A study has found that foxes consuming human food waste may be sustaining an artificially high population in the New Forest.
Scientists analysed the stomach contents of 447 foxes and discovered that 14% of their diet consisted of human-derived food sources.
Research by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) and Bournemouth University suggests that reducing food waste and improving waste management could help control fox numbers more effectively.
This, in turn, could relieve pressure on declining wild bird populations, as foxes hunt species such as curlews, lapwings, oystercatchers, and ringed plovers—birds already of conservation concern.
According to the British Trust for Ornithology, these birds’ national populations have dropped by 24% to 48% since 1995.
“We found a wide range of human food items in fox stomachs and the remnants of plastic bin bags,” GWCT post-doctoral research scientist Nathan Williams said, whose PhD was in collaboration with Bournemouth University.
“Human food was more likely to be found in fox stomachs that were sampled close to built-up areas and the amount detected was consistent throughout the year, not just during the holiday seasons.
“This is likely to be a result of food waste being left unsecured by the outdated waste disposal system, and possibly people deliberately feeding foxes.”
Forestry England keepers assisted the GWCT by sharing records of their work.
“We are happy to be aiding scientific research which helps our understanding of prey and predator relationships, particularly with regard to species that are in severe decline nationally,” Andy Page, Forestry England’s head of wildlife management, said.
“Hopefully this will enable targeted and sustainable efforts to improve populations of threatened species. This recent work is highlighting that we can all play a part in maintaining the New Forest as a special place for wildlife.”
To help mitigate the issue, New Forest residents will transition to using wheelie bins for waste disposal, with the rollout occurring between June and March next year.
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