Vulpes vulpes seems to divide opinion more than any other creature in London. His wily ways either enchant or enrage the human population, so much so that the question of fox hunting has become a key issue in the latest general election. Even throughout history the red fox has been a controversial figure - Reynard the Fox, for example, is cunning villain of medieval literature that provoked reluctant admiration.
In modern times, the red fox is split into two distinct yet meaningless entities in people's minds - the country and the urban fox. Although they are the same species, people often respond with a misty-eyed romanticism to one and a vengeful hatred for the other.
The anti-urban fox league will refer to bin raiding, talk of mange and disease, and claim that London will soon succumb to a fox invasion. They point to articles about foxes attacking babies and believe getting pest control out is the only solution. Yet most of what fuels their hatred is a mere myth.
The facts are these:
The fox, being an adaptable opportunist, won't hesitate in tearing open a bin bag to get at discarded scraps of food, but this only accounts for 35% of his diet. The other 65% consists of pigeon and rat, a figure that would likely go up if we changed our bin behaviour. Fox-haters can choose - one gentleman or woman performing pest control, or a plethora of other pests in your garden?
In 2013, Boris Johnson attacked the dapper ginger, saying he'd bring fox hunting to London if he could and encouraging Londoners to call out pest control to deal with the 'growing problem'. If Boris had done his research, however, he'd know this was terribly bad advice. A solitary soul, the red fox commands his own territory. If he happens to be out-foxed by pest control, another fox will make himself at home very quickly in the same spot. You'd be fighting a losing, bloody battle (repellent is far more effective and, smelly as foxes are, he'd rather not get stale human urine on his orange suit.)
There is a perpetuated myth that foxes only began inhabiting our towns and cities in the 1990's - as if they suddenly decided to move in. They actually started colonising our towns and cities in the 1930s, as our urban and suburban areas began to sprawl into their territory. While urban fox numbers have quadrupled in the last 20 years, there is a chance that it is merely the population recovering after a catastrophic outbreak of sarcoptic mange in the 90s.
In fact, fox numbers in total have been declining rapidly since 2010. As cocky and confident they might look trotting about our streets at night, a glimpse of a fox could become an increasingly rare sight, perhaps one exclusive to city. As the UK's second largest predator after the badger, he plays an important part in our ecosystem and his sly stealthy ways deserves some respect.