Germany: Fox Weeks not compliant with animal welfare standards

Fox Weeks: Killing as many foxes as possible

Many hunting associations call for the so-called Fox Week in February. The aim is to kill as many foxes as possible within a few days and to present them on the hunting bag celebrated with sausages and alcohol.

In February, hobby hunting for foxes is considerably easier than during the summer months. The male foxes are still searching for a suitable mate: it is mating season. Hobby hunting fails as population control.

Not compliant with animal welfare standards

Fox hunting in February is considered to be in accordance with hunting tradition, but that is far from meaning it is also compliant with animal welfare standards. Most female foxes are already pregnant at this time. Tens of thousands of males are affected, who can no longer fulfil their role as the primary providers for the young fox families.

Many hobby hunters are, as is well known, poor marksmen. An English study documents that for every fox killed, one fox is injured. The blanket claim that, within the framework of unrestricted hunting, one is helping the nearly extinct grey partridge or brown hare is unlikely to hold true, writes Wildtierschutz Deutschland. More on the topic of animal welfare problems of hobby hunting.

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