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Giant fox caught in Maidstone
A giant fox, that is twice the size of a normal specimen, has been captured in Kent, sparking fears that the animals are growing larger because of ‘easy living’ on bins and scraps.
By Louise Gray, Environment Correspondent 5:37PM GMT 02 Jan 2011
The male fox weighed two stone or 26.5lb and was four foot long, about the height of a seven-year-old child.
Seven-year-old Archie Wright stands next to the 26lb fox shot in Maidstone
The giant fox was captured and killed in Maidstone after a cat in the local neighbourhood was killed.
It was trapped in a cage and put down in a humane way by Keith Talbot, a local vet.
He said foxes had been seen around his parents house days after their 19-year-old tabby cat was found killed on the doorstep.
Zoologists and experts said foxes said foxes could be growing bigger because of ‘easy pickings’ of food scraps in dust bins or even left out by animal lovers.
A dog fox will often grow bigger than the rest of the pack because the social system means the alpha male gets most of the food and the rest get leftovers.
There are thought to be at least 34,000 urban foxes in Britain.
Recently there has been concerns the animals could pose a threat after twins Isabella and Lola Kouparis were attacked in their beds in London.
However animal rights campaigners point out that most foxes live on insects and small mammals and pose no harm to humans unless they are frightened.
The Field sports Channel is offering £100 for the best story of the largest fox.
One taker has come forward with claims he shot a fox weighting 34lb in 2009, although this has not been confirmed with photographic evidence.
