The recent outbreak of a baby attacked by an urban fox had got many media coverage. Resulting in severed fingers this incident made London citizens reconsider fox hunting. Boris Johnson commented proper measures should be taken immediately to reduce fox numbers and hopefully find a reasonable resolution to keep the numbers down.
Fox attack on small children in UK is a rarity, there is a greater risk in getting attacked by dogs and cats than by foxes. Nevertheless it has happened. In 2010 there were two cases. Two baby-girls got injured around their arms and face by a fox attack at their home. Another the same year, when a three-year old boy pestered a fox resulting in bitten arms. RSPCA, a leading charity in welfare of animals states generally urban fox do not launch attacks except when provoked. However they also say urban foxes are getting accustomed to people, many are getting fed and approaches people indifferently.
Currently fox hunting in UK is illegal. Following the Hunting Act 2004, fox hunting was banned since 2005 in England and Wales, 2002 in Scotland. This law claims cruelty of foxes when they’re torn alive to bits and pieces by a pack of dogs. However actually killing a fox is legal by UK laws. The Hunting Act 2004 only restricts the hunting of wild mammals using dogs.
Thence what is the appropriate solution? Fox hunting is clearly not the answer. Majority of citizens do not agree with enforcing fox-hunting again. In the past, destruction of foxes has sometimes been enforced by local authorities but has been stopped due to greater awareness of the animals, as well as the ineffectiveness and expense of such policy. Additionally, to control the numbers of foxes, more than 70% has to be killed annually for a long time. To stop foxes reproducing is near a impossibility.Therefore we should change route to dealing with them instead. Dealing with them how? The government should warn UK citizens more aware of its danger to small children and the diseases it carries. Moreover people should be more cautioned in blocking gardens and home from entry of foxes.
