A number of letters have appeared recently regarding animals causing damage and mess in their gardens.

As much as these people hate foxes and squirrels, and as much as they wish them harm, they should still try and put things into perspective.

What is foxes' urine on the grass, a broken shrub or a hole in the flower bed when there is so much destruction, suffering, violence and real disasters caused by mankind, the most destructive of all creatures, and a threat to the environment, animals and their habitats.

As for these wild animals being a health hazard, this is nonsense. Humans are the greatest health hazard, not only spreading diseases but also creating them (BSE, E-Coli, Aids, etc.) What disease can a person catch from a squirrel, for goodness sake! This really is hysterical claptrap.

Foxes and squirrels inhabit my garden and I respect and appreciate them. I also find fox excrement in my garden, but what's the big deal?

I have experienced far harsher things in life than finding fox excrement on the lawn or a little hole in the flower bed. I have a garden visited by beautiful animals who have as much right to life as I have.

There are far more serious things one can protest about, instead of whinging about wildlife.

L Chan

Chislehurst

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.