Urban fox-dumping a 'rural myth'

It has been claimed urban foxes have been dumped in rural Wales

An MP's claim that urban foxes are being collected from English towns and cities and dumped live in rural Wales has been called a "rural myth".

Conservative MP Michael Fabricant claimed he was told of the practice by "numerous" people in Wales.

The Lichfield MP has tabled Commons questions on the issue to Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett.

But John Bryant, a wildlife consultant specialising in urban foxes, said: "I just don't think it happens."

Mr Bryant said he was offering a reward of £1,000 for hard evidence that the dumping of urban foxes was taking place.

I can say that it is a widely held belief in rural Wales and elsewhere that urban foxes are being shipped into country areas Michael Fabricant MP

He added: "This is a rural myth and arises only when anti-hunting stories are in the news.

"I have looked into dozens of these claims from Scotland to Cornwall and have found no evidence that they are true.

"It is surprising that in all these so-called cases, no one has ever managed to get the registration numbers of the pick-up trucks which are supposed to ship these foxes from one part of the country to the other.

"Nor (have they) even been able to produce evidence leading to the identity of the phantom fox dumpers."

'Strong hold'

Mr Bryant commented after Mr Fabricant tabled questions in the Commons after saying he had been told by people in Wales that farmers were having their sheep, poultry and pets savaged by the foxes.

Mr Fabricant will ask Mrs Beckett whether her department believes that such practices exist.

Mr Fabricant said: "I can say that it is a widely held belief in rural Wales and elsewhere that urban foxes are being shipped into country areas.

"If it is a myth, then it has got a strong hold on the community. In Wales, numerous people have told me that they are aware of this practice.

"I am now slightly sceptical about this, but if it does exist - as people seem convinced it does - then it cannot be allowed to continue."

Meanwhile, Welsh First Minister Rhodri Morgan has said that farmers in Wales should still be allowed to use dogs to hunt foxes on their land.

Mr Morgan told the Welsh assembly: "I have always been in favour of allowing farmers to use dogs, not for the sake of sport, but for purposes of controlling the fox population."

He said he believed this form of hunting would still be allowed under legislation currently being discussed in Westminster.

South Wales East Conservative AM William Graham added: "You will recall that this assembly agreed that any decision to ban hunting with dogs should take place here."

Mr Morgan said he had written to the UK Government when the hunting legislation was being drawn up asking that the decision on any ban in Wales be made in the assembly.

He told AMs the UK Government said that this would be impossible as many hunts operated on both side of the English-Welsh border.

But he said he appreciated the "different patterns of hunting in Wales" including the greater use of gun packs.

He added: "As far as I am aware the bill is worded to allow this."