VOTE: Sharp rise in foxes across Littlehampton and Rustington
PEOPLE living in Littlehampton and Rustington have been forced to turn their homes into fortresses to protect themselves from a “plague” of foxes.
Across the area people have been shocked by the steep and sudden rise in foxes patrolling their streets at night.
Robert Watson, of The Bramblings, Rustington, said he had been “plagued” by foxes for several months and had resorted to barricading his garden with rubbish, in an attempt to deter them.
He said: “They’re a bloody nuisance and I haven’t got the faintest idea what to do next.
“I know of one family that has had 20 killed in their garden already, but there’s no sign the culling has had any effect on the number of foxes in our streets.
“They’re so brazen and confident now. They invade our garden and roam around the street without a care in the world. Even blocking off my side alleyway with garden rubbish hasn’t worked.
“We’re now too scared to let our grandchildren play in the garden because we don’t know what might happen to them.”
Robert added that some neighbours down the road had even reported foxes jumping onto roofs.
Pam Gunn, 78, of Mariners Walk, Rustington, described the foxes in her road as a “menace”, and claimed the problem was down to people openly leaving food for them.
Littlehampton has also seen a rise in the fox population.
Penny Wells, of Townsend Crescent, said: “We worry about our dog in the garden at night because she is only a little Jack Russell. The foxes often keep the children awake or wake them up if they were asleep.
“The children get worried because it sounds like screaming.”
Angie Brown, of St Mary’s Close, Littlehampton, was concerned about the health and safety issues foxes presented.
Staff in Arun District Council’s environmental health department said they were unaware of any fox problems in Rustington and Littlehampton, adding that foxes were not covered by the pest control service as they were not classed as vermin.
Steve Walsh, owner of Walsh Pest Control, in Littlehampton, advised people not to feed foxes.
He said: “It’s not the foxes’ fault. At the end of the day, we are encroaching on their land.
“But encouraging them into the streets by feeding them will only make the situation worse. It’s best to leave all your rubbish and leftovers in a secure wheelie bin. You should also make sure that all cat flaps are locked and secured as foxes regularly enter homes this way.”
What do you think? Should councils be doing more to curb the growing number of foxes in Rustington and Littlehampton? Cast your vote in the panel to the right of the screen, and leave your comments below.
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Wednesday 23 May 2012
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Comments
There are 4 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
animal addict
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 at 11:22 PMThis week,I heard the pitiful cries of a young fox caught in some netting at the back of the garage, and whilst pacifing the frightened animal,cut it free. Regularly foxes are seen in our neighbourhood, and they are on the look out for food, and they do find a constant supply of rubbish that is left disgarded, in this disposable world we live in. Soceity is to blame for this apparent "increase" in foxes. The countryside has changed, due to building or housing or roads, which have meant foxes have had to relocate to where the nearest food source is. I find it unbelievable that in the current climate of economic instability,recent riots and the hostility of wars and famine abroad, that small minded people have little else to do than worry about foxes. Shame on you!
maverickmum05
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 at 11:11 AMWhy is it the poor old Fox that gets the blame ? people who leave there Rubbish out long before the Bin men are due, they find Rubbish sacks ripped open, bloody foxes again. In this country we are innocent until proven guilty. It cant possibly be the local cats ? or RATS yes believe me they are out there has big as cats, or the sea Gulls who love to get their beaks into a black rubbish sack. If Humans did not trash THEIR countryside with their rubbish Foxes would not bother to come into town. so if we start culling Foxes, then we must also cull Cats and Rats and sea gulls and then thoughtless humans. PROBLEM SOLVED.
NatureLover
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 at 02:40 AMPeople really should do their homework before wasting money on "pest" controllers. If you shoot an urban fox then before long another will claim the dead fox's territory. The winner is the one shooting because he's got a job for life. As for every other scaremongering story surrounding these animals, don't believe everything you read. Where's the evidence that the urban fox population is on the increase? And just because a few rat-sized pets have allegedly been killed, that doesn't mean the foxes will eat your kids either!
BubbaRoss
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 at 04:20 PMHere's a thought, don't barricade your garden with rubbish that'll be causing a lot of your problems. Read up about foxes and their habits and stop being so ignorant. Personally I think a few humans need culled before you start on foxes.
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