Just How Big Is Bristol's Fox Population?

 

As a bit of an AI and statistics test I asked the total number of the fox population in Bristol based on 238 sightings -in this case dead foxes as no one can argue that they exist. Here is what AI (using a stat analysis model) came up with:

Based on 238 known fox sightings in Bristol, the estimated fox population is likely between 400 and 700 foxes. This estimate is derived from various methods of observation and tracking, including direct sightings and citizen science data. The population density in urban areas can vary significantly, but Bristol's urban environment suggests a relatively stable population size

The population would be much lower than the answer given as the 238 dead foxes need to be removed from that figure so 162-462 is the given fox population of Bristol. That would make the City's urban fox population on the verge of extinction. 

Although people are reporting regular foxes as no longer appearing in their gardens there could be any number of reasons for this but there is a decline -on a site monitoring foxes since 2020 the decline has been noticed. Foxes are known to wander about and find new places so can vanish for a few weeks or so but Area 1, although noting this, has since 14th August, 2026 only captured 3 images of a fox. Since we have had/are having disperal one would expecxt far more fox activity but it has declined.  The benefit of having seven years of camera observation is that this can all be checked back including the fact that where 2-3 cubs were observed in the past there was only 1 in 2026.

Estimating the population is impossible based on observations but I would guesstimate perhaps 1000 to 1200 across the City. In North Somerset, BANES and South Gloucestershire which is the area covered by the Fox Project Bristol as well as Bristol Badger Group the likely number of foxes is probably lower as they are more prone to being shot, snared or poisoned. BANES (Bath and NE Soimerset) we have tried to get someone to gather fox data but there seems to be a distinct lack of interest and even anti fox feeling. For that reason Bristol is the only location an estimate for population can be worked out.

Whatever the actual figure we are losing a lot of foxes and after the population grew again after losing 94% of the popul;ation due to mange in Bristol during 1994/1995 that is pretty sad since foxes are also a good indicator of environmental health.

An Urban Wildlife Crisis Point?

 

After five decades of monitoring wildlife in Bristol, primary foxes and badgers, I have to say that I am very concerned.

In 1994/1995 the mage outbreak that hit Bristol's urban foxes devastated up the 94% of the population. That mange outbreak may well have been created but that is a question for another time.  The fox population eventually started recovering.

There is absolutely no doubt that since the 1990s drivers have gotten worse, speeding in city streets and narrow lanes is so common that few people even bother showing concern. Night time speeding is a problem everywhere but it seems almost normal across the City of Bristol. As a result more and more wildlife is dying: struck by cars and left for dead. When I showed the Fox and Badgers Death Register at the recent Wild Summit the comments were: "You hear about it but seeing the actual figures is staggering" and "Oh, that's awful".

Yet Bristol City Council refuses to even put up wildlife crossing signs and threaten those that do with legal action.

Added to this is the fact that there are very sick individuals who go out at night setting snares (two fox victims and an otter recorded so far).  Equally sick individuals go out out in all weather every night to shoot and kill wildlife -this shooting 'sport' is decimating not just fox populations (cubs and adults are killed with no interest whether a vixen killed will lead to orphaned cubs or even if the vixen is pregnant. All done with impunity even though the wildlife (and in some cases pets) are causing no problem.

We know that there are still local "badgermen" or shooters who will disp[ose of badgers "on the quiet" for farmers and others. Most badgers are dumped at the roadside and people ignore them as "road kill".

This all adds up so that, whatever you may hear from the countryside groups and pro hunt people (the latter every cub season spamming social media with tales of foxes killing pet ginger and white, black and white or elderly "much loved" cats) foxes are not -not- increasing in numbers. We have wildlife photographers from Wales visiting English towns because Welsh foxes are "non existent" thanks to decades of shooting, snaring and poisoning. 

Bristol's badger population may all be urbanbut it has to be remembered that what are now suburbs of the City were once small villages with their local badger setts and that means badgers have survived in these locations for more than a century. The threat to badgers does not just come from poisons and cars but the local authority. Aware and repeatedly informed of established badger sett territory Bristol City Council (a Green council) attempt to sell the land to developers when there is more than enough Brown Site areas to handle new housing.

Health wise we know more now than we did in 2020 as to what illnesses are affecting foxes and killing them (a small percentage compared to cars etc) but when it comes to badgers a block was placed on any post mortems being carried out under pretence of Health and Safety and risk from Bovine TB -all while official PMs WERE being carried out on badgers.

The fact is that I would love to believe that foxes and badgers were not being seen on roads and reported because none were being killed. However, looking at the yearly total for each species in the Death Register as well as hearing reports from people who are no longer seeing their badgers and foxes I suspect that a crisis point has been reached. 

The British Trust for Ornithology did a mammal survey and concluded that foxes might need Red Listing (protection as a species under threat) and their figures along with those of others invbolved in wildlife work very strongly suggest that England has lost over 60% of its fox population. I believe that it is higher and the percentage growing by the day.

We are losing the hedgehog as well as up to 30 other species and with an estimated 300,000 badgers killed during the cull (remember that is just from the cull not cars or other illegal killings) I estimate the UK badger popu;lation has gone beyond a crisis point. An the Welsh Parliament want to wipe out their badgers now.

It is mind numbing that politicians just shrug at these facts while counting "donations" from farmers groups and lobbyists.  Concern for wildlife and the environment that were so hip, cool and trendy and a MUST promote in interviews in the 1990s to early 2000s is now "People need homes" and "We need to develop as a country" and 95% of the population shrug and sit in front of the TV not caring.

The 1860s, thanks to humans and hunting, etc. created a mass extinction of UK wildlife from foxes, deer, wild cats, hares and many other species. The answer was to import more of them from Europe to "continue the sport" and this time round "Fewer wildlife better for more development and building!"

What has the Museum and its research accomplished?

 

I get people telling me that taxidermy is "sick" or "upsetting" as well as a few other complaints.

How do we know what the Dodo looks like? Or for that matter any anbimal, bird or aquatic species humans made extinct pre wide spread use of photography?  Illustrations -some not very good. It is very sad and I reserve comments about huntsmen here but taxidermy has made it very clear that modern wildlife books, TV and zoologists have just accepted dogma and have spent the period from 1900 lying to everyone.

What have we learnt/proven via taxidermy?

1.  That the red fox we see today is not the fox that has "always been here" but are descendents of European foxes imported by hunts for 'sport' (Brits exported red foxes to the United States and Australia for the same purpose).  

2.  There were three distinct types of fox in the UK and Ireland after the flooding of the area known as Doggerbank (the French or English Channel). The largest was bigger than an American coyote (taxidermies of both are kept at the Museum) and called the Greyhound or Mountrain fox and it was basically the British jackal/coyote.  The second was known as the Hill or Mastiff fox; not as big as the Greyhound fox but robust and sturdy in build. The third type was smaller and known as the Cur or Common fox and was living near to human habitation as the fox of today does. We call these Old Fox types.

3. We know that the wild cat people talk about preserving so much these days is a European hybrid and does not look anything like the Old wild cat of England, Scotland and Wales -Ireland also, despite all the arguments, had its own wild cat. We have examples of the later Scottish wild cat.

4.   We also know from taxidermy examples (see The Red Paper Canids for photographic examples) that coyote, jackals and wol;ves were kept and released by hunts. 

That is just four points but then you add over 50 of archival research and evidence gathering it proves everything noted above. Jackal and wolf hunts were well publicised events as foxes were hunted to extinction, reintroduced from Europe then hunted to the point of extinction again.

The research has shown that there was a major extinction even in British wildlife c the 1860s. It was at this point in time that Scottish zoologists and naturalists decided that the true Scottish wild cat went extinct. At the same time the Old fox types became extinct and thousands of foxes were imported each year to keep the 'sport' going. Hares, red squirrels, some deer species, birds and other animals became extinct or on the verge of extinction and the well publicised importantions from Europe began -although this seems to have started c 16th century/

All provable and documented in journals, books and papers from the time.

DNA testing of wildlife today resulting in European species DNA is pointless. Species examples in taxidermy pre 1860 are required and should show the difference in species; 8-10,000 years of separation from Continental Europe made the wildlife in Britain and Ireland unique island species and after the formation of Ireland from Britain that again produced unique island species.

We learn a lot from taxidermy and this is added to by the archival work so that we have a true picture of Britain and Ireland and not the dogma of today.

We are currently loising more and more species and all due to humans, as in the past, which makes you wonder what dogma will be brought in to shift the blame in 100 years when hedgehogs, foxes, badgers and other species are gone?

Taxidermy is important evidence and evidence that zoologists choose to ignore because it is factual and threatens their credibility.

A Brief look inside the Extinct Fox and Wild Cat Museum

Below 1830s wild cat pair shot by Colquhoun

 ALL images are copyright 2026 the Extinct Fox and Wild Cats Museum