught 2 blokes in an unmarked white van releasing 3 foxes on the shoot. He challenged them and was told in no uncertain terms where to go. Went out that night with the lamp and, lo and behold, 3 foxes trotted towards the light, presumably used to a light meaning someone was putting their bins or scraps out for them. Shot all 3 and they were all neutered. He was convinced they were RSPCA staff but the van was unmarked so I'm not sure, but I don't know who else would go to the trouble of neutering before release. Very cruel really as urban foxes, as evidenced by this example, are not equipped to cope with country life.

 

[Steel]

This should stop them releasing more

 

[lazy farmer]

What ever the reality of the situation our customers don’t need to see pictures like that. Regardless of what part of the world it comes from

 

[Grandad Pig]

Sorry but I have to say something. I have been on this forum for a while now (Ag FE lecturer, not farmer), and have found the various fora a mine of valuable information.

Hiwever, as a group, it seems to me that farmers are their own worst enemies. Some of the diatribes about ethnic minorities, public footpaths, pest control etc etc do not paint a good image at all.

You, as a group, may have strongly held opinions about “Townies” but this is an easily accessible forum and a moments thought about the image you create would not go amiss. Remember, those Townies pay your rent/wages/mortgage and as an industry you are shortly going to need them on-side.

sorry, couldn’t resist ??

 

[J 1177]

Friend of mine was an assistant game keeper on a shoot and caught 2 blokes in an unmarked white van releasing 3 foxes on the shoot. He challenged them and was told in no uncertain terms where to go. Went out that night with the lamp and, lo and behold, 3 foxes trotted towards the light, presumably used to a light meaning someone was putting their bins or scraps out for them. Shot all 3 and they were all neutered. He was convinced they were RSPCA staff but the van was unmarked so I'm not sure, but I don't know who else would go to the trouble of neutering before release. Very cruel really as urban foxes, as evidenced by this example, are not equipped to cope with country life.

That's cruelty of the highest order, not the game keeper but the two morons releasing foxes that have lost their cunning.

 

[BBC]

About 10 years ago late one evening was phoned about a van that was stuck in a muddy gateway, so went to see what the problem was. Turned out it was some charity from Coventry who had been releasing urban foxes that had been trapped back into their ‘natural environment’.

Having had a ‘forthright discussion’ about their catch and release policy, I left them to sort out their own release from the natural environment in which they had got themselves stuck.

 

[yellow belly]

i used to be sceptical about the release of urban foxes in the country side but after some one saw a van park in the local forestry comission wood let 10 out
who ever does it is the most cruel because country foxes have a different skill set to survive

and now with the big reduction in rabbits the foxes have a much harder time finding food
with many game shoots reducing the release this year and some having a winter off foxes are going to have a very hard winter