Fox - Vupes vulpes - Vixen - Dog - Kit - Cub - Earth

Each year we rescue and rehabilitate many fox cubs and successfully release them back into the wild where they belong. We carefully survey and monitor any release sites to ensure that the area can accommodate these lively and inquisitive creatures. We have been very successful in our release programs and on going monitoring. This information not only helps us to understand foxes but also gives us valuable information to improve our ongoing programs.

Fox Releases.

When we release a fox cub there is a balance of care and duty to ensure these stunning canids are not only "human" weary but also have the ability to defend themselves from other foxes and are able to forage well. Our strict rehabilitation program allows for both. Not only is it successful but also it is extremely rewarding. A concern is often raised with hand reared cubs as to their ability to be released into the wild and be sucessful. We have rasied many foxes from a few days old and are able to fully integrate back into the wild. These creatures are fearful of us. Once they are removed from our constant contact to a carefully planned release site these clever creatures quickly adapt. Their instincts slowly take over and eventually after several months the fox is once again released back where it belongs in the wild.

Foxes are usually fearful of us and will mostly try to avoid us at all cost. Their first form of defence is always to flee unfortunately this has made them atarget for sport. We are is totally opposed to "dogs killing wild mammals" for human pleasure. We do encourage the humane sports of drag hunting and lure coursing to retain all its traditions without the need for cruelty. 

Over the last few years foxes have been driven into built up areas. They have survived and adapted well. These inteligent canids are natures "clear up army" and will scavenging and eat most left overs or should i say "run overs". In the country they will eat well on road kill and injured wildlife. In the towns they have adapted to left over takeaways and processed food often left out by people. This food is often not good for us but for a fox the food is wholly inadequate and leads to poor health. Mange is a sympton of an unwell fox and there fore is prevelant in these situatuions. In urban areas we find a high percentage of people feed them and intice them into their garden. They are often seen in daylight but more usually look for a quiet spot to rest in until dusk. Their boldness is not a sign of aggression and is often a sign of trust. Toxiplasmosis is a common illness that can have the effect of a fox apperaing tame, the virus makes them unaware of danger and can give vacant and relaxed look. A normal healthy fox is always listening and looking to remain safe. These ill foxes will often come right up to people. Aswith cats that carry this virus the treatment for this condition is not effective and once caught it is highly unlikely the fox can be returned to the wild.

Foxes have a fantastic sense of hearing and an equal sense of sight and smell. They are wonderful creatures to watch at play and their games are fascinating. Vixens will teach their cubs to feed and their games often surround food. Insects are a major part of their diets in the country they can be seen diving into the grass in search of juice grubs and beetle.

To know foxes is to love them or at the very least accept them.
Foxes dig holes everywhere in my garden to annoy me…...
The only creature that seeks to annoy anything would be a human.
Animals have far more important things to deal with such as surviving.
Foxes have to eat every day to survive, they need protections from the weather and from us. Foxes have no natural  predators in the wild and number have declined in the last 10 years.
Foxes dig  for three reasons to find food, to bury food and to dig an earth. That’s it, not for fun and  not to annoy .
Foxes are extremely clever and would only dig in” good digging” soil. Unfortunately for us that could be a newly dug flower bed or a golf bunker.  Foxes are a little lazy but  very, very  clever.
If we choose to cage animals insecurely , that would be  called a “larder”, to a fox. He can open the door or  dig a small one and all those chickens/rabbits/ducks are just sitting on the shelves waiting for him. So clever fox kills them all and store them for later. He eats one and then goes back one by one  for the rest and then buries them in his own larder. That larder now is possibly the hole in your garden, hence lots of them……………...  So don’t shout admire the clever sole .
Some people feed foxes and again when they have too much food they take it away and bury it so if you have a lot of people feeding you will get a lot of holes. We recently went to golf course that had problems with fox holes. After a quick survey house to house we found out that 55% of the houses that backed onto the course fed the foxes . This produced lots of excess food  as foxes aren’t overeaters they did the clever thing and stored it. You guessed it ……..in the bunkers. There was no solution but a happy head green keeper saw  our red friend in a different light and is now cross with the neighbours not the fox.
Foxes have a fantastic sense of smell. Foxes love bugs and earthworms that lie just in the roots of plants and grass. Hence little holes in your lawn. The big holes/furrows will probably be badgers.  We must add that bone meal, fish and blood based fertilizer  in the soil may convince a fox there is already a stash there to be found.  A vixen will dig several earth prior to having her cubs. If she feels unsafe she will move them…I would say that’s clever and very caring.
Did you know that a foxes diet consist of over 90% scavenged food, wild mammals such as rats and mice and  invertebrate  and of course loads of fruit.  Bird are  a little below 7% with pets at 3%. In a recent it equated to a pet every five years.
Foxes are born with all the above skills. Time and time again I see tiny cubs burying excess food, cubs that have never been wild dig fantastic earths. So a round of applause for the clever fox please.

Foxes are self-regulating and territorial. If a fox dies another will take its place. The removal of a fox is pointless and its far better to train this illeigent mamal than to remove it.


Do not touch an injured fox unless you have experience in this area. When cornered and trapped they will bite. If you find an injured fox please be careful when handling it and if it is injured place it in a secure strong box before transporting to your local vet or contact your nearest wildlife rescue centre for help and advice.

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