Urban foxes are now a well established part of town life, and are more enjoyed than hated by their human neighbours. This book dispels many urban myths: that foxes will kill cats; that foxes live by rifling dustbins or that they will mate with your dog. Nor are they less healthy than rural foxes, and in fact they live slightly longer lives. They prefer Tory boroughs where large gardens and potting sheds afford them desirable residences. Some even commute into town to feed and back to the suburbs to sleep during the day.
This second edition, originally published in 2001, has been updated up to 2009, and includes much new fascinating information on the social lives of foxes, their serial fathering of cubs and their social interactions. Sadly it also discusses mange, which has hit the famous Bristol fox populations particularly badly. But although this population is down to 10 per cent of previous levels, other cities (Blackpool, Norwich, York and others) have new fox populations.
Stephen Harris is Professor of Environmental Sciences at the University of Bristol. Foxes are his prime interest and he has undertaken extensive fox surveys in numerous cities from Nottingham south to Bournemouth.
Phil Baker has undertaken several specialist studies of foxes throughout rural Britain. He is "resident expert" on Channel 4's "Foxes Live" programme.