East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service (WRAS) has stepped forward after the recent fox bite incident in Brighton.
The charity is warning against any unnecessary steps being taken towards foxes and other wildlife. Trevor Weeks, the charity's founder, said "we all expect the media these days to use sensational wording around these incidents but unfortunately some people are frightened by what is reported in the media. Although I feel sorry for what the children have been through and the worry it must have caused to the parents, we really need to put these incidents into perspective. It is clear from the London incident that there is more there than meets the eye, especially as they have refused to allow experts to investigate, and I, like so many others, do not believe that it was a fox that attacked the children, and like so many incident before it may end up being the parents trying to protect the family dog or cat which might be the true culprit. It has been known for years by the educational authorities that foxes live under such make shift buildings at schools, so it should come as no surprise that there was a fox present. The fox did not attack the child, it was defending itself – there is a significant difference. Any wild animal is going to turn round and bite if you grab its tail. I can remember as a child being warned about this by my parents and children of this age should be supervised closely."