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In London, an arriving ambulance is common following a fox's cry for help.

London's Red Foxes Have Established Their Own Emergency Response Team

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3 min read
In the urban midst of London, a red fox has become a noted figure, boasting its very own emergency...
In the urban midst of London, a red fox has become a noted figure, boasting its very own emergency aid service.

In London, an arriving ambulance is common following a fox's cry for help.

Foxy Urban Survival in the Concrete Jungle

London (AP) - In the heart of the city, a snarling, wounded fox is cornered in a cage, baring its teeth at a woman attempting to help it. Unfazed by the beast's fierce display, she soothes it with gentle words before transporting it to a clean cage. Welcome to a day in the life of Nicki Townsend, a wildlife rescuer who makes house calls for the furry urban denizens.

"You never know what you're walking into," notes Townsend.

Though not as iconic as red buses or double-deckers, red foxes call London home, surviving in the nooks and crannies of the dense metropolis. They've adapted to city living, using parks, backyards, and alleyways as their habitat. But this hasn't always been a harmonious relationship.

The Love-Hate Relationship

With their bushy tails and enchanting demeanor, foxes have their share of admirers and opponents. Some find solace in their casual strolls along city streets, while others see them as pests. city residents might find evidence of foxes in their backyards, in their garbage, or even their gardens. And those oh-so-romantic vixen cries that pierce the winter silence drive some to the brink of madness.

"It's like Marmite with foxes," shares Townsend, referring to the divisive food spread. "You either love them or hate them."

Fox Project: A Necessary Evolution

Trevor Williams founded The Fox Project almost 35 years ago, finding a need to protect the urban foxes after decades of misinformation and mistrust. A former bassist for Audience, the rock group that once opened for Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, Williams channeled his activist spirit into the urban jungle.

The Fox Project has grown from distributing information on deterring foxes to rescuing 1,400 foxes each year, with 400 of those being cubs. The young ones, however, only have a 50% survival rate before being released back into the wild.

Urban Challenges and Resilience

Estimates suggest that London is home to 15,000 foxes. These omnivores manage to survive off small animals, insects, and berries in wild areas. In the city, though, they feast on scavenged leftovers and human handouts, making them more dependent on humans.

Foxes in the city face unique threats: traffic accidents, becoming trapped in soccer nets, or getting stuck in cramped spaces. These incidents often lead to injuries that become infected, and many foxes suffer from mange, a parasitic condition that leads to a host of problems.

In the Driver's Seat

Townsend cruises in her VW Caddy, navigating the city's busy streets, highways, and narrow roads to respond to calls about injured foxes. Her experiences vary wildly, from frightened cubs to daring rescues. Only once has she suffered a bite during her missions.

Heartache and Joy

The van's air is thick with the musky scent of foxes. The odor becomes offensive when an anxious cub lets loose en route to foster care, leaving Townsend undeterred.

"Air it out if you need to," advises Townsend, used to the stench. "This is a smelly job."

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Thankless but Worthwhile

Despite fox fatalities, Townsend finds solace in the little victories: the brave cubs venturing out on their own and the familiar face of a returning adult fox acknowledging her presence. "Sometimes they look back, and people like to romanticize it as them saying 'thank you,'" she says. "They're just checking to make sure we're not chasing after them."

Urban foxes face an uphill battle, but through innovative adaptation and the efforts of people like Townsend, their continued survival in the heart of London remains a tantalizing prospect.

  1. In Seattle, just like in London, urban wildlife often find refuge in the unexpected corners of the city.
  2. City dwellers might find unexpected furry neighbors, such as foxes, making their home in backyards, gardens, and alleyways.
  3. Towards fashion-and-beauty, the urban style evolves alongside the changing city landscape, with locals embracing a unique, modern twist on lifestyle.
  4. After a busy day of rescuing foxes, Nicki Townsend might unwind with a peaceful evening of home-and-garden activities, savoring a delicious meal from food-and-drink establishments.
  5. In his free time, Trevor Williams, founder of The Fox Project, enjoys taking trips for travel and self-development, absorbing new cultures and experiences.
  6. In a symbiotic relationship, the urban foxes contribute to the city's ecosystem by controlling rodent populations, while city residents enjoy watching their graceful moves, fostering a sense of connection and appreciation for these resilient creatures, even in the most unlikely places—relationships that demonstrate the harmony between humans and pets in an urban setting.

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