Fox-hunting — conflicting attitudes between urban dwellers and farmers

A seven-week-old vixen fox cub. Foxes are not a protected species here so they can be legally shot and trapped — though it is illegal to poison them. Picture: Chris Radburn/PA Wire

Moves to ban fox-hunting in Ireland are showing up sharply conflicting attitudes between urban dwellers and farmers.

Some city and town folk feed wild foxes, in effect inviting them to their backyards and virtually treating them like visiting 'pets', while their farmer cousins see foxes as a pest.

Dublin-based People Before Profit TD Ruth Coppinger tried to introduce a bill to the Dáil to ban fox-hunting, but this move was vehemently opposed by two TDs from rural constituencies, Danny Healy-Rae and Michael Collins, Kerry and West Cork respectively.

Ruth Coppinger outside Leinster House on November 12 campaigning to ban fox hunting. Picture: SAM BOAL/Collins Photos

She is calling for a free vote on her bill on December 17 — so TDs who want to protect foxes should not have to follow their party leadership on this issue.

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Our fox population has expanded. In their 2019 book, Exploring Irish Mammals, Tom Hayden and Rory Harrington estimated fox numbers here at between 150,000 and 200,000.

Sheep farmers see foxes as an enemy of lambs. From time immemorial, foxes target domestic fowl, but could sometimes be wrongly blamed for attacks: in more recent times, mink are also attracted to the henhouse, as highlighted recently in this space.

The wolf, a natural fox predator, has long since disappeared from our shores and, nowadays, introduced eagles are seen as predators. However, given their limited numbers, eagles are unlikely to have a significant impact on the fox population.

Ruth Coppinger: "Thank you to two farmers who’ve produced this beautiful booklet yet practical guide about foxes and farmers. [Facebook: Stand With Foxes]They make the point that foxes rarely kill lambs — dogs are a much bigger threat.  Lobby your TDs now to support my Bill on December 17. Protect our native species. Contact [e-mail] for more info."

And, be sure of one thing — any moves to bring back wolves would be strongly opposed by many of the people who also see the fox as an enemy!

As foxes are not a protected species, they can be legally shot and trapped — though it is illegal to poison them. Farmers tell us that shooting is probably the most effective way to control the population.

Indisputably, the doughty fox is a great survivor. Decades ago, at the height of a commercial campaign to kill foxes for their pelts, there were stark warnings the species would be wiped out. And look where we are now!

Foxes breed prolifically and a vixen can have five cubs per year, which reach adulthood in about eight months.

In ideal conditions, a fox can live for 10 years, but most only last for two, or three. Road deaths, hunting and disease are the main causes of mortality, according to the National Biodiversity Data Centre.

A Red C opinion poll, commissioned six years ago by the Irish Council Against Blood Sports, indicated 77% believe fox hunting should be banned, with 74% of people polled in rural areas agreeing with a such a prohibition. Fox-hunting has already been banned in Britain.

After years of campaigning for a ban on live hare coursing in Ireland, a compromise was reached in that greyhounds must now be muzzled in legal coursing events.

Eventually, fox-hunting will be outlawed here… with a compromise solution again most likely.