Went out for a bit of a walk this evening and saw this chap padding around Fitzroy Square. Looks like he'd just come up from a spot of dinner on Charlotte Street. Probably works in the media. There've been foxes in London since the 30s, and I can imagine Fitzroy Square might suit them quite well. People rarely seem to go in there and there's access to quite a bit of open space and food around. Has there been a children's book based on urban foxes yet? seems the perfect topic.
Of course I'm such a poor naturalist that it's probably a large cat or feral dog or something and someone'll tell me I'm an idiot.
That's def a fox, I've hit enough of those buggers in my car to know! Believe it or not but in some parts of Australia you get money for turning in a dead fox - they do a lot of damage to our natural fauna.
Posted by: Age | March 25, 2008 at 05:05 AM
it seems scary to encounter a fox.
Posted by: tacoma florist | March 25, 2008 at 05:24 AM
I have foxes at the end of my garden - they've been getting frisky lately (if you've never heard a fox's mating call, consider yourself lucky), so hoping for cubs soon.
Watchification opportunity: last year's excellent "Meet The Foxes" doc is available in six parts on YouTube, first one here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xa1GhdUqrnQ
The fact that it all takes place round the corner from my house in North London helps, but wherever you live, trust me: you'll be screaming at the numpties who want to shoot the little beauties because they keep eating their urban chickens...
Posted by: James | March 25, 2008 at 10:06 AM
I recognise him. He's a planner at Saatchi. His name is Dave.
Posted by: Leon Jacobs | March 25, 2008 at 12:12 PM
I always look out for them too. They're getting tamer - I had one nuzzle my hand once:
http://flickr.com/photos/cakehole/446296880/
Posted by: David | March 25, 2008 at 03:45 PM
I don't know about a kids book on urban foxes. But I can imagine Fantastic Mr Fox being given a 00s urban remix...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantastic_Mr_Fox
I can remember the horrors of Bunce and Bean to this day - transpose their features onto some SoHo dwellers and you're pretty much set.
Posted by: Iain Tait | March 25, 2008 at 07:52 PM
I don't think Wes Anderson will go for the 'crack fox' (as seen in the Mighty Boosh) model for his film version of Fantastic Mr Fox.
A much safer bet will be on Bill Murray or Owen Wilson playing the fox, dry humour and pastel colours galore.
Foxes are great, I just wish they wouldn't make that 'eeeeeiiii' noise.
Posted by: Ben Oliver | March 26, 2008 at 04:30 PM
Pablo!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/pablothelittleredfox
Posted by: Rob | April 08, 2008 at 12:35 AM