Pest Control Companies that catch and release urban foxes are breaking the Law.
The main reason they do so is because they do not have or cannot obtain the necessary licences required to legally and humanely control urban foxes.
The sound of releasing of a urban fox into the countryside with lots of rabbits to chase in the meadows of freshly cut grass to be made into hay sounds great and may ease you conscious, however; in reality, the released fox will starve to death, kill and destruct other wildlife, farm animals, smallholding animals and birds.
This type of action is not humane or professional; further more, its illegal.
With respect, if you agree to take part in such a catch and release program, you will be as guilt as the Pest Control Company that you have employed of committing a serious Wildlife Crime.
A hungry fox is a dangerous fox and will cause untold problems when released.
A urban fox is used to rifling through bins and eating takeaway left overs. They won't find this luxury where they are going as they will be totally unaware on how to fend for themselves in an unfamiliar place.
The main diseases that are spread by urban foxes are the Distemper Disease, Parvo Virus and Mange.
This is the very reason that we take our pet cats and dogs to a qualified Veterinary Surgeon for regular health checks, worming, flea/tick treatments and routine vaccinations and boosters.
Mange is a very serious disease in urban foxes and easily transmissable. Most foxes will die of a horrible, painful death due to the incessant scratching, making infected wounds which will become infected.
Those who trap and relases foxes are responsible for this cruelty and the damage they are causing to other wildlife, birds and animals effected by their actions.
It is also a misconception that you can move a wild animal to a new area, release it, and it will instantly settle down and live happily ever after.
Nature just isn't like that, and releasing animals in a new area is a very difficult task.
It is unlikely that there will be a ready territory, and the animal will therefore wander widely in a strange area looking for somewhere to harbour. Since it does not know the area, it will not know the danger spots or best feeding places. The released fox will probably find a quiet place, curl up and die, and it would have been far more humane to have the fox put to sleep rather than release it in a strange area.
Since dumping of animals like this is clearly inhumane, such action would be an offence under The Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Finally, many people do not want foxes released on their land, especially farmers and livestock producers.
Hedgehog Decline