GILES Bradshaw, Wolves are naturally predators of foxes, Points of view, July 25, wrongly asserts that wolves do, or ever have, acted as a significant control on fox numbers.

While the former will, very occasionally, kill the latter, they do not 'hunt' them. Foxes, to them, are simply too small, quick and elusive to waste energy on.

"Intraguild predation" is normally motivated by competition for the same food resources or a perceived threat to the young of the larger carnivore by the smaller. Wolves are generally only interested in prey much larger than a fox can take and their pack system means that very little can effectively threaten their cubs.

Indeed, foxes are widely commensal with wolves through their respective ranges, and pretty conclusive proof that wolves do not suppress fox numbers comes from the 50-year population records of both kept on Isle Royale in Lake Superior, Canada.

But the main point is, of course, that hunting with hounds is nothing like any other form of intraguild predation foxes may experience.

Used to, and designed for, only occasional, very short, sprints, in no other circumstances are foxes forced into lung-bursting runs of up to 90 minutes.

I have seen the pitiful, thoroughly beaten results of such treatment at the hands of hunts.

That people get pleasure from inflicting such suffering and torment on a living, sensitive creature beggars belief.

That David Cameron and his Tories want to re-legalise this disgraceful barbarity makes me wonder what kind of people they really are.

Alan Kirby

Hayle, Cornwall

(by email)