08 June 2000

Itching To Help Foxes?

A national voluntary organisation dedicated to the welfare of the UK's fox population is offering help and advice to anyone who is concerned about their local foxes, or is experiencing problems with them. The National Fox Welfare Society receives hundreds of calls each week from all over the country regarding foxes suffering with Sarcoptic, or canine Mange. Mange is a parasite which causes its host severe irritation resulting in hair loss, secondary infection and in some cases, eventually, death. The parasite lives and breeds on domestic dogs, badgers, foxes, hedgehogs, horses and rabbits, among others. The first signs are excessive scratching and biting in the host animal, leading to hair/spine loss, excessive drinking, conjunctivitis and open wounds, until eventually the animal is completely bald after which, if left untreated, it will die. Fortunately, there is hope. Mange is very easily cured, either in the wild or by catching the animal for hands on treatment. The NFWS provides free of charge a safe, effective treatment for anyone wishing to help their local wildlife, which is put onto food left out where the affected animal has been seen. Free advice is given over the telephone to anyone wishing to discuss any aspect of fox health or behaviour and, if necessary, a volunteer rescuer can attend to critically injured foxes which need immediate help (ie, foxes which are collapsed, trapped or otherwise contained, including injured or suspected orphaned fox cubs. The Society will also set cage traps for foxes with life threatening injuries that are still mobile). A rescuer can normally be on the scene within an hour, and will take the casualty to professional medical help immediately. Where foxes are causing problems such as fouling or digging, NFWS offers free, effective deterrence advice, based on 15 years' experience of fox behaviour and practical application of deterrence. For further information or advice, or to request treatment for foxes with mange, please contact the National Welfare Society on 01933 411996 between 10am - 8pm. Emergency 24 hour cover is also provided. NFWS, 32 Bradfield Close, Rushden, Northants, NN10 0EP Tel / Fax: 01933 411996 Email: martin@nfws.org.uk Internet sites: http://www.nfws.org.uk http://www.mange.org.uk