THE population of foxes in Croydon is increasing, says a pest controller who revealed he is being called out daily to deal with the animals. Paul Bates, managing director of Cleankill Pest Control, spoke to the Advertiser this week in the wake of a fox attack on month-old Denny Dolan, as he slept in his cot on the Downham estate in Bromley.
Mr Bates said: "As a Kenley resident and a pest controller, I have seen the numbers of foxes rise.
"We get at least a couple of enquiries a day regarding foxes, and often we will just give the residents advice as opposed to killing the foxes.
"We will have to in special circumstances, where one particular fox is causing a real nuisance.
"But there is no doubt in my mind that more and more foxes are about, because I see them pulling my rubbish apart on a Sunday night."
The attack on the baby has sparked calls for a cull in some quarters, and London mayor Boris Johnson called on the capital's councils to tackle the problem of foxes.
"This must serve as a wake-up call to London's borough leaders, who are responsible for pest control," he said.
But any suggestion of a widespread cull has been dismissed by locals the Advertiser spoke to this week.
John Jefkins, of Norfolk Avenue in Sanderstead, who says he saw his cat killed by a fox last summer, said: "I accept that our situation was a rare one, foxes do not normally go around attacking babies or cats, but a particular fox family in our area had learnt to do so and were causing havoc.
"I think in very exceptional cases a small cull is suitable, but should be done in a humane way by an expert.
"People should also be very careful when putting out their recycling and make sure they didn't feed the foxes, whether on purpose or otherwise."
Greater London Assembly member Steve O'Connell added: "I am an animal lover and if my cat was attacked or killed by a fox I would be horrified. But I can't see that I would support a cull.
"However, people should not encourage foxes.
"They are starving and that is why we are seeing more of them. But I cannot see enough evidence for a cull."
Toby Fulker, the manager of The Fox pub in Coulsdon, was similarly sympathetic and said: "Foxes can be a pest, but so can all animals. No one should hurt the foxes."
