Increase in urban foxes ‘causing problems’
Dublin South West Fine Gael TD Colm Brophy asked Minister for Rural Affairs Heather Humphreys if her department had conducted a census of urban foxes and if it has any plan to address this issue.
Ms Humphreys said the fox is one of the most common and widely distributed mammals in Ireland.
She has responsibilities under the Wildlife Acts relating to the conservation and management of populations of certain wild animals.
But she has no regulatory role in relation to foxes, as they are not a protected species under those acts.
Ms Humphreys said foxes are widespread and, like all wild animals, their populations fluctuate naturally. No national census of urban foxes had been undertaken.
“However, data collated on the National Biodiversity Data Centre’s website shows that foxes are found in every county of Ireland and have adapted to the urban and suburban landscape,” said Ms Humphreys.
She said her department has no plans to introduce measures to control fox populations in urban areas. Control of foxes in such areas is generally not considered to be effective.
