Response from Wikipedia (translated by DeepL): "Hunters accuse the fox of competing with them by preying on small game, such as rabbits, partridges and pheasants. Renowned as a ‘chicken thief’, it is also accused by farmers of preying on free-range poultry flocks.
Fox conservationists, however, argue that the fox is merely taking advantage of ‘farmed game’ released by the hunters themselves, which then constitutes easy prey as it is unable to defend itself in the wild. They also argue that the fox’s role in attacks on farmed poultry, whilst real, is overestimated compared with that of other predators such as birds of prey. Furthermore, the fox is said to be an opportunist, targeting only poorly protected henhouses. The predominance of meadow voles in their diet makes them beneficial to crops, as the proliferation of these rodents is responsible for quantifiable damage to agricultural and forestry production. According to various sources, a fox’s predation on voles saves the agricultural sector between €2,400 and €3,000 a year, and as much as €3,800 in cereal-growing regions."
8 comments
Keith Burton said:
Typo93 replied to Keith Burton:
"Hunters accuse the fox of competing with them by preying on small game, such as rabbits, partridges and pheasants. Renowned as a ‘chicken thief’, it is also accused by farmers of preying on free-range poultry flocks.
Fox conservationists, however, argue that the fox is merely taking advantage of ‘farmed game’ released by the hunters themselves, which then constitutes easy prey as it is unable to defend itself in the wild. They also argue that the fox’s role in attacks on farmed poultry, whilst real, is overestimated compared with that of other predators such as birds of prey. Furthermore, the fox is said to be an opportunist, targeting only poorly protected henhouses. The predominance of meadow voles in their diet makes them beneficial to crops, as the proliferation of these rodents is responsible for quantifiable damage to agricultural and forestry production. According to various sources, a fox’s predation on voles saves the agricultural sector between €2,400 and €3,000 a year, and as much as €3,800 in cereal-growing regions."
Madeleine Defawes said:
Bon dimanche. Amitiés
Keith Burton replied to Typo93:
Dominique 60 said:
Don Sutherland said:
William Sutherland said:
Stefani Wehner said: