More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A pensioner has rigged-up a version of Springwatch in his garden.
Victor Cork has an infrared camera installed to film wildlife, just like the popular BBC2 series.
The supermarket buy hasn’t disappointed.
It’s captured a host of after-dark activity in his garden, including a family of foxes which for the past two weeks have made a nightly beeline for his lawn.
Great-grandad, Victor, a retired machine operator, said the cunning fluffy-tailed clan is made up of a vixen, dog and five cubs – quite a crowd, which makes quite a noise in the early hours.
“They’re always chasing and grubbing around,” the 82-year-old said.
“I started filming a week ago and the camera’s triggered by whatever movement’s happening in the garden.
“It’s taken some really good pictures, but it’s not only foxes.
“You see moths, birds, cats and all sorts of nightlife.”
An estimated 33,000 foxes inhabit urban areas of the UK.
Victor, of St George’s Avenue, Sheerness, said his visitors are creatures of habit, arriving at 9.45pm nightly.
He believes a neighbour may be keeping a den, hence their appearance in and around his part of town.
“I’ve often seen them walking about my street late at night,” he said.
“Before wheelie bins were introduced, they’d rip up black bags left out for refuse trucks and some poor dog would get the blame for it.”
Anyone with a fox problem around their property is advised by the RSPCA to remove access to any potential food supplies and use securely sealed dustbins and composters.
Residents are also urged to remove places of shelter for the creature by cutting areas of long grass or dense vegetation.
“We’ve built on their homes with bricks and mortar so they’ve moving in on us now” - Victor Cork
Erecting fencing or planting prickly greenery around the garden is also advised.
Victor welcomes, rather than fears Mr Fox’s presence.
“It’s good to have wildlife,” he said.
“We’ve built on their homes with bricks and mortar so they’ve moving in on us now.”
