§ Mr. BradyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate his Department has made of the growth of the urban fox population in the United Kingdom over the last 30 years. [22820]
§ Angela EagleReliable data are not available before 1980. Since 1980, detailed population surveys were undertaken in nine English towns and form the results of these surveys the predicted urban fox population in 1994 was estimated at 33,000, made up of 30,000 for England, 2,900 for Scotland and 100 for Wales.
A study in 1987 showed that urban foxes tend to be self-regulating, and it also indicated that they have little effect on rural populations, with low net emigration. Recently, the decline in reported sightings suggests that the number of urban foxes has fallen in some cities.
§ Mr. BradyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the public health risks which arise from urban fox populations. [22822]
§ Angela EagleThere are very few health risks resulting from urban fox populations, and there is very little cause for concern.
Foxes in theory could transmit certain infections, such as toxocariasis, hydatid disease or pasteurellosis to man. However, from the limited data available, it is evident that foxes have not been implicated in any cases of these diseases among humans.
There is currently no rabies in the terrestrial mammal population of the British Isles.