FOXES – FRIENDS OR FOE? BY NAZREEN BIBI

What are your views on foxes taking up residence in our streets, parks and back gardens?

Foxes are part of the biological family of dogs, ‘Canidae'. Unlike dogs, foxes, as most people are aware, are not the petting, people-loving type.

What is your opinion of these isolated, human-shy, furry animals that often grace you with their presence, be it before your very eyes or in the middle of the night with their alarmingly loud shrieks. Are you pro-fox? Or if it were possible, would you have them banned from your garden?

I find foxes intriguing; but not everyone feels the same. Shabana Ahmed from Evington Drive told me, “They don't bother me too much, apart from leaving their mark in the garden.”

Kauser Patel made a valid point, “Because people leave out food for pets and birds, or excessively overfill bins, rats come along. Foxes help to keep the rat population down.”

A helpful tip is to make sure your outdoor pets are safely secured away from visiting foxes.

Photos: Jane Ushwell