Hackney Council to cull foxes in Clissold Park

Hackney Council wants to cull foxes in Clissold Park. Photograph: © Kuba Novak

Hackney Council has confirmed it plans to cull “a number of foxes” from the deer enclosure in Clissold Park.

The council says the foxes pose a “severe health risk” to the deer as well as to people visiting Clissold House.

A spokesperson said it has been “advised against” relocating the foxes as this will cause them “high levels of stress” and could lead to the animals suffering a prolonged death.

But John Bryant, an independent wildlife consultant specialising in urban foxes, said the plans were “ridiculous” and had written to Hackney Council to advise them against the plans.

Bryant told the Hackney Citizen: “There will be a cull of foxes in the deer enclosure, but it doesn’t make any sense because they will be living all over the park.  A family of foxes has a territory of 40 acres at least.

“Killing foxes is pointless because in days they are replaced. The council seems to be thinking that they are a danger to the deer. That’s ridiculous , in Richmond Park there are hundreds of deer and plenty of foxes and never have any problems.”

Not a solution

Caroline Allen, a vet and Green Party member, who is a regular visitor to Clissold Park said: “It doesn’t make much sense, they say there is a health risk to people at Clissold House, but it sounds as if they are making it up as they go along.

“Culling doesn’t work. You kill the ones which are there and others will take over. Unless they are dealing with the resource issue, they will probably make things worse and animals will be killed unnecessarily. I just don’t see how this is the solution.”

A spokesperson for Hackney Council said: “Qualified contractors will be humanely trapping and disposing of the foxes in strict accordance with animal welfare guidelines. The trapping is being restricted to the deer enclosure and nowhere else in the park.”

A council spokesman said it did not know the exact number of foxes they were trying to trap.

Clissold Park User Group has been approached for comment.

Hat tip: Hackney Hive