Urban Fox Count: The Daily Telegraph launches study to count urban foxes

The first urban fox count in nearly 15 years is launched today by The Daily Telegraph in an attempt to find out just how many of the animals are living in the country's towns and cities.

By Louise Gray, Environment Correspondent
Last Updated: 9:17AM GMT 28 Feb 2009

The number of foxes being drawn to urban living is thought to have increased significantly in the last two decades but no study has been undertaken to assess the population since 1995.

Now The Daily Telegraph and Telegraph.co.uk are to carry out The Urban Fox Count, with the help of readers, to draw a map of the country showing the number of animals living in built-up areas.

The data will be fed to biologists at the mammal research unit at Bristol University, where they are carrying out the longest running study into foxes in the UK, as part of their ongoing work.

The count will also examine how foxes are becoming bolder, as an increasing number of homeowners are reporting finding animals intruding into their homes and are no longer deterred by humans.

As part of The Daily Telegraph's count, the Wildlife Trusts will also be looking at the information in order to gauge the public's engagement with the nocturnal creatures and interaction with other animals.

Foxes were first noticed in towns and cities in the 1940s and have been on the increase since, attracted by a plentiful supply of food from bins and litter on the streets.

But life for an urban fox is short, with an average lifespan of 18 months, because disease, usually mange, among numbers spreads more quickly in the towns and cities.

Colin Booty, RSPCA senior wildlife scientist, said welfare groups receive more and more reports of foxes living in towns and cities but he said there was little up-to-date information and welcomed the opportunity to build a picture of where foxes are living.

"Fox density in urban areas is related to housing type," he said. "Semis with large gardens are perfect for foxes but Victorian terraces and modern developments are not so favourable."

The mammal research unit at Bristol University currently has a number of ongoing projects looking into the behaviour of foxes in the UK.

Ellie Whittaker, a researcher at the Bristol University mammal unit, said: "It is always good to have even a vague census of foxes. Where are they most abundant? Where are they being seen? Where are they not being seen? Where they used to be seen? The animals move around a lot geographically and in a lot of cities the population of foxes is absolutely exploding.

"It is always interesting to know a real picture. There are not a lot of studies going on at the moment so the only way to find out more is to ask the public."

Miss Whittaker, who is currently researching the social behaviour of the animals, said it would be particularly interesting to see how brave the animals were becoming.

"Foxes are definitely becoming desensitised to people," she added.

There are thought to be 10,000 foxes in London and the animals have been spotted in the choir stalls at St Paul's cathedral and outside No 10 Downing Street. They are also increasingly brave in other cities with one fox coming onto the pitch at Parkhead in Glasgow during the Old Firm game between Celtic and Rangers.

Dr Jonathan Reynolds, at the Game and Conservancy Wildlife Trust, said no research has been done into fox numbers since the hunting ban. He said The Daily Telegraph survey would show a snapshot in the same way as the RSPB's Great Garden Bird Watch shows a picture of bird life.

"Foxes have been on the increase in urban areas since the 1940s when they first started colonising towns and cities but we have also had a number of set backs in the population because of the mange and other diseases. At the moment it is difficult to say what the overall picture is."

The Wildlife Trust encouraged people to take part in The Urban Fox Count and be inspired by wildlife in the UK.

A spokesman said: "The Wildlife Trusts welcome the opportunity for everyone to find out more about wildlife. There is a wealth of wildlife on our doorstep and we believe it's great for people of all ages to be aware, show an interest and share their experiences too."

To take part in the survey please send details of your sightings of foxes to ukfoxes@telegraph.co.uk. Please include your name, the full postcode of the location where you see the fox or foxes, your photograph of the animals, if you have one, and a maximum of 25 words of commentary.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/4862873/Urban-Fox-Count-The-Daily-Telegraph-launches-study-to-count-urban-foxes.html