Fox Cub Deaths and Recent Illnesses A Cause For Concern?

 Based on the fact that Bristol has a large fox population we can expect hundreds of cubs to be born in 2021. A lot of cubs do not make it to one year old. Disease and so on take their toll. However we still know so little about foxes and less about the life of fox cubs.

The incidents we have seen in England (I have no reports from Wales or Scotland) would make up a tiny percentage of the fox cub numbers and may be "the norm" -we just dpo not know which is why we HAVE to find out to assess things.

With Bristol a fox cub was found in BS9. On the same day (Monday 15th) another cub was found dead in neighbouring BS10. Very probably coincidence but the fact that the areas border each other did play on my paranoid streak.

Both cubs were buried 3.5-4 feet deep as at that time no one could advise on what to do if a dead fox/fox cub was found and all quarters stated to contact the council services (who stated they did not collect dead wildlife -??) or bury the body. There was no Post Mortem carried out to determine cause of death.

Later I was told the Health and Safeyty Executive (HSE) shpould be contacted but they assure me that this is only in the event of suspected misuse of pesticides.

I knew of the Animal & Plant Health agency (APHA) from my old EAR work but was unaware that they would now be interested in foxes found dead (the scheme for this began after my time with UK Police forces).

Today (Sunday, 20th June) I received a message that four (4) cubs had been found dead in BS32 on Thursday, 17th; BS9 and BS10 are directly connected with BS34 acting as a buffer area with BS32. If I am informed of any deaths in BS34 it would be worrying but we have to remember that few people see fox cubs let alone find or report dead fox cubs.

Cubs may have been found dead in other areas but with no reports we cannot know.

There are two main, large urban fox populations in England -London and Bristol. How many dead cubs have been found in London and reported?

I am NOT going to press any panic button because the deaths and recent ill cubs -diagnosis without blood tests are always "possible RTA"- may all be naturally occurring each year.

However, this type of situation will need to be monitored in 2021, 2022 and further on to determine this.

But cubs or adults found dead MUST be reported asap so that post mortems can be undertaken and possible causes identified.

map: crosses denote where cubs were found