Mapping fox attacks in south-east London and north Kent

2:28pm Monday 11th February 2013 in Dartford & Swanley news By Simon Bull

Have you ever been attacked by a fox? Have you ever been attacked by a fox?

NEWS Shopper wants to map fox attacks across the south-east London and north Kent area.

Urban foxes are again in the spotlight following an incident in which a one-month-old baby reportedly had a finger ripped off by one of the animals which got into its Downham home.

While this was a very extreme case, fox attacks are not uncommon – as a quick trawl through News Shopper’s web archive testifies.

In 2006 we reported on another incident in Downham where a 10-year-old girl was bitten on the leg in her bed.

In 2010 a 49-year-old woman was bitten on her hand outside her front door in Catford 

Last year there were several reported incidents including a man ‘mugged by a fox for his garlic bread in Orpington.

A Sidcup woman suffered a similar attack when a fox went after her fruit and veg 

And one particularly 'cocky' fox was mown down by a car in Blackfen shortly after attacking a teenage couple 

We want to build up a map of such incidents so please tell us if you, your pets or your property have ever been attacked by a fox.

Add your comments below or email News Shopper, providing as much information as possible as about the where, the when and what happened.

You can also send in pictures of foxes you’ve spotted where you live – email them or text 80360 starting your message with NEWS SHOPPER.

Comments(16)

old nick says...
2:32pm Mon 11 Feb 13

it's all B.S.

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mymatesteve says...
3:17pm Mon 11 Feb 13

I've had it with these **** things. If you ask me the government should arm 14 year old boys with air rifles and they'd take care of them no probs.

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Polly Staight says...
3:24pm Mon 11 Feb 13

I find it amusing that townspeople are getting excited about foxes and their habits...

...Whilst simultaneously holding the whip hand when it comes to country people needing to keep the fox population low.

I reckon that instead of banning hunting foxes with dogs, we should have expanded the franchise to endorse... Hunting foxes with a pit-bulls and BMX's.

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Inspirationalady28 says...
3:25pm Mon 11 Feb 13

Oh please NS..until you can say for definite it was a fox I don't think you should be blaming a fox! I know you like a bit of banter but please..a poor baby is still in hospital recovering from his ordeal for crying out loud and this is not the time/place for entertaining jokers!!!

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Louise Richardson says...
4:15pm Mon 11 Feb 13

Most suspicious story of 2013! None of it adds up. Their back door lock was broken "for ages" and Lewisham council refused to fix it. Why did they refuse to fix it? How did the fox get in? Did they leave the door open then, with an unattended baby in another room? Or we've tamed them so much they use handles nowadays?!  What sort of people would not at least try and fix the door themselves rather than wait for the Council, especially with a new baby in the house, leaving it open for all and sundry to come in?! And, now the family have apparently been moved to different accommodation?! Seriously?!! I wouldn't mind betting there was a jealous family dog involved, not a fox, and this is all down to their irresponsibility and they're covering something up. The police won't comment as to whether or not they had a dog and enquiries are still ongoing. Hope the little boy gets well soon..

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Marty1979 says...
6:43pm Mon 11 Feb 13

Housing association have stated door was fixed 24th January and even now they've had no other reports

Pictures on TV & papers show closed door with no damage

Then suggestion fox got in through cat flap

Same pictures show no cat flap


Gets stranger and stranger

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blackheatheagle says...
9:55pm Mon 11 Feb 13

We have had foxes in our back garden for over 30 years as we back on to a playing field. I have never seen them display any aggression even when our dog chases them. In fact we currently have a young dogfox who appears to be smitten by our dog as he tries to get as close to her as possible. Definitely play tendancies being displayed at the moment.

Many of our neighbours have cats who pass through our garden and I have never heard of any of them coming to any harm.

Certainly in my opinion the pecking order of 'I'm not standing any nonsense from you' would be cat, dog and then fox.

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Smiffy666 says...
4:09am Tue 12 Feb 13

Man in Orpington mugged for his garlic bread, by a fox! You had better believe it, I was mugged by a fox just yesterday, it came from behind me cuffed me on the back of the head and wanted my watch! it wanted to know what time the dustmen were coming, never been so scared! Think there is a gang of these Foxy muggers on the loose. The world has gone nuts!!

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Simon bald says...
7:47am Tue 12 Feb 13

great idea ns,maybe a name for this campaign like Foxhunters.

Who you gonna call

FOXHUNTERS!!!!!

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Beckenhamlady says...
8:12am Tue 12 Feb 13

Poor little man I hope he gets better soon.

I don’t believe the story for one moment I have foxes in my back garden I have a two year old I never leave my back door open when I am not in the room and I don’t leave my front door open when I take out the rubbish may sound weird but I know my daughter is safe from any harm.
If I had a broken lock I would get it fixed if my Landlord didn’t just so I know my daughter and I are safe not just from Foxes.
In the pictures the front garden looks a mess try tidying it up clearing away all the rubbish scattered around the lawn.

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Invicta58 says...
10:47am Tue 12 Feb 13

Shall we wait until it is proven a fox was involved? There are more holes in this story than my underwear. And that's a lot.

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Cubbage says...
2:20pm Tue 12 Feb 13

You can map all you like but including an attack on a garlic loaf and some fruit and veg is stretching an already thin point!

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paulbexleyheath says...
10:45pm Tue 12 Feb 13

i just dont believe any of this fox story.
foxes are great rat catchers not baby killers . ok they rumage though bins for food. but they dont attack babies .

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banjo8 says...
1:28pm Wed 13 Feb 13

well this one did.

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Wiggy001 says...
12:06pm Mon 18 Feb 13

So 5 incidents of a very dubious nature with no actual proof in 7 years constitutes "common"?

Come on NS, try reporting on real news for a change.

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Bromley Rover says...
4:44pm Wed 20 Feb 13

I see foxes any time I come home after dark, never cause me any problems apart from the odd scat on the doorstop.
Just leave them alone.

Dogs are far more dangerous, lets have a cull on every council estate.

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