New figures reveal the scale of fox cub hunting by English and Welsh hunts

New figures released today by leading national animal welfare charity the League Against Cruel Sports show the shocking scale of fox cub hunting across England and Wales this autumn - including more than 100 young foxes being chased by hounds.

Cub hunting is a barbaric practice in which hunts train their hounds to kill foxes by targeting fox cubs, in preparation for the main fox hunting season, despite the fox hunting ban being in place for almost 20 years.

The figures show 106 foxes seen being chased, 127 incidents of suspected illegal cub hunting, and 315 incidents of hunts wreaking havoc on rural communities.

They cover the cub hunting season – the period between August 1 and October 31 2024 – and show an 83 per cent increase in the number of foxes being chased, a 43 per cent increase in suspected illegal hunting and 165 per cent increase in hunt havoc on the previous period.

John Petrie, senior campaigns manager for the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “As we approach the twentieth anniversary of the Hunting Act coming into force, these figures evidence why the law needs to be strengthened.”

“Setting packs of hounds on fox cubs so they can become accustomed to tearing foxes apart will simply horrify the vast majority of the public.

“It’s time for change and for the exemptions in the law to be removed, so-called trail hunting outlawed, and custodial sentences introduced for those who commit the worst hunting crimes.”

Suspected illegal cub hunting includes incidents where foxes are seen being pursued by hounds, where hounds mark to ground or paw the entrance to a hole or badger sett where a fox has fled, or a terrier is used to flush out a fox that has fled underground.

Hunt havoc includes incidents such as hounds hunting and running loose on roads; threatening or irresponsible behaviour; livestock worrying; damaging badger setts to dig up foxes that have fled underground or blocking them up to prevent foxes escaping; attacks on pet cats or dogs; causing distress to the public; and chasing other wildlife.

If hunts were really following pre-laid trails, as they claim, none of the recorded incidents would have occurred.

Cub hunting hotspots are revealed as Gloucestershire, Dorset, Somerset, Nottinghamshire, Devon and Warwickshire.

John added: “Tragically fox hunting is going on as it did before the ban and we need the Government to act and ensure the fox hunting season, which has just begun, is the last one we ever experience and that the savage practice of cub hunting is ended for good.

"These figures reflect the incidents that have been seen but we fear they are just the tip of the iceberg."

Contact the League’s Animal Crimewatch service on 0300 444 1234, email crimewatch@league.org.uk or WhatsApp at 0755 278 8247 to report incidents of animal cruelty

Data has been collected throughout the cub hunting season from reports into the League’s Animal Crimewatch service and other monitors.

Fox hunting was banned when the Hunting Act came into force in February 2005 but the hunting world invented so-called trail hunting shortly afterwards.

Trail hunting has been described by Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman, the most senior police officer in England with responsibility for fox hunting crime, as a “smokescreen for illegal fox hunting”. He has also described illegal hunting as “prolific”.

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Notes to editors

You can find contact details and information on the League Against Cruel Sports here:

https://www.league.org.uk/pres...