To be honest I agree in principle but lots of others feed them on the allotment so I just thought it was a good way to get rid of a bag of unwanted dry cat food. I live in a very urban area near Birmingham and the Black Country so these are urban foxes. I never knew foxes ate rats maybe best to just let them feed on those instead. Thanks for your replies
I'd feed them if you have some spare food. Won't hurt on the odd occasion. I'm sure urban bins are supplying them with more food than people are actively feeding.
I hate grey squirells, but I don't go around the local park telling people to put away their nuts, because feeding wild animals is special, therapeutic and a privilege everyone should be allowed to experience.
I agree it shouldn't become a habit though.
The greenfinch population was devastated a decade ago by a disease spread via feeders. The red kite population is largely sustained via feeding programmes, same with Golden Eagles in Galloway and Sea Eagles on Isle of Wight. Deer population is out of control and we refuse to re-introduce its natural predator to act as a keystone species.
Ecological balance in the UK is non existant. You and your cat biscuits are not going to make a difference.
But @Greenbird... that’s what everyone says ... just once won’t matter ... what difference will my action make? ... and if everyone says that we end up with the current situation that we have in many towns and cities where there are populations of mange-ridden malnourished foxes causing problems and spreading disease ... then what are you going to do with them ... there’s an outcry from the tender hearted if they have to be culled.
As for deer ... the sensible answer is for humans to use them as a food resource ... after all, we are part of the animal kingdom and a top predator ... no need to introduce one ... we’re already here. Properly thought through and managed venison could be a useful source of prime protein in the UK, just as it used to be.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
As someone that has been on the receiving end of a neighbours best intentions. This ended up with vast portions of my garden been dug to cache food. This in turn attracted rats. From what I've seen urban foxes have little interest in vermin, if easy food is ready available. The sad end to this story was when I saw a mother and cub had been killed on a busy road 200 yards from said neighbours house. So whilst intentions may be good, I don't see any upside to this for anyone.
This sets me in mind of the time when Watership Down was at maximum popularity. The sign in the butcher’s shop read ‘You’ve read the book. You’ve seen the film. Now eat the cast.’
Posts
I hate grey squirells, but I don't go around the local park telling people to put away their nuts, because feeding wild animals is special, therapeutic and a privilege everyone should be allowed to experience.
I agree it shouldn't become a habit though.
The greenfinch population was devastated a decade ago by a disease spread via feeders. The red kite population is largely sustained via feeding programmes, same with Golden Eagles in Galloway and Sea Eagles on Isle of Wight. Deer population is out of control and we refuse to re-introduce its natural predator to act as a keystone species.
Ecological balance in the UK is non existant. You and your cat biscuits are not going to make a difference.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
The sad end to this story was when I saw a mother and cub had been killed on a busy road 200 yards from said neighbours house.
So whilst intentions may be good, I don't see any upside to this for anyone.