Are foxes a health hazard?
The Council receives a significant number of enquiries regarding the fox and its bad habits. Complaints are mainly centred on their nocturnal screaming, digging of flower beds and lawns, overturning and rifling of dustbins, smell from their excreta and their effect on family pets.
Undoubtedly, if you do have a large number of unwanted visits to your garden or house they can be a nuisance, but this must be put into context. A recent survey in Bristol showed that only 2.7% of households had their dustbins rifled. Indeed, many complaints about foxes are the work of cats, squirrels, badgers, birds and dogs, but foxes often get the blame.
However, foxes are associated with more serious problems which must be guarded against to avoid disease transmission. Any wild animal is likely to be a harbour for parasites and the fox is no exception. Foxes do suffer from mange which can be transmitted to domestic dogs and causes scabies in man.
Toxicaris canis, the lungworm of the dog, also resides in the fox. This parasite, which can be found in both dog and fox faeces, has been associated with blindness in children who inadvertently contaminate themselves. Whilst of great concern, it must be emphasised that there have been no documented cases of blindness attributable to the fox and that generally they are clean animals.
Foxes are often associated with nuisance but they do some good. More harmful creatures such as rats and mice are kept under control and garden pests such as craneflies, slugs and caterpillars are also reduced by the foxes' dietary tastes. The role of foxes in the control of pests and vermin is frequently understated and fox control may in turn create problems and not reduce them.
If you would like any further information please contact us on 01329 236100 or e-mail regulatory@fareham.gov.uk.
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