Delighted by visitors

HUGH Neve (Gazette letters, October 8) clearly dislikes foxes in his garden, but he has chosen to live in the fox's territory, as Oakcroft Gardens is close to the only open space in Littlehampton.
By The Newsroom
Published 22nd Oct 2009, 13:03 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 00:57 BST

Foxes have been pushed out of the nearby Toddington development and we might like to remember that we are all invaders of the habitat wild animals have enjoyed for thousands of years.

Foxes will not post a danger for cats as, generally, they get on well, and in a dispute, a cat's claws outgun a fox's paws, and they can practically turn themselves inside out in any fight.

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Mr Neve is also mistaken in saying the vixen is "always expecting". Foxes have their young only in late February/early March and the young go their own way in August, leaving things much quieter.

However, for the fussy gardener, there are a number of products available to deter foxes '“ ammonium suplhate-based deterrents are readily available in garden centres, as are ultrasound devices.

Lawns can be protected by naturally killing the grubs such as

leatherjackets and chafer grubs, which are attractive to foxes, with the use of a nematode-based product made by Nemasys.

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There are even small gadgets that fit on the end of a garden hose and spurt a small amount of water as an animal passes by.

However, I know many people are delighted by having foxes in their garden, and good for them!

Simon Wild

West Sussex Wildlife Protection

PO Box 3058

Littlehampton

* All letters to the editor must include a name and address, which can be withheld by request

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Related topics:Foxes