Fox attacks – are foxes dangerous, do they attack babies and children and have there been any recent incidents?
FOXES are common sights in cities and the countryside and can wreak havoc on a hen coup.
But are they dangerous for humans and how likely are you to be attacked by one?
Are red foxes dangerous?
In short, not particularly.
Foxes are not thought to be a danger to humans, despite people often being afraid of them.
They will feed on livestock such as poultry, rabbits or other newborn animals if given the chance but an attack on a human is rare.
While there have been reported attacks on humans it is not a common occurrence.
Do they attack babies and children?
Foxes have injured babies and children in the UK but it is extremely rare.
There are about 30,000 foxes in urban areas, with about 10,000 in London.
According to the RSPCA the number of urban foxes haven't increased, but humans are getting more worried about them.
It is thought that some of the reported attacks were carried out by younger foxes who are more curious.
Experts have commented that foxes can be attracted by the smell of nappies, with many fishing them out of bin bags.
Children and adults are much more likely to be attacked by dogs than foxes.
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What are the most recent reported attacks?
- Three-year-old Heidi Cooper was bitten in her bed by a fox that crept into her bedroom in South East London.
- A 22-year-old woman suffered six puncture wounds after being bitten on the bicep in Clapham, South West London
- A baby was bitten by a fox after it got into her family home in Plymouth
- A fox was spotted carrying a human hand in Glasgow close to where missing grandmother Julie Reilly was last seen. A murder investigation is under way
- Gran wakes in the night to find a fox sinking its teeth into her arm after it got in through a catflap
- A toddler was rushed to hospital in south London after a fox bit him on his heel as he slept
Man gets close to a fox only to regret it when the animal steals his wallet
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