The Story of Foxy Biddy 

Before moving to Somerset, my family and i lived in south-east London, home to many urban foxes! Not a day would go by without me seeing at least one ... more often than not, several!

On my train journey  to work each day, i would "fox-spot" , to pass the time on the tedious daily journey into Victoria Station, in central London.

I soon became familiar with the 'fox-spots", some of which were in the most unusual of places, including one where a fox could be seen sleeping high up on the glass roof of an old factory, soaking up the sun!  This was only visible as the train passed over a viaduct alongside a large industrial area not too far from Battersea Dog's Home.

The steep overgrown embankments, close to all the stations that lined the route, were also a haven for foxes. Here the foxes could scavenge the remains of takeaways discarded by late-night revellers, and early morning commuters rushing to get on their trains, discarding the remains of their snacks before  they crammed  themselves into the crowded carriages.

At one partcular spot whilst on my train journey to work, i would regularly see an old vixen with her cubs. She was absolutely riddled with what i assumed was sarcoptic mange, a condition very common in foxes. She was almost completely bald, and was obviously suffering.

Working at the Metropolitan Police Wildlife Crime Unit had it's uses at a time like this, and i decided to contact the "Fox Project", a fox welfare charity based in Kent, that provided care and treatment for injured and sick foxes, and abandoned and orphaned cubs.

I knew exactly what they were capable of, and knew that they would do all they could to help this sick creature. Luckily, they were able to refer one of their volunteers who lived relatively near to the location. They managed to locate the sick vixen, and she was successfully treated.

Each evening, walking back from the railway station, there was always a fox or two to be seen on the sports ground, across from my home. I would routinely stop and watch as a family of cubs would chase each other in and out of the undergrowth at the side of the playing field.

Back at home .... a ninety foot mature garden backing onto the local senior school's nature area could only mean one thing ... more foxes!

Not long after moving in to our home, i started to spot the odd fox in the back garden. Eventually, it became apparent ... Foxybiddy, was, in fact, resident!

Foxybiddy was an old vixen, and, like the other one  i had spotted from the train, was also riddled with sarcoptic mange. She looked so sad, her brush was non-existant, and she did nothing but continuously scratch at her sore bald patches.

Once again, the Fox Project were contacted. This time, i was able to treat Foxybiddy myself.  To treat her, i had to put some homeopathic remedy onto a jam sandwich daily, and repeat for a few weeks. Within several weeks, there was a noticable imrovement in her condition, and after about two months, she was cured.  Foxybiddy's brush was back to it's full glory!

Foxybiddy became part of our lives.

We had two cats and a dog. The dog was incredibly jealous of her, and would chase her out of the garden at any given opportunity. But it made no difference .... Foxybiddy would just return seconds later! The cats did not have a problem with her, nor did she have a problem with them. They could often be seen sitting only feet away from each other.

I would often put out chicken scraps,and  the cats would have first pickings, and made it clear to her that she would have to wait her turn!

Foxybiddy would sit patiently , after all, she did have several hungry cubs scattered behind  the bushes towards the back of the garden, awaiting their dinner!  Occasionally, she would try to creep forward to try help herself, but the cats would chase her back and make her wait her turn!

When eventually she got her turn, she would take the food up the garden, and  several hungry cubs would appear from nowhere, squealing and fighting amongst themselves for their share of food!

When they had eaten, the cubs would play amongst themselves, chasing each other around the shrubs and flower beds, and behind the garden shed and summer-house, an absolute delight to see!

Foxybiddy was quite a character, and would often appear at the patio doors, peering through the glass, to ask for food. She would also appear from behind the bushes whilst I  was watering the garden in the evening, only a few feet away from me, knowing that when i had finished i would go into the house and bring out food for her. 

Eventually after a few years, Foxybiddy vanished. This came as no surprise, as foxes do move on to make way for the younger members of the family to take over the territory.

The other foxes continued to visit, but none of them had the same character as Foxybiddy ... she was the best!

We moved to Somerset, taking with us only the memories of the urban fox. Somerset is a beautiful place, and there is so much here to see in the way of nature. I do see the odd fox while out walking, but  there are no urban foxes where we live.

I don't miss London at all ... except, of course for a few friends ...and in particular, Foxybiddy and her family! 

Read  "Foxybiddy, the Urban Vixen" (a poem that I have written about Foxybiddy)