WRITTEN QUESTION E-3783/02

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(6 January 2003)

Subject: Dangers of hunting and the need for coordination of any measures taken to prevent a further increase in fox numbers

1. Can the Commission confirm that heavy fertilisation of pasture land and grassed areas in leisure zones results in foxes being attracted to such areas and to a sharp increase in their numbers because fertilisers are also conducive to a sharp rise in the number of earthworms and other sources of food for foxes, so that more and more foxes are slowly encroaching on densely populated and heavily treated areas?

2. Can it also confirm that the hunting of foxes results in areas attractive to foxes becoming temporarily depopulated, and that this, in turn, leads to other foxes migrating to such areas and the further spreading of the virus which causes rabies?

3. Can it confirm that the handling by hunters of the foxes that they have killed results in the spreading of the eggs of the fox tapeworm and, hence, in the direct opposite of combating disease, although that is the regular pretext given to justify fox hunting?

4. What differences exist between the Member States of the EU with regard to the increase in fox numbers and the manner in which that increase might be combated by means of restricting their food sources, the licensing of or encouragement for hunting for sport or the exceptional licensing of selective hunting which is exclusively geared to combating extreme situations?

5. Is there, within the EU, a coordinated policy geared towards the restricting of fox numbers by natural means and to preventing people from giving the growth in fox numbers as a pretext for hunting which results in the unwanted consequences outlined in questions 2 and 3?

6. What is the Commission doing to prevent a persistent increase in the number of foxes, the diseases connected with foxes and the justification for hunting for sport which serves purposes other than combating disease and over-population?

Source: Metro, Dutch edition, 10 December 2002

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(4 March 2003)

Generally speaking, the Commission does not believe that hunting is an effective way of combating animal diseases that may be transmitted to man by wild animals.

In particular, as far as foxes are concerned, the beats organised in an attempt to stem the spread of the rabies epidemic in the 1970s and 1980s proved to be very disappointing.

They were dropped and were replaced by campaigns to vaccinate foxes by oral means, in which effective vaccines were developed and used on a large scale.

These vaccination campaigns, which were jointly financed by the Community, were conducted over vast areas and produced spectacular results, with rabies being virtually eradicated throughout the territory of the Community.

Initially, these operations led to a sharp rise in fox populations, and the number of vaccines distributed per square kilometre had to be increased in order to achieve sufficient vaccination coverage to stop viral circulation.

Populations then stabilised depending on the availability of food and the territorial behaviour of the species.