Experts put fox attacks on humans in perspective

Jun 9 2010 by Tony Henderson, The Journal

Environment Editor TONY HENDERSON on why we shouldn’t go to town on urban foxes

AN ATTACK on two London babies by an urban fox has brought a new spectre to haunt parents’ nightmares.

Lola and Isabella Koupparis, aged nine months, were found crying and covered in blood after the fox went into their upstairs bedroom and attacked them in their cots in Hackney, east London.

The girls’ mother described the incident as being “like a living nightmare” while London mayor Boris Johnson called on councils in the capital to “focus on their duties for pest control”.

But according to wildlife experts in the North East, there is almost no threat from the region’s populations of urban foxes, with domestic pets far more likely to injure children.

Mike Pratt, chief executive of Northumberland Wildlife Trust, said: “We need to keep this in perspective.”

He said the fox attack compared with 1,500 cases of serious injuries caused to people by domestic dogs over the last 10 years.

“We have more to fear from dogs, with whom we live in very close proximity,” he said. “Foxes are opportunistic predators and part of nature, and are not naturally aggressive.

“What is said to have happened in London is a very rare event. Foxes have lived in urban areas for a long time and no one should be fearful.”

He said foxes were naturally very cautious and wary of people, moving away as soon as they sight humans.

“What may have happened in London is that a fox may have become very familiar with people but that is very rare.”

He said the London fox may have entered the home looking for food and panicked after being frightened. It was highly unlikely the fox regarded the children as prey.

“The diet of foxes consists of rodents like mice and rats, rabbits, earthworms and insects,” said Mr Pratt.