Fears have been aroused that giant foxes are roaming Britain after a giant one was caught in Maidstone, Kent.
The male urban fox weighed two stones, was four foot long and was twice the size of a normal fox.
It was captured in a trap and killed humanely by a vet after a cat was killed, most likely by a fox.
Experts believe urban foxes could be growing bigger because of ‘easy pickings’ of food scraps in dust bins or even left out by animal lovers.
A TV channel, The Field Sports Channel, which is dedicated to British hunting, shooting and fishing, is offering £100 for the best story of the largest fox.
The UK's fox population is at an all-time high and still growing. There are thought to be 34,000 of them living in urban areas alone.
And many of them have posed a danger to the public, especially children. In June 2010, a fox crept into a home through the back door in Hackney, east London, went upstairs and mauled nine-month old twins Lola and Isabella Koupparis, leaving them with arm and facial injuries. Thankfully, they survived.
A fox was also responsible for a previous child mauling in 2002 when Kent woman Sue Eastwood's baby boy, Louis, was attacked in their house while she slept.
Louis, who was only 14 weeks old, suffered bite marks to his head after the animal crept into the sitting room in Dartford, Kent.
Giant fox caught in Maidstone
By Louise Gray,
Environment Correspondent
02 Jan 2011
The Telegraph
A giant fox, that is twice the size of a normal specimen, has been captured in Kent, sparking fears that the animals are growing larger because of ‘easy living’ on bins and scraps.
The male fox weighed two stones, or 26.5lb, and was four foot long, about the height of a seven-year-old child.
Seven-year-old Archie Wright stands next to the 26lb fox shot in Maidstone
The giant fox was captured and killed in Maidstone after a cat in the local neighbourhood was killed.
It was trapped in a cage and put down in a humane way by Keith Talbot, a local vet.
He said foxes had been seen around his parents' house days after their 19-year-old tabby cat was found killed on the doorstep.
Zoologists and experts said foxes could be growing bigger because of ‘easy pickings’ of food scraps in dust bins or even left out by animal lovers.
A dog fox will often grow bigger than the rest of the pack because the social system means the alpha male gets most of the food and the rest get leftovers.
There are thought to be at least 34,000 urban foxes in Britain.
Recently there has been concerns the animals could pose a threat after twins Isabella and Lola Koupparis were attacked in their beds in London.
However animal rights campaigners point out that most foxes live on insects and small mammals and pose no harm to humans unless they are frightened.
The Field Sports Channel is offering £100 for the best story of the largest fox. One taker has come forward with claims he shot a fox weighting 34lb in 2009, although this has not been confirmed with photographic evidence.
telegraph.co.uk
The male urban fox weighed two stones, was four foot long and was twice the size of a normal fox.
It was captured in a trap and killed humanely by a vet after a cat was killed, most likely by a fox.
Experts believe urban foxes could be growing bigger because of ‘easy pickings’ of food scraps in dust bins or even left out by animal lovers.
A TV channel, The Field Sports Channel, which is dedicated to British hunting, shooting and fishing, is offering £100 for the best story of the largest fox.
The UK's fox population is at an all-time high and still growing. There are thought to be 34,000 of them living in urban areas alone.
And many of them have posed a danger to the public, especially children. In June 2010, a fox crept into a home through the back door in Hackney, east London, went upstairs and mauled nine-month old twins Lola and Isabella Koupparis, leaving them with arm and facial injuries. Thankfully, they survived.
A fox was also responsible for a previous child mauling in 2002 when Kent woman Sue Eastwood's baby boy, Louis, was attacked in their house while she slept.
Louis, who was only 14 weeks old, suffered bite marks to his head after the animal crept into the sitting room in Dartford, Kent.
Giant fox caught in Maidstone
By Louise Gray,
Environment Correspondent
02 Jan 2011
The Telegraph
A giant fox, that is twice the size of a normal specimen, has been captured in Kent, sparking fears that the animals are growing larger because of ‘easy living’ on bins and scraps.
The male fox weighed two stones, or 26.5lb, and was four foot long, about the height of a seven-year-old child.
Seven-year-old Archie Wright stands next to the 26lb fox shot in Maidstone
The giant fox was captured and killed in Maidstone after a cat in the local neighbourhood was killed.
It was trapped in a cage and put down in a humane way by Keith Talbot, a local vet.
He said foxes had been seen around his parents' house days after their 19-year-old tabby cat was found killed on the doorstep.
Zoologists and experts said foxes could be growing bigger because of ‘easy pickings’ of food scraps in dust bins or even left out by animal lovers.
A dog fox will often grow bigger than the rest of the pack because the social system means the alpha male gets most of the food and the rest get leftovers.
There are thought to be at least 34,000 urban foxes in Britain.
Recently there has been concerns the animals could pose a threat after twins Isabella and Lola Koupparis were attacked in their beds in London.
However animal rights campaigners point out that most foxes live on insects and small mammals and pose no harm to humans unless they are frightened.
The Field Sports Channel is offering £100 for the best story of the largest fox. One taker has come forward with claims he shot a fox weighting 34lb in 2009, although this has not been confirmed with photographic evidence.
telegraph.co.uk
