An Alert and a Request

 

Here is a little alert for Bristol fox folk particularly BS 9 and BS10.

I was contacted by someone who works at a wildlife rescue about incidents she is looking into. In each case the fox in question -7 so far over two years that we know of- has severed facial wounds and one had to be put down as there was also a nasty maggot infection. I will not, obviously, be posting the photographs.

I have chatted with two other people now associated with the Fox Study and they seem to agree that there are two possibilities:

The fox was involved in a territorial or other fight with another fox. Facial wounds are what I expect to see in canid fights and though fox fights tend to be brief flurries resulting in one running off there is enough evidence that the fights can lead to bits of ear missing or some facial scarring.

Fox diggers. A fox will retreat into its den with face facing toward den entrance to defend itself and this could result in facial injuries from a spade followed up by bites from a terrier.

As far as we know no cats have gone missing in the neighbourhood -a possible sign that the cats or foxes are used in dog baiting. The areas in question I know and Southmead is not set up in a way that people would not be noticed ifthey caused a noise by trying to dig out a fox with a dog.

The concern was that this might be some form of new bacteria infection though studying thephotos (which is far from pleasant) does not show signs of this.

Seven foxes involved in territorial fights over two years is probably low. The thing we have no data base because no one was interested in this type of thing. I have begun gathering information on fox deaths, especially suspicious ones and injuries in the hope that we might learn something.

That someone else in Bristol has now become involved into looking at fox deaths or injuries is a good sign.

The big problem is getting fox feeders -and fox feeders are the ones reported these incidents (but not to me)- I have contacted re. comments about fox injuries and deaths have flatly refused to respond.

If you are in Bristol or elsewhere and are aware of any foxes with facial injuries or foxes found dead that are not road kill PLEASE get in touch with me or if you can spread the word. The more we learn the more we can try to help foxes or be on the look out for problems.

I have to say that I am VERY disappointed that rescues mentioned in news items overthese incidents will talk to the press/media but will not cooperate in cataloguing any of these incidents.