Conservation & Ecology Foxes and the law
Any foxes that you catch are protected under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. You can be jailed and fined up to £20,000 for causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.
Illegal control methods
You must only use control methods set out by Natural England. Failure to do so could mean you face a jail sentence of up to 6 months and a fine of up to £5,000.
You cannot use the following: - self-locking snares - bows and crossbows
- explosives, other than legal ammunition for a licensed firearm
- live birds or animals, as bait or live decoys Snaring is an art that takes a good while
to master. Be aware that you will need to have in place a method to humanely kill a fox should one be trapped. Remember that non-target species, by law, have to be released unharmed; and removing a very angry badger from a snare is not for the faint-hearted! Any traps set for foxes must be checked
regularly - once a day is barely enough, even if it is first thing in the morning. They must also be securely anchored. By law, any snare set for a fox has to be
free running under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 Section 11. Any animal trapped must be alive when you check snares. Do not be tempted to try to poison foxes
as this can put other animals (pets, wild birds etc.) and humans at risk. People who do use poisons illegally can face substantial fines and/or a prison sentence. If you need practical help with foxes, you should contact a pest control professional for advice. The British Pest Control Association website (
www.bpca.org.uk) is useful for finding a suitable pest control professional. Only trained pest control professionals can kill or trap foxes. If you are concerned about foxes, follow these guidelines:
- do not leave French windows or external ground-floor doors and windows, or those immediately above a flat roof, wide open, especially after dark
- store all your refuse in metal bins with secure tops
- do not leave pet-food or the remnants of a barbecue out in the garden, on a balcony or terrace
- only put refuse out on the right collection day
- don’t use fertilisers containing blood, fish and bone meal as they will attract foxes
My thanks to Andy Beddoes at ABComplete Pest Control (
www.abcomplete.co.uk) and ‘The Fox’ (
www.thefoxwebsite.net) for additional info.
PC AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016 I 117
To discourage foxes from coming to your property you should: - secure food waste in bins - use fencing to protect pets and livestock
If the problem persists, you can use the control methods set out in the Natural England guide, but you mustn’t:
- use gassing or poisoning
- block or destroy earths if they are occupied
You can use cage traps and snares to catch foxes.
To stop a captured fox suffering, you should check cage traps at least once a day.
You must:
- only use free-running snares, which relax when the animal is captured
- check snares at least once a day
- humanely kill any fox you catch whilst it is still in the trap or snare
- release all other animals unharmed - except grey squirrels and mink, which you must humanely kill
You mustn’t: - relocate or release captured foxes
- place traps or snares near a badger sett or where badgers are present
- place snares in urban areas or public spaces
- use spring traps Shooting
You can shoot free foxes using a suitable firearm and ammunition.
You shouldn’t use firearms in urban areas for reasons of public safety.
The British Association for Shooting and Conservation has a code of practice on shooting foxes at night (lamping).
The use of dogs You cannot use dogs to hunt.
You can use dogs to stalk or flush out foxes above ground, but only to stop serious damage to your property. You must:
- use no more than two dogs
- shoot the foxes as soon as they break cover
- carry proof that you own the land or have written permission from the landowner
Using repellents or deterrents
You should only use repellents and deterrents approved for use against foxes.
Contact Natural England for advice on dealing with wildlife management.
Wildlife Licensing Natural England First Floor Temple Quay House 2 The Square Bristol BS1 6DG
E:
wildlife@naturalengland.org.uk T: 0208 026 1089
Visit
www.gov.uk for further information
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