A FOURTH dead fox has been found dead this week in the dunes at Caister, and conservation group Natural England is investigating.Last week, The Mercury reported how a walker had stumbled across two bodies on the beach, and a third was discovered later.
A FOURTH dead fox has been found dead this week in the dunes at Caister, and conservation group Natural England is investigating.
Last week, The Mercury reported how a walker had stumbled across two bodies on the beach, and a third was discovered later. One had had its paws cut off.
The discovery on January 16 was made close to the spot near the lifeboat station where the three other foxes bodies were lying.
Now pet owners using the popular spot for dog walking, are fearful of a repeat of a poisoning outbreak.
Lorraine Lodge, of Yarmouth Road was walking her pet Labrador Ruby, with friends Sandy Dobson and Phyllis Hacon, also from Caister, when she discovered the most recent body of a fox.
For Mrs Dobson, the discovery revived memories of the loss of her Labrador retriever Esther, which had to be put down on Boxing Day 2008 after eating emerald green coloured bread left on the beach which was believed to have been laced with the rat poison Warfarin.
A total of three dogs lost their lives to the poisoning.
Warning pet owners to be vigilant, Mrs Dobson said: “It is now four foxes and we are all really scared. I don't want to put another dog through what Esther had to go through.”
Mrs Lodge called animal welfare charity RSPCA on Tuesday, January 17 to report the discovery.
The mum-of-two said: “I saw the fox and thought oh no, not another one. I suspect that all these foxes have not been found dead in this area for nothing. It is a bit suspicious.”
RSPCA spokesman Sophie Wilkinson confirmed the body discovery had been reported to the RSPCA and the matter had been passed on to Natural England to investigate.
However, no-one from conservation organisation Natural England was available for comment at the time of The Mercury going to press.
Anyone with information about the dead foxes or who has seen any dead animals on the beach should phone the Natural England hotline on 0800 321600.
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