§ Mr. RosindellTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what methods of controlling the fox population her Department will recommend if the Hunting Bill receives Royal Assent. [133476]
§ Alun MichaelThe Department's advice on fox control will remain unchanged if the Hunting Bill receives Royal Assent (assuming that it does so in its current form).
At present, shooting is the recommended method of fox control in rural areas. Snaring, which is also an effective technique when used by experienced personnel, may have advantages over shooting in certain situations.
Lethal control is not generally recommended in urban areas. Killing or relocating foxes usually only provides transient relief from the problems foxes cause, as vacant territories are rapidly reoccupied once the control measures cease. In addition, shooting and snaring are unlikely to be appropriate control methods for reasons of safety, and in the case of shooting, public disturbance. Advice on alternative strategies for preventing problems is given in the Department's "Urban Fox" leaflet (code WMO8) which is available from the Defra website (www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/vertebrates).