Example Letter to Organisers of a Fox Cull

Dear [Name] 

I was shocked to see that [who] are planning to cull foxes at [location]. As a local resident I am asking you to reconsider.  

I, like many people, enjoy seeing foxes and other wildlife in our local area. To persecute and kill these beautiful creatures is likely to be extremely unpopular with people.  

Methods used to cull foxes are cruel and can inflict terrible suffering. Shooting frequently leaves foxes wounded and unable to hunt, which can lead to a slow and painful death. Trapping a fox and then releasing them in another area can cause extreme stress from being removed from their own territory. If a female fox with young cubs is killed or injured, her babies can starve to death.  

As well as being cruel, killing foxes does not work, so it is a waste of resources. This is because foxes are territorial, so if one is killed another fox will enter their territory, potentially leading to an endless cycle of culling.  

There are many cost-effective humane alternatives to culling, which effectively deter foxes from an area. These are explained in the following resources: 

1. Animal Aid’s ‘Alternatives to Culling’ booklet: https://www.animalaid.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/alternativestoculling2022-4.pdf 
2. Animal Aid’s ‘Fox Humane Deterrence’ sheet: https://www.animalaid.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Fox-advice-sheet.pdf  

They also contain contact details for several companies that specialise in humane wildlife deterrence.  

Thank you for your time, and I look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely, 

[Name] 

Local resident

 Tips 

• If your local council is carrying out the cull you may want to say how you object to your council tax money being wasted on such a cruel and pointless exercise.  

• Include details of other actions you have or are planning to take, such as starting a petition or writing to your local councillors.