Quiet London town plagued by mating foxes that keep locals up all night

A quiet London town is being plagued by smelly foxes that keep mating loudly at night. Gangs of urban foxes have been disturbing locals in Maida Vale for years and the issue is getting worse, locals say.

Resident Steve Wilcox said there has been a rise of foxes “invading” private gardens, with groups of up to 12 gathering on people’s lawns. Steve, who has lived in the area since 1987, said the issue began years ago but seems to be getting worse.

He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “There’s foxes waking me up nightly. I’m spending a fair amount of cash putting fences up on my walls.” He added: “We’re getting this invasion of wildlife. The foxes come into all neighbour’s gardens and cause disruption. It started about two and a half years ago. I have had broken sleep every single night since then. I have felt alienated and invaded.”

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Evidence seen by the LDRS shows groups of up to a dozen foxes gathering in residents’ gardens and making screaming sounds at night. Steve said: “I wake up and there’s something the size of a dog sniffling of squabbling under my window, which is frequent. There’s a smell that pervades the garden. It’s throughout the year. If they’re not giving birth to cubs they are conceiving cubs.”

Steve said he has asked Westminster City Council for help but he is not sure it the authority can do anything. A council advice sheet says the authority does not encourage members of the public to give foxes shelter in the borough. It adds: “You may believe the quality of life is actually enhanced by the presence of foxes in our city. However, please take in to account your neighbours when permitting or encouraging foxes on your land.”

For locals who don’t want foxes hanging around their property, the council advises them to avoid leaving food outside, remove items that could give shelter and seal garden sheds that don’t touch the ground. Other solutions include using pet flaps with locks and building a two-metre fence with non-stick features or low electric voltage.

Urban foxes are classed as a nuisance, not pests, which means they are not deemed a threat to public health. The council told the LDRS it is supporting Steve to resolve the issue.