Social Media Fox Feeders and Fox Stewards

 These are thoughts in response to a question. I am quite clear in my view that fox feeding just for social media (SM feeders) attention is wrong and does not respect the fox as a species. Fox Stewards are keeping records of generations of foxes, comings and goings as well as treating mange and mild injuries and provide research with a lot of information.

Read on....

I get asked what I think about fox feeders. It's a subject that can create a lot of controversy -ie; get you called "fox hating scum" or other such things.

Back in the 1970s if there were fox feeders then no one knew about it. I know that in bristol there were some fox watchers who also treated foxes for mange, etc but when they died so did the history of the foxes they watched over.

I see 10-20 doughnuts being put out in one night for one or two foxes. In another photo someone showed sausages, friend bacon, eggs, chips and I have even read posts fgrom people who put out large joints of meat for a fox. A fox only requires a cwertain amount to keep it going for 24 hours and the number of over sized foxes I've seen -some described as looking "under fed" is worrying. Even foods foxes should not have including pork are put out for them.

It is funny to read feeders write "I put out chicken as its their natural food" -which it is not. Voles, rats, mice, insects, road-kill and probably above all else, rabbits are the favoured foods. "Natural food" reinforces the old fox hunters stereotype of foxes (though they admitted most fowl were "victims of humans".

Over-feeding can create health problems and should be supplimental not THE food source for foxes.

We now have feeders who are using social media to show how "their" foxes are enticed into kitchens and then living rooms by food. That is going to end very badly for the foxes. However, mention this on fox groups and the amount of abuse (on and off group) is ridiculous -one person pointed out that pork was not good for foxes so one member went into full attack mode saying that she fed her dog a concentrated dog food that had pork in so was she being accused of cruelty to her dog? The person who mentioned it was told to mind their own business (the comment was actually advice and not aimed at anyone).

In fact, the groups do not seem to have any real interest in the foxes beyond "fancy pet" status or other strange beliefs. At least two people have asked how you make a fox a pet (getting it indoors so it can lead a quiet and stress free life!).

Those are the people who then panic as they are moving home or travelling abroad for a few months and are worried how their furry babbies will survive? Neighbours apparently being unwilling to take on the job. A fox is for life not just for Face Book.

We then have the more sensible end of the spectrum. Rehabbers por people who have kept an eye on local foxes for at least 20 years -some chart the comings and goings and can trace the current foxes back to their great granfathers/mothers. They sauppliment food and treat conditions such as mange but let the foxes be what they are supposed to be. I call these Fox Stewards because what they do is not driven by social media but for a love of the fox.

It is interesting to be told how such-and-such fox is the son of a specific vixen and dog fox and how the vixen is the daughter of so-and-so -AND have photographs of the foxes in question. Newcomers are noted and these might be rescue releases (Bristol City Council has npo "fox control" as it points out that you get rid of one fox another moves in).

We can therefore see how local (we have no idea to the original foxes origins) foxes have turned out over two decades and in some cases foxes photographed in certain areas appear to be related to those studied long term.

One thing is certain is that far more foxes survive today because feeders of both types treat mange and any minor injuries -the experienced stewards have seen mange and injuries first hand and mange is the one thing no one wants to start killing foxes. Orphaned cubs are rescued and in the old days there were no rescues and these were often hand reared by the "Hidden Stewards" who we know little to nothing about. We have seen some unique looking foxes who survived BECAUSE a feeder has supplimented its food or given it medication. EVERY animal, like every person, deserves a chance to live.

Who is criticising and pointing fingers at the badger watchers who are doing similar or the stewards who look after local deer herds or suppliment the food of wild ponies.

It ought to be noted that in most of the old "copy what the last person wrote" books on foxes we are told badgers and foxes must cross paths but we have no idea what happens, We are also told foxes decimate hedgehog populations. Thanks to fox feeders and stewards we know what happens and we also know that foxes are not decimating hedgehog populations -that is using the fox as a scapegoat for what humans have done.

A balance needs to be struck with the social media feeders. I doubt it can be because they know nothing about foxes, argue when a common sense point is made or advice given and have not even researched what a fox can eat. Fruit and vegetables are often excluded from food given.

A fox turning its nose up at a free meal is "Not ill" or "He doesn't like that -I'll need to get him something he likes" -it just means foxy is too well fed and there are probably other feeders around (the suggestion that someone is daring to feed 'their' fox can get a bad reaction!).

A feeder needs to look at the overall health of the fox and then at the food needed; Fox Stewards tend to know the number of foxes or even foxes and badgers that come to their garden. Foxes should not be over fed and definitely not enticed into homes and if foxes can be kept as non-handled by humans the better for its future.

The whole subject is one that would need a full debate but for now there is little than can be done over social media feeders (some are already stamping their feet because 'their' fox has had cubs and not brought them to see their feeder!). It is down to the common sense of the person involved and that is where it has to be left because feeding is a two edged sword but if social media feeders were actually to follow the lead of the Fox Stewards we might be in a better situation.