Yes. It carries mange.

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The fox has a reputation, handed down from generation to generation through fables and country tales, of being a cunning and ruthless thief which lives off lambs, poultry and pet cats.

Maybe in your world it does, but those of us who know what we are talking about understand foxes don't live on lamb and cat! Chicken if he can't find anything safer to eat, but mainly mice and small prey.

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The Aberdeen University study challenges the necessity of this high level of persecution - much of which is paid for by the tax-payer and farmer.

When have tax payers covered the cost of fox culling?

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.... a survey by the Mammal Society during the period of foot-and-mouth disease in 2002 when hunting was banned demonstrated that fox numbers did not rise, indicating that hunting has no effect on the fox population.

Or that they were being shot - DOH!

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Free-range poultry are rarely taken by foxes in daylight and therefore losses will be small, provided that the birds are securely housed at dusk. In most cases where foxes kill a large number of birds, it is because the farmer has failed to shut the hen house door or the housing is inadequate - in other words poor husbandry.

Just how much did this highly obvious bit of scientific study cost the tax payer? It always makes me smile when there are rows about this sort of thing and the tax situation is addresses. The study costs far more than the information warrants!

Does anyone actually read all this stuff you put on here, anyway?