Foxes are a reasonably common sight in Britain, with their familiar reddish-brown fur, white chest and bushy, white-tipped tail. But, surprisingly, a number of them like to set up homes in our towns and cities too. Although foxes are inherently shy animals, you may just catch a glimpse of them when they’re on the prowl for food in the early evening. And whilst we might like to refer to them as being similar to dogs, foxes are, in fact, far more like our cat friends with their nocturnal activity at dusk and during the night.
Foxes may have been given bad press in the past, especially where they’ve been spotted going into people’s homes in the cities, but are they really the pest we’ve been led to believe? Of course, being shy creatures, foxes will only ever be pushed to venture into homes if their food supply is non-existent, which is common in the city, so maybe we can forgive these minor indiscretions?
Out in the countryside, foxes actually play an essential role. Indeed, most farmers don’t see foxes as pests but rather as an arrow to their bow to balance rabbit populations, and for helping to control expanded populations of rodents, with field voles and rabbits gnawing their way to damaging young trees. Who knew foxes provide an economic benefit to forestry operations! And surprisingly, foxes assist in new plant growth in the environment by dispersing seeds through eating fruit—who knew!
If we’ve tempted your tastebuds for more facts and information on Britain’s second favourite countryside mammal—according to a 2016 RSB poll, set your box to record Steve Backshall’s “Fantastic Foxes: Their Secret World” on Channel 5, Friday, 27th August at 7pm. And if you’re wondering which mammal won first place in the poll, it was the very happy hedgehog!
If you love your books and after more in-depth reading, we quite like “Foxes Unearthed” by Lucy Jones – Check it out here or follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook for a chance to win a copy along with one of our signature ‘On the Trail Hand and Foot Repair Creams’ created to take care of your skin when you’re outdoors doing the activities you love! Full of natural and organic ingredients, even the foxes might take a moment to give you a high-five… if they could!
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