of mice, mosquitoes and foxes in the night by Sonyl Varma

Why do the foxes run off with the food I give them?įoxes cache their food (bury it to consume later), hiding it fast before some other animal takes it. No, there is still plenty for them to eat, but if you want to give the foxes some extra food, then do. Do foxes have trouble finding food in bad weather? It may be strange but urban foxes frequently eat peanuts, bird seed, and other food put out on bird tables. It's best not to put out large amounts of food every night, If you don't feed them, there are plenty of other food sources around. This could encourage them approach strangers for food, a situation that should no be encouraged.

They won't become dependent on you, but if foxes are fed heavily and regularly they can be come over-confident and less wary of people. Foxes also like other savoury items such as cheese, table scraps, bread soaked in fat, fruit and cooked vegetables. However, be aware that anything you put out for foxes could equally be taken by dogs, cats and other wildlife. Being carnivores, they like cooked or raw meat and tinned pet food. This will help ensure you do attract unwanted visitors, such as rats or cause a nuisance to your neighbours. In particular, don't put out excessive amounts of food and clear away any uneaten food.

If you want to, yes lots of people feed foxes, either regularly or occasionally, and get a great deal of enjoyment from doing so, but please be aware they are wild animals - feed and watch them, but don't try and tame them.

Most of the birds they eat are feral pigeons and small garden birds, and the most frequently eaten mammals are generally field voles, abundant on allotments, railway lines and other grassy areas. Insects include large numbers of beetles, cut worms (the larvae of noctuid moths, which they get off lawns on wet nights), and both larval and adult craneflies. They have very varied diet, Urban foxes eat earthworms, insects, fruit and vegetables and a wide variety of both domestic wild birds and mammals. We know more about urban foxes in Britain than we do about their rural counterparts and have compiled answers to the most common questions we are asked about our fantastic furry friends. Wherever you live in Birmingham and the Black Country, you probably have at least one fox visiting your garden.

This is not based upon their mythical cunning, but rather their ability to adapt to a range of changing conditions. Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) have made a success of living with people.

Of mice, mosquitoes and foxes in the night by Sonyl Varma