Foxes on Lewis and Harris

[Mark43]

Courtesy of the Daily Telegraph

Foxes have been seen for the first time in what was one of the remaining fox-free areas of Britain, a chain of islands 40 miles from the mainland.

Several recent sightings have been reported on Lewis and Harris in the Western Isles, where their presence could threaten rare birds and other wildlife.

Scientists who have been trying to rid the islands of non-native mink and hedgehogs fear the fox could pose a new problem.

In addition to threatening ground-nesting birds, they could also target hens and lambs on island crofts.

Islanders have been asked to report sightings to the environment agency Scottish Natural Heritage, which is mystified by the appearance of the animal.

A spokesman said: "We do not know if we are talking about one fox, or a small number of them. But if foxes became established in the Western Isles it would be a major concern.

"It is impossible for them to have reached here under their own steam. They were either brought in, or managed to hide on a lorry bringing, for instance, hay. We just don't know."

It is also possible that foxes, or a single fox, may have been brought to the islands and deliberately released after being captured in a city.

The agency has already had half a dozen reported sightings.

One of those was by Dr Sugoto Roy, who has been leading a project to eradicate the non-native mink, which escaped from fur farms.

Large sums of money have also been spent trying to rid the islands of hedgehogs because of their damaging effect on ground-nesting birds in North and South Uist.

Interesting.........wonder how they got there and what the local wildlife will think of there arrival.

Any thoughts?

[Words]

Mark

I hadn't heard about that. I can't imagine it will be too good for local wildlife. A single fox won't do much harm but if they are breeding they will establish themselves pretty quickly.

Hopefully they can capture and relocate if they get to them early.

[Alan]

Interesting article. It's probably best if it's caught though. Of course it may not be a fox, maybe the red beast of lewis! Dispite all the efforts to control hedgehogs, mink and other bird predators, I wonder how many cats there are on the islands!!!