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  National Geographic 15 May 06
 10,000 Foxes Roam London
 James Owen in London for National Geographic News

London, with its diverse communities, has a long history of welcoming refugees, but what if they come with bushy tails and a rather unpleasant smell?

The red fox has become a familiar sight in the city since arriving from the English countryside, where it has traditionally been shot as vermin or chased by hunters and packs of hounds.

Urban living clearly suits the animal, with upward of 10,000 foxes now roaming the United Kingdom's capital.

That's more than enough foxes to cause a nuisance, according to some of their human neighbors.

Foxes first sought refuge here after World War II. Since then they have swapped wild rabbits and farm chickens for a diet of discarded takeout containers and other garbage food. Experts estimate there are now 16 foxes for every square mile [2.6 square kilometers] of London.

These urban foxes are noticeably bolder than their country cousins, sharing sidewalks with pedestrians and raising cubs in people's backyards. Foxes have even sneaked into the Houses of Parliament, where one was found asleep on a filing cabinet. Another broke into the grounds of Buckingham Palace, reportedly killing some of Queen Elizabeth II's prized pink flamingos.

Generally, however, foxes and city folk appear to get along.

A survey in 2001 by the London-based Mammal Society found that 80 percent of Londoners liked having the animals around. Some residents even deliberately attract foxes by putting out food for them to eat.

However other Londoners say foxes are pests that dig up lawns, scatter garbage, terrify pets, and leave behind a foul scent.

Stinky Neighbors

"They certainly do stink," said Conrad Gibbons, from the Fulham neighborhood of West London. "I see loads of foxes," the 40-year-old graphic designer added. "One was at my rubbish only this morning. The other day another casually strolled past as I was sitting outside a pub."

Gibbons says the females, or vixens, have a disturbing habit of making bloodcurdling screams in winter. "They howl when they are on heat," he said. "Some people complain of being kept awake all night."

Increasingly homeowners are taking measures to deter unwelcome foxes, such as using strong-smelling repellents and devices that cause garden hoses to spray water when an animal approaches.

Shooting the foxes is another option. While local authorities are not obliged to control fox numbers, some Londoners are hiring private pest-control experts armed with rifles to kill what they see as nuisance animals.

Many in this nation of animal lovers are against the practice, however, including wildlife and animal rights groups.

Mark Simpson of London Wildlife Trust says foxes are an important part of the city's ecology and should be tolerated. "Many people take pleasure in seeing a truly wild animal in their neighborhood," he said.

The trust says those who don't want to encounter foxes should remove possible sources of food that might attract the animals and deny them access to yards by ensuring fences have no gaps. Foxholes may also be blocked off, the group says, but only after the den has been vacated.

Worryingly, there have been reports in recent years of London foxes biting young children after getting into people's homes.

Pet Threat

Residents are also concerned about the impact of London's growing fox population on pets, with some pet owners accusing the mammals of attacking their cats and dogs. Pet rabbits are the most common target, especially if left unattended in a garden, according to veterinarian Dave Nicol, who practices at Parkvets Veterinary Group in southeastern London.

"Daylight attacks are not uncommon, and we see quite a few bunnies with chewed ears when a fox has tried to get them through the hutch doors," he said. Nicol says foxes and cats tend to keep a respectful distance from each other. "I know of several cats that defend their patch very aggressively against foxes, chasing them off," he added. "The frail, older cats are much more at risk. It is unwise to leave these pets unattended."

The vet says he has yet to treat a dog injured in a fox attack. The main threat to dogs, he adds, comes from mange, a skin disease caused by mites, which is common in urban foxes. Nichol says exposure to mange is increasing in London. "We are starting to test routinely for this in cases of dogs with itchy skin," he said. "Happily the treatment is simple."

"It is worth remembering that the fox is a scavenger, so [it] will instinctively look for the easiest meal going--usually raiding the [garbage] bins for scraps," he added.

Such a diet may not be healthy, however. U.K. studies suggest that average life expectancy for urban foxes is only about 15 months.

Perhaps last year's foxhunting ban in England, which outlawed hunting the animals with packs of hounds, may tempt a few foxes back to the countryside.
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