Britain’s parliament banned the use of dogs to kill foxes in 2005. Despite this, the number of people joining hunts is rising.<br /><br />Hunting foxes with hounds is controversial and animal-rights groups campaigned for years to have it outlawed. Fifty-one percent of Britons support the ban. Now Britain’s prime minister David Cameron wants to relax the ban.<br /><br />Why do Britons still hunt foxes?<br /><br />Hunting clubs can still use dogs to flush out foxes from wooded areas. They may then kill them by shotgun or using a bird of prey, once the foxes are in the open. They are not allowed to let their dogs do the killing.<br /><br />But policing the law is tricky.<br /><br />Hunt members have managed to keep the pastime alive by sending their dogs after rags scented with fox pheromones. But dogs are dogs. Sometimes they smell a real fox and the huntsmen follow suit. Foxes are still killed by hunting dogs today.<br /><br />Many farmers and landowners don’t object to hunts passing through their lands. Foxes cause about £12m pounds worth of damage to livestock and crops every year. Rabbits do more damage.<br /><br />Contrary to stereotypes, hunt members come from all walks of life, which may hint at why it is still at the core of rural life.<br /><br />A vote on relaxing the ban has been postponed. Scottish Nationalists say that won’t support any change.<br /><br />Whatever Westminster decides, the fox is a hardy opponent. British foxes have a 60% chance of surviving their first winter, leaving about a quarter of a million of them to roam the lands.<br /><br />Subscribe NOW to The Economist: http://econ.st/1Fsu2Vj<br /><br />Get more The Economist<br />Follow us: https://twitter.com/TheEconomist<br />Like us: https://www.facebook.com/TheEconomist<br />View photos: https://instagram.com/theeconomist/<br /><br />The Economist videos give authoritative insight and opinion on international news, politics, business, finance, science, technology and the connections between them.
