Staff fail to catch injured fox at large in the castle

Published on Thursday 2 June 2011 17:24

THEY are renowned for being cunning, and one city-dwelling fox has lived up to that reputation by managing to outsmart staff at Edinburgh's top tourist destination.

FUR WARNING: The public were told to keep away from the 'lively' fox, above and below. Picture: CELESTE SLOMAN

Despite having a limp and an eye wound, the fox escaped capture by staff at Edinburgh Castle and the Scottish SPCA and continued its reign of the attraction.

The four-legged visitor was discovered sheltering in bushes at the castle yesterday, before confidently strolling around in the grounds and taking in the pet cemetery. Members of the public were warned by staff from Historic Scotland - which runs Edinburgh Castle - not to approach the injured animal in case it attacked.

Concerned staff at the castle, who had failed in their own attempt to catch the "lively" animal, called in the Scottish SPCA. But despite the charity's best efforts, it too failed to snare the roaming animal.

Scottish SPCA ambulance driver Emma Phillips said: "We were called to Edinburgh Castle to help an injured fox, which seemed to be having trouble getting to its feet. When I arrived the fox was quite lively and we were unable to catch it.

"The castle has humane fox traps and if they are able to catch the fox we'll go back and help. It looks as though the fox has an eye injury and is limping on a hind leg."

Edinburgh Castle employees are no stranger to visits by foxes, and usually get park rangers to release them into Holyrood Park. It is understood the injured fox made its way from the castle to Princes Street Gardens after avoiding capture.

A spokeswoman for Historic Scotland said: "It was by the garden area of the war memorial for some time.

"We did call the Scottish SPCA because it was limping and they came out but didn't manage to get hold of the fox.

"Normally what we would do is take foxes to Holyrood Park and release them, providing they looked well enough and the Scottish SPCA said they were fine."

The Evening News has previously reported on fearless foxes taking to the streets of Edinburgh in broad daylight.

One of the adventurous animals even started chewing clothes on a display rail in clothing store Ness on the Royal Mile before being chased out by a sales assistant.

Shopkeepers on George Street have also seen foxes wandering down the street in the middle of the day.