RESIDENTS claims that foxes are being poisoned in areas of Poole have been passed to Dorset Police.

A string of comments on the Streetlife social network for local communities for the Rossmore area of the town claimed foxes were being poisoned in the Alder Road area and at Whitecliff.

Borough of Poole said they had received no reports of foxes being poisoned in the town, however they had passed the residents concerns on to Dorset Police's wildlife officer.

The RSPCA said it is illegal to poison foxes and the government's Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme looks into the deaths of wildlife where pesticide poisoning may be involved. However their reports show no incidents in Dorset.

Sue D said she lived just off Alder Road and there was a fox problem. "However poison is disgusting. We have a dog and so do lots of other folk in our road, not to mention the cats, which obviously roam more freely.

"If the poison can kill the foxes it can also kill the dogs and cats. Poison is barbaric and causes get (sic) pain to any animal who ingests it."

Gill W said: "I also hope that it was not poison, but why would healthy foxes die, coats in good condition, not skinny so the obvious is poison."

David M said: "I am afraid to say its not only going in the Alder Road area but I have been told there are some in the Whitecliff area also doing the same."

Nicky Hoar, learning and interpretation officer at Dorset Wildlife Trust, said: “It is worrying to hear that animals may be being poisoned and it could mean that other species, domestic or wild such as hedgehogs, might be affected. Foxes are certainly becoming more common in urban areas; they will be attracted by food so we advise people who want to deter foxes from their gardens to make sure that no food is left out where they might get access to it.”

The RSPCA says things to look out for if poisoning is suspected include dead animals like rabbits cut open and staked out as bait, several dead animals close together such as rabbits, animals that have died suddenly for no obvious reason and eggs in unusual places, possibly with an ink mark.

Anyone who finds an animal they suspect has been poisoned, or finds evidence of a pesticide that puts wildlife or pets at risk, can contact the Wildlife Incident Scheme Hotline on 0800 321 600.